No. 625 Squadron RAF

Last updated

No. 625 Squadron RAF
Active1 October 1943 – 7 October 1945
Country Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
Branch Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg Royal Air Force
TypeInactive
RoleBomber Squadron
Part of No. 1 Group RAF, Bomber Command
Motto(s)We Avenge [1] [2]
Aircraft Avro Lancaster
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldryWithin a circular chain of seven links, a Lancaster rose [2]
The Lancaster rose stands for the aircraft used, the seven links the number of personnel in one such aircraft [1]
Squadron CodesCF (Oct 1943 - Oct 1945) [3] [4]
Aircraft flown
Bomber Avro Lancaster
Four-engined heavy bomber

No. 625 Squadron RAF was a heavy bomber squadron of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.

Contents

History

The squadron was formed on 1 October 1943 at RAF Kelstern, Lincolnshire from 'C' flight of 100 Squadron. It was equipped with Avro Lancasters, as part of No. 1 Group RAF in Bomber Command, of which it formed part between 18 October 1944 and 25 April 1945. The squadron mainly carried out night raids against Germany. On 5 April 1945, it moved to RAF Scampton. At the end of the war, the squadron dropped food to the starving Dutch people (Operation Manna), and flew Prisoner of War repatriation flights from Belgium (Operation Exodus) and repatriated British troops from Italy, before it was disbanded on 7 October 1945.

In December 2010 the entire 625 Squadron Operational Records (ORB) and an Air Crew Roll Of Honour was compiled into a searchable database - contact www.lancaster-archive.com for more information

[1] [2] [5]

First operational mission

CWGC graves in Spanbroek, North Holland, of five members of 625 Squadron who died in 12/13 June 1944 returning from Operation Gelsenkirchen. Target was the Nordstern Synthetic Oil Refinery. Commonwealth War Graves in Spanbroek.jpg
CWGC graves in Spanbroek, North Holland, of five members of 625 Squadron who died in 12/13 June 1944 returning from Operation Gelsenkirchen. Target was the Nordstern Synthetic Oil Refinery.

18–19 October 1943

Last operational mission

25 April 1945

Last mission before V.E. (Victory of Europe) Day

7 May 1945

Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated by no. 625 Squadron RAF, data from [2] [5] [6]
FromToAircraftVariant
October 1943October 1945 Avro Lancaster Mks.I & II

Squadron bases

Bases and airfields used by no. 625 Squadron RAF, data from [2] [5] [6]
FromToBase
October 1943April 1945 RAF Kelstern, Lincolnshire
April 1945October 1945 RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire

The squadron memorial stands near the village of Kelstern. It was erected in 1964 and was the first to be erected to the memory of a single squadron.

Notable Members

See also

Francis Aldred

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References

Notes

Bibliography

  • Bowyer, Michael J.F.; Rawlings, John D.R. (1979). Squadron Codes, 1937–56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN   0-85059-364-6.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Mattingley, Christobel (2007). Battle Order 204. Crows Nest, New South Wales, Australia: Allen & Unwin. ISBN   978-1-74175-161-1.
  • 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, Cris (1998). Royal Air Force Bomber Command Squadron Profiles, Number 121: 625 Squadron. "We Avenge". Berkshire, UK: Ward Publishing.
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