No. 635 Squadron RAF

No. 635 Squadron RAF
Active20 March 1944 – 1 September 1945
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
TypeInactive
RoleBomber Squadron
Part ofNo. 8 Group RAF Bomber Command[1]
BaseRAF Downham Market, Norfolk
Motto(s)Latin: Nos Ducimus Ceteri Secunter
(Translation: "We lead, others follow")[2][3]
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldryIn front of a roundel nebuly, a dexter gauntlet holding three flashes of lightning[2][3]
Squadron CodesF2 (Mar 1944 – Sep 1945)[4][5]
Aircraft flown
BomberAvro Lancaster
Four-engined heavy bomber

No. 635 Squadron RAF was a heavy bomber squadron of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.

History

635 squadron was formed at RAF Downham Market in Norfolk on 20 March 1944 from two flights drawn from No. 35 Squadron and No. 97 Squadron, equipped with Lancaster Mk.I bombers, as part of No. 8 Group RAF in Bomber Command. It re-equipped with Lancaster Mk.III bombers the same month, then Lancaster Mk.VI bombers in July. After the end of its bombing operations in April 1945 it was used for transport and food relief until disbanded at Downham Market on 1 September 1945.[3][6]

Notable squadron members

One member of the squadron, S/Ldr. I.W. Bazalgette, was awarded a posthumous VC following the raid against Trossy-St Maximin on 4 August 1944.[7][8]

Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated by No. 635 Squadron RAF[3][9][10]
From To Aircraft Version
March 1944 March 1944 Avro Lancaster Mk.I
March 1944 August 1945 Avro Lancaster Mk.III
July 1944 November 1944 Avro Lancaster Mk.VI

Squadron bases

Base used by No. 635 Squadron RAF[3][9][10]
From To Base
20 March 1944 1 September 1945 RAF Downham Market, Norfolk

References

Notes

  1. ^ Delve 1994, pp. 69, 78.
  2. ^ a b Moyes 1976, p. 289.
  3. ^ a b c d e Halley 1988, p. 442.
  4. ^ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 43.
  5. ^ Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 71.
  6. ^ Moyes 1976, pp. 289–290.
  7. ^ Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation
  8. ^ Moyes 1976, p. 359.
  9. ^ a b Moyes 1976, p. 290.
  10. ^ a b Jefford 2001, p. 102.

Bibliography

  • Bowyer, Michael J.F.; Rawlings, John D.R. (1979). Squadron Codes, 1937–56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 0-85059-364-6.
  • Delve, Ken (1994). The Source Book of the RAF. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-85310-451-5.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Thorne, Alex (1995). Lancaster at War 4: Pathfinder Squadron. Shepperton, Surrey, UK: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-1882-0.
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