No. 619 Squadron RAF
Encyclopedia
No. 619 Squadron RAF was a heavy bomber
squadron
of the Royal Air Force
during the Second World War, flying Lancaster
bombers from bases in Lincolnshire
.
at RAF Woodhall Spa
in Lincolnshire
on 18 April 1943, equipped with Lancaster Mk.III
bombers, as part of 5 Group
in Bomber Command
. It also briefly flew Lancaster Mk.I bombers in the first month of operation. Their first mission was flown in the night of 11 June 1943, when 12 Lancasters were sent to bomb targets in Düsseldorf
, and the last bombing mission was flown on 25 April 1945, when 6 Lancasters tried to bomb SS barracks at Berchtesgaden
. The last operational mission was flown a day later, when 2 Lancasters laid mines in the Oslo Fjord near Horten
. After that mission the squadron ferried ex-prisoners of war back to the United Kingdom from Belgium (Operation Exodus).
The squadron operated out of various Lincolnshire
stations, before being disbanded at RAF Skellingthorpe
on 18 July 1945.
Members of the squadron were awarded 1 DSO
, 76 DFCs
and 37 DFMs
. The squadron was mentioned 10 times in despatches.
Heavy bomber
A heavy bomber is a bomber aircraft of the largest size and load carrying capacity, and usually the longest range.In New START, the term "heavy bomber" is used for two types of bombers:*one with a range greater than 8,000 kilometers...
squadron
Squadron (aviation)
A squadron in air force, army aviation or naval aviation is mainly a unit comprising a number of military aircraft, usually of the same type, typically with 12 to 24 aircraft, sometimes divided into three or four flights, depending on aircraft type and air force...
of the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
during the Second World War, flying Lancaster
Avro Lancaster
The Avro Lancaster is a British four-engined Second World War heavy bomber made initially by Avro for the Royal Air Force . It first saw active service in 1942, and together with the Handley Page Halifax it was one of the main heavy bombers of the RAF, the RCAF, and squadrons from other...
bombers from bases in Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
.
History
The squadron was formed out of elements of 97 SquadronNo. 97 Squadron RAF
No. 97 Squadron, was a Royal Air Force squadron formed on December 1, 1917 at Waddington, Lincolnshire, first as a training unit, until moving to Netheravon in March 1918, and re-equipping with the Handley Page O/400 heavy bomber. The squadron served in France for the remainder of the war...
at RAF Woodhall Spa
RAF Woodhall Spa
-History:Constructed on farmland 1 km south of Woodhall Spa, the station opened in February 1942 as a satellite station to RAF Coningsby. In August 1943 it became No 54 Base Substation. After victory in Europe the airfield was used as an assembly and kitting out point for Tiger Force...
in Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
on 18 April 1943, equipped with Lancaster Mk.III
Avro Lancaster
The Avro Lancaster is a British four-engined Second World War heavy bomber made initially by Avro for the Royal Air Force . It first saw active service in 1942, and together with the Handley Page Halifax it was one of the main heavy bombers of the RAF, the RCAF, and squadrons from other...
bombers, as part of 5 Group
No. 5 Group RAF
No. 5 Group was a Royal Air Force bomber group of the Second World War, led during the latter part by AVM Sir Ralph Cochrane.-History:The Group was formed on 1 September 1937 with headquarters at RAF Mildenhall....
in Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command controlled the RAF's bomber forces from 1936 to 1968. During World War II the command destroyed a significant proportion of Nazi Germany's industries and many German cities, and in the 1960s stood at the peak of its postwar military power with the V bombers and a supplemental...
. It also briefly flew Lancaster Mk.I bombers in the first month of operation. Their first mission was flown in the night of 11 June 1943, when 12 Lancasters were sent to bomb targets in Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and centre of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.Düsseldorf is an important international business and financial centre and renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. Located centrally within the European Megalopolis, the...
, and the last bombing mission was flown on 25 April 1945, when 6 Lancasters tried to bomb SS barracks at Berchtesgaden
Berchtesgaden
Berchtesgaden is a municipality in the German Bavarian Alps. It is located in the south district of Berchtesgadener Land in Bavaria, near the border with Austria, some 30 km south of Salzburg and 180 km southeast of Munich...
