Summary
No. 630 Squadron RAF was a heavy bomber squadron of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.
| No. 630 Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
| Active | 15 November 1943 – 18 July 1945 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Air Force |
| Type | Inactive |
| Role | Bomber Squadron |
| Part of | No. 5 Group RAF RAF Bomber Command |
| Base | RAF East Kirkby, Lincolnshire |
| Motto(s) | Latin: Nocturna Mors "Death by night"[1] |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge heraldry | On an ogress, a Lancaster rose fimbriated[1][2] |
| Squadron Codes | LE (Nov 1943 – Jul 1945)[3][4] |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Bomber | Avro Lancaster Four-engined heavy bomber |
History edit
The squadron was formed at RAF East Kirkby, near Spilsby in Lincolnshire on 15 November 1943 from 'B' Flight of No. 57 Squadron RAF, equipped with Lancaster Mk.I bombers as part of No. 5 Group RAF in Bomber Command. It re-equipped with Lancaster Mk.III bombers the same month, carrying out strategic bombing roles. Between 18/19 November 1943 and 25 April 1945, the squadron took part in many major raids, including each of the 16 big raids made by Bomber Command on the German capital during what became known as the "Battle of Berlin".
Operational service edit
The units first operation was the night of 18/19 November 1943 when 9 of its Lancasters bombed Berlin and its last bombing sortie was 25 April 1945 with 5 Lancasters bombing Obersalzberg. Its last military operation was minelaying in Onions area (Oslofjord off Horten) on 25/26 April 1945.[1]
Following April 1945 the squadron became involved in Operation Exodus: ferrying POWs back to Britain, finally disbanding on 18 July 1945.[2][5]
Aircraft operated edit
| From | To | Aircraft | Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 1943 | July 1945 | Avro Lancaster | Mks.I & III |
See also edit
References edit
Notes edit
- ^ a b c d Moyes 1976, p. 289.
- ^ a b c Halley 1988, pp. 441–442.
- ^ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 66.
- ^ Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 88.
- ^ a b Jefford 2001, p. 102.
Bibliography edit
- Bowyer, Michael J.F.; Rawlings, John D.R. (1979). Squadron Codes, 1937–56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 0-85059-364-6.
- Copeman, Geoff D. (1997). Bomber Squadrons at War: Nos. 57 and 630 Squadrons. Phoenix Mill, UK: Alan Sutton Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0-7509-1710-5.
- Flintham, Vic; Thomas, Andrew (2003). Combat Codes: A Full Explanation and Listing of British, Commonwealth and Allied Air Force Unit Codes since 1938. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-84037-281-8.
- Halley, James J. (1988). The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
- Hawker, Douglas, DFC (2004). With luck to spare. Preston, UK: Compaid Graphics. ISBN 1-900604-15-9.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - Jadot, Didier J (2014). "A Share of Luck" 630 Sqn RAF Bomber Command War Operations. Berlin, Germany: Morgana Edition. ISBN 978-3-943844-64-1.
- Jefford, C.G. (2001). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912 (2nd ed.). Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
- Moyes, Philip J.R. (1976). Bomber Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers) Ltd. ISBN 0-354-01027-1.
- Ward, Chris (2000). Royal Air Force Bomber Command Squadron Profiles: 630 Squadron – "Nocturna Mors" (Bomber Command Profile no. 124). Lutterworth, Berkshire, UK: Ward Publishing.
External links edit
- - 630 Squadron detailed history
- - 57 & 630 Squadron Association
- 630Squadron.co.uk – The 630 Squadron Home Page
- 630 Squadron history on RAF website
- No. 630 Squadron RAF movement and equipment history
- History of No.'s 621–650 Squadrons at RAF Web
- Wartime memories of 630 Squadron
- Les Amis De G. Allan Bullocks (in French)
- [1]