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Aug 6, 2008 · In 1944 the Barracuda torpedo bomber wings of two squadrons on each fleet carrier, generally of 12 & 9 aircraft respectively, were firstly amalgamated into a single squadron. That squadron then re-equipped with Avengers and downsized to around 15 to allow expansion of the fighter squadrons.
A number of other groups were part of the command, including, in June 1944, No. 26 Group RAF, three operational training groups – No. 91 Group RAF at Morton Hall, Swinderby, which was merged into No. 21 Group RAF, part of RAF Flying Training Command, on 1 May 1947; [15] Nos 92 and 93 Groups; and No. 100 Group RAF [16] (of which last was responsible for development, operational trial and use ...
The aircrews of RAF Bomber Command during World War II operated a fleet of bomber aircraft carried strategic bombing operations from September 1939 to May 1945, on behalf of the Allied powers. The crews were men from the United Kingdom, other Commonwealth countries, and occupied Europe, especially Poland, France, Czechoslovakia and Norway, as ...
Note: Nos: 337–339 never formed, [43] but were allocated Squadron Codes OK, ML and KN respectively for the period April to September 1939. [42] The Royal Hellenic Air Force 13th Light Bomber Squadron was also under RAF command in World War II.
- 1939. © IWM (CH 17) In 1939 RAF Bomber Command had 23 operational bomber squadrons, with 280 aircraft. This modest force gave Britain the means to immediately strike back at Nazi Germany, but only against strictly military targets at first.
- 1940. © IWM (CH 364) In 1940, after Hitler's invasion of France, the RAF began a night-time bombing campaign against German industry, especially synthetic oil production.
- 1941. © IWM (CH 3175) In 1941 Bomber Command grew in strength, but navigation over blacked-out Europe was still a major problem. Setbacks in the Battle of the Atlantic meant a major effort was needed against German warships and U-boats.
- 1942. © IWM (CH 6071) In 1942 Bomber Command received a new aircraft – the Avro Lancaster – and a new leader – Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Harris. Accepting that precision bombing was proving impossible, the War Cabinet sanctioned 'area bombing' – the targeting of whole cities to destroy both factories and their workers.
It took astonishing courage to endure the conditions. Flying at night over occupied Europe, running the gauntlet of German night fighters, anti-aircraft fire and mid-air collisions, the nerves of these young men were stretched to breaking point. The bomber will always get through. RAF Bomber Command was formed in 1936.
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It received a major slice of Britain's economic and technological resources, and many of its brightest and best young men. Bomber Command crews suffered a high casualty rate: 55,573 were killed out of a total of 125,000 aircrew, a 44.4% death rate. A further 8,403 men were wounded in action, and 9,838 became prisoners of war.