. The last operational mission was flown a day later, when 2 Lancasters laid mines in the Oslo Fjord near Horten
Horten
is a town and municipality in Vestfold county, Norway—located along the Oslofjord. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Horten. The municipality also includes the villages of Borre, Åsgårdstrand, Skoppum, and Nykirke....
. After that mission the squadron ferried ex-prisoners of war back to the United Kingdom from Belgium (Operation Exodus).
The squadron operated out of various Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
stations, before being disbanded at RAF Skellingthorpe
RAF Skellingthorpe
The former Royal Air Force Station Skellingthorpe, more commonly known as RAF Skellingthorpe was a station of the Royal Air Force during World War II. It was located in the city of Lincoln, England...
on 18 July 1945.
Members of the squadron were awarded 1 DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, 76 DFCs
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
and 37 DFMs
Distinguished Flying Medal
The Distinguished Flying Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Royal Air Force and the other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active...
. The squadron was mentioned 10 times in despatches.
Aircraft operated
| From | To | Aircraft | Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 April 1943 | 18 September 1943 | Airspeed Oxford Airspeed Oxford The Airspeed AS.10 Oxford was a twin-engine aircraft used for training British Commonwealth aircrews in navigation, radio-operating, bombing and gunnery during the Second World War.-Design and development:... |
Mks.I, II |
| 18 April 1943 | 18 July 1945 | Avro Lancaster Avro Lancaster The Avro Lancaster is a British four-engined Second World War heavy bomber made initially by Avro for the Royal Air Force . It first saw active service in 1942, and together with the Handley Page Halifax it was one of the main heavy bombers of the RAF, the RCAF, and squadrons from other... |
Mks.I, III |
Squadron bases
| From | To | Base |
|---|---|---|
| 18 April 1943 | 9 January 1944 | RAF Woodhall Spa RAF Woodhall Spa -History:Constructed on farmland 1 km south of Woodhall Spa, the station opened in February 1942 as a satellite station to RAF Coningsby. In August 1943 it became No 54 Base Substation. After victory in Europe the airfield was used as an assembly and kitting out point for Tiger Force... , Lincolnshire Lincolnshire Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders... |
| 9 January 1944 | 17 April 1944 | RAF Coningsby RAF Coningsby RAF Coningsby , is a Royal Air Force station in Lincolnshire, England. It has been commanded by Group Captain Martin Sampson since 10 December 2010.-Operational units:... , Lincolnshire |
| 17 April 1944 | 28 September 1944 | RAF Dunholme Lodge RAF Dunholme Lodge RAF Dunholme Lodge was a Royal Air Force station during the Second World War. Located between the parishes of Welton and Dunholme in Lincolnshire, England.-History:... , Lincolnshire |
| 28 September 1944 | 30 June 1945 | RAF Strubby, Lincolnshire |
| 30 June 1945 | 18 July 1945 | RAF Skellingthorpe RAF Skellingthorpe The former Royal Air Force Station Skellingthorpe, more commonly known as RAF Skellingthorpe was a station of the Royal Air Force during World War II. It was located in the city of Lincoln, England... , Lincolnshire |
Commanding officers
| From | To | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 20 April 1943 | 17 August 1943 | W/Cdr. I.J. McChie, DFC Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom) The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against... |
| 20 August 1943 | 4 December 1943 | W/Cdr. W. Abercromby, DFC |
| 4 December 1943 | 23 May 1944 | W/Cdr. J.R. Jeudwine, OBE Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions... , DFC |
| 23 May 1944 | 26 July 1944 | W/Cdr. J.R. Maling, AFC Air Force Cross (United Kingdom) The Air Force Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, and formerly also to officers of the other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy"... |
| 28 July 1944 | 21 February 1945 | W/Cdr. A.R. Millward, DFC |
| 21 February 1945 | 14 June 1945 | W/Cdr. S.G. Birch, DFC |
| 14 June 1945 | 18 July 1945 | W/Cdr. Flett |