No. 463 Squadron RAAF
Encyclopedia
No. 463 Squadron RAAF was a Royal Australian Air Force
heavy bomber
squadron during World War II
. The squadron was formed in the United Kingdom
on 25 November 1943 from personnel and aircraft allocated from No. 467 Squadron RAAF
. The Squadron was equipped with Avro Lancaster
bombers and flew its first raids on Germany
immediately after being formed. Operating as part of RAF Bomber Command
No. 463 Squadron conducted raids against cities, industrial facilities and military targets in Germany and France throughout 1944 and until the end of the war in May 1945. Following the war the Squadron evacuated Allied Prisoners of war
from Europe until it was disbanded on 25 September 1945.
|+Aircraft operated by no. 463 Squadron RAAF, data from
! From !! To !! Aircraft !! Version
|-
| November 1943 || September 1945 || Avro Lancaster
|| Mks.I, III
|+Bases and airfields used by no. 463 Squadron RAAF, data from
! From !! To !! Base
|-
| 25 November 1943 || 3 July 1945 || RAF Waddington
, Lincolnshire
|-
| 3 July 1945 || 25 September 1945 || RAF Skellingthorpe
, Lincolnshire
|+Officers commanding no. 463 Squadron RAAF, data from
! From !! To !! Name
|-
| 25 November 1943 || 19 June 1944 || Wing Commander
R. "Rollo" Kingsford-Smith, DSO
, DFC
, AM(US)
|-
| 19 June 1944 || 24 June 1944 (Shot down) || Flight Lieutenant
D.R. Donaldson (acting), DFC, AFC
|-
| 25 June 1944 || 18 January 1945 || Wing Commander W.A. Forbes, DSO, DFC
|-
| 18 January 1945 || July 1945 || Wing Commander K.M Kemp, DFC
|-
| July 1945 || 25 September 1945 || Wing Commander M.G. "Mick" Cowan, DSO
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
heavy bomber
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 during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The squadron was formed in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
on 25 November 1943 from personnel and aircraft allocated from No. 467 Squadron RAAF
No. 467 Squadron RAAF
No. 467 Squadron RAAF was a Royal Australian Air Force bomber squadron during World War II, active in the European Theater of Operations as an Article XV Squadron under command of the Royal Air Force.-History:No...
. The Squadron was equipped with 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...
bombers and flew its first raids on Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
immediately after being formed. Operating as part of RAF 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...
No. 463 Squadron conducted raids against cities, industrial facilities and military targets in Germany and France throughout 1944 and until the end of the war in May 1945. Following the war the Squadron evacuated Allied Prisoners of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
from Europe until it was disbanded on 25 September 1945.
Aircraft operated
{|class="wikitable"|+Aircraft operated by no. 463 Squadron RAAF, data from
! From !! To !! Aircraft !! Version
|-
| November 1943 || September 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
{|class="wikitable"|+Bases and airfields used by no. 463 Squadron RAAF, data from
! From !! To !! Base
|-
| 25 November 1943 || 3 July 1945 || RAF Waddington
RAF Waddington
RAF Waddington is a Royal Air Force station in Lincolnshire, England.-Formation:Waddington opened as a Royal Flying Corps flying training station in 1916 until 1920, when the station went into care and maintenance....
, 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...
|-
| 3 July 1945 || 25 September 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
{|class="wikitable"|+Officers commanding no. 463 Squadron RAAF, data from
! From !! To !! Name
|-
| 25 November 1943 || 19 June 1944 || Wing Commander
Wing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
R. "Rollo" Kingsford-Smith, 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...
, 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...
, AM(US)
Air Medal
The Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States. The award was created in 1942, and is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.-Criteria:...
|-
| 19 June 1944 || 24 June 1944 (Shot down) || Flight Lieutenant
Flight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
D.R. Donaldson (acting), DFC, 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"...
|-
| 25 June 1944 || 18 January 1945 || Wing Commander W.A. Forbes, DSO, DFC
|-
| 18 January 1945 || July 1945 || Wing Commander K.M Kemp, DFC
|-
| July 1945 || 25 September 1945 || Wing Commander M.G. "Mick" Cowan, DSO