No. 625 Squadron RAF
Encyclopedia
No. 625 Squadron RAF was a heavy bomber squadron of the Royal Air Force
during the Second World War.
, Lincolnshire
from 'C' flight of 100 Squadron
. It was equipped with Avro Lancaster
s, 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 a Air Crew Roll Of Honour was compiled into a searchable database - contact www.lancaster-archive.com for more information
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.
History
The squadron was formed on 1 October 1943 at RAF KelsternKelstern
Kelstern is a village in the civil parish of Calcethorpe with Kelstern, in the East Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. The village lies north of the A632, north-west from Louth and south-east from Binbrook. The parish includes the hamlets of Calcethorpe to the south of Kelstern, and...
, 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...
from 'C' flight of 100 Squadron
No. 100 Squadron RAF
No. 100 Squadron of the Royal Air Force is based at RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire, UK, and operates the Hawker-Siddeley Hawk.-World War I:No. 100 was established on 23 February 1917 at Hingham in Norfolk as the Royal Flying Corps' first squadron formed specifically as a night bombing unit and...
. It 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...
s, as part of No. 1 Group RAF
No. 1 Group RAF
Number 1 Group of the Royal Air Force is one of the two operations groups in Air Command.The group is today referred to as the Air Combat Group, as it controls the RAF's combat fast-jet aircraft and has airfields in the UK plus RAF Unit Goose Bay in Canada, which is used extensively as an...
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...
, 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
RAF Scampton
Royal Air Force Station Scampton is a Royal Air Force station situated north of Lincoln in England, near the village of Scampton, on the site of an old First World War landing field.-First World War:...
. At the end of the war, the squadron dropped food to the starving Dutch people (Operation Manna), and flew Prisoner 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...
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 a Air Crew Roll Of Honour was compiled into a searchable database - contact www.lancaster-archive.com for more information
Last mission before V.E. (Victory of Europe) Day
7 May 1945- 13 Lancasters dropped supplies to Dutch at RotterdamRotterdamRotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
and another Lancaster aborted
Aircraft operated
| From | To | Aircraft | Variant |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 1943 | October 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 & II |
Squadron bases
| From | To | Base |
|---|---|---|
| October 1943 | April 1945 | RAF Kelstern Kelstern Kelstern is a village in the civil parish of Calcethorpe with Kelstern, in the East Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. The village lies north of the A632, north-west from Louth and south-east from Binbrook. The parish includes the hamlets of Calcethorpe to the south of Kelstern, and... , 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... |
| April 1945 | October 1945 | RAF Scampton RAF Scampton Royal Air Force Station Scampton is a Royal Air Force station situated north of Lincoln in England, near the village of Scampton, on the site of an old First World War landing field.-First World War:... , Lincolnshire |