Service History

With the exception short detachments in November and December 1939 and again from Mat to October 1942. The squadron remained operational with No. 4 Group until the conclusion of the war

Squadron Identity Letters

Stations

C6, LK, MH, UT

Linton-on-Ouse, Dishforth, Snaith, Leconfield

Logistics

Operational Performance

Operational Sorties And Losses

Group

Aircraft

Bombing Targets Tasked

Mine Laying Areas Tasked

Leaflets

Total Sorties

Flown

Aircraft Lost

Percent

4 GP

Whitley

221

0

10

1806

50

2.80

4 GP

Halifax

255

9

0

4153

108

2.60

Totals

476

9

10

5959

158

2.70

Of Note:

Flew 2 parachute dropping sorties with 4 GP Whitley’s (included in Op’s and Losses)

An operational squadron from the outbreak of the war

3 Whitley’s flew the first night time operational sorties on the first night of the war – leaflets over Hamburg and other unspecific locations

Pioneered operational dropping of airborne forces

Dropped troops who carried out the raid on the Italian aqueduct in February 1941 (actually 51 Squadron crews in 78 Squadron aircraft) and the Bruneval raid on 27/28 February 1942

Flew most Whitley sorties than any other squadron

Memorial

Unknown