No. 626 Squadron RAF

Updated on Oct 07, 2024

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Country United Kingdom Type Inactive Base RAF Wickenby		Branch Royal Air Force Role Bomber Squadron
Active 7 November 1943 – 14 October 1945

No. 626 Squadron RAF was a heavy bomber squadron of the Royal Air Force from 1943 to 1945.

History

The squadron was formed on 7 November 1943 at RAF Wickenby from C Flight of No. 12 Squadron. It operated in the strategic bombing role with the Avro Lancaster. It was disbanded on 14 October 1945, having spent the last months of the war on food droppings (Operation Manna) and transport duties (Operation Exodus), repatriating former prisoners of war and briging British troops home from Italy.

First operational mission

10/11 November 1943

7 Lancasters bombed Modane

Last operational mission

25 April 1945

14 Lancasters bombed Berchtesgaden

Last mission before V.E. day

7 May 1945

19 Lancasters dropped supplies to the Dutch in Rotterdam

The squadron flew 2,728 sorties during the Second World War for the loss of 49 aircraft.

Notable personnel

Michael Bentine – Intelligence Officer

Colin Tapley – Flying Control Officer

Eric Simms – bomb-aimer

References

No. 626 Squadron RAF Wikipedia

(Text) CC BY-SA