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No. 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron, Royal Air Force
No. 44 Squadron was briefly formed on 15th April 1916 but re-designated as No.26 Reserve Squadron only 5 weeks later. It was re-formed in Essex over a year later on 24th July 1917 as a Home Defence night fighter squadron. Disbanded in 1919, No.44 was re-formed at Wyton in March 1937 as a bomber squadron with Hawker Hinds, moving later in the year to Waddington. On the outbreak of war it was equipped with Hampden bomber In the five years and eight months of WWII 44 Squadron had the highest Lancaster losses of any unit in Bomber Command, and the highest losses in 5 Group. In all it lost over 200 aircraft and nearly 1,100 men. The total sorties and losses were: Handley Page Hampden 2043 sorties (43 lost)
Avro Lancaster 4362 sorties (149 lost in combat, 22 in flying accidents)
The Squadron was one of just two that remained operational with Bomber Command for the whole of the war, the other being 149 Squadron.
Airfields No: 44 Squadron flew from during the course of the war:
- Waddington, Lincolnshire. 1939 to 31st May 1943
- Dunholme, Lodge Lincolnshire. 1st May 1943 to 30th Sep 1944
- Spilsby, Lincolnshire. 30th Sep 1944 to 21st July 1945
- Mepal, Cambridgeshire. from 21st July 1945.
3rd Sept 1939 Sweep
7th Sep 1939 Posting
12th Sep 1939 Postings
21st Dec 1939 Aircraft Lost
26th March 1940 Raids
9th Apr 1940 Posting
12th April 1940 Raid
15th May 1940 German troops attacked
15th May 1940 Aircraft Lost
24th May 1940 Aircraft Lost
4th June 1940 Collided with barrage balloon
12th June 1940 Aircraft Lost
13th Jun 1940 44 Squadron Hampden lost
29th Jul 1940 44 Squadron Hampden lost
25th August 1940 Air Raid
8th Apr 1941 Aircraft Lost
17th Apr 1941 Eleven Aircraft Lost
2nd May 1941 Aircraft Lost
12th May 1941 Hampden Lost
12th Jun 1941 Aircraft Lost
13th Jun 1941 Aircraft Lost
19th Jun 1941 Aircraft Lost
8th Jul 1941 Aircraft Lost
21st Jul 1941 Aircraft Lost
24th Jul 1941 Aircraft Lost
27th Jul 1941 Aircraft Lost
30th Jul 1941 Aircraft Lost
1st Aug 1941 Aircraft Lost
16th Aug 1941 Aircraft Lost
28th Aug 1941 Aircraft Lost
31st Aug 1941 Aircraft Lost
Sept 1941 In September 1941, No.44 Squadron's title was altered to No. 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron in recognition of that country's generous donations to the war effort, about a quarter of the squadron's personnel were Rhodesian.
Sept 1941
2nd Sep 1941 Aircraft Lost
7th September 1941 Aircraft Lost
8th Sep 1941 Aircraft Lost
11th Sep 1941 Aircraft Lost
15th Sep 1941 Aircraft Lost
10th Oct 1941 Aircraft Lost
13th Oct 1941 Aircraft Lost
21st Oct 1941 Aircraft Lost
23rd Oct 1941 Aircraft Lost
26th Oct 1941 Aircraft Lost
8th Nov 1941 Aircraft Lost
17th Dec 1941 Losses
17th Dec 1941 Aircraft Lost
7th Feb 1942 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
17th Apr 1942 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
17th Apr 1942 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
17th Apr 1942 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
17th Apr 1942 Daylight Raid
27th April 1942 Third Attack on the Tirpitz
28th April 1942 Fourth Attack on the Tirpitz
8th May 1942 Aircraft Lost
9th May 1942 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
9th May 1942 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
20th May 1942 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
6th Jun 1942 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
1st Aug 1942 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
5th Aug 1942 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
12th Aug 1942 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
16th Aug 1942 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
25th Aug 1942 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
28th Aug 1942 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
2nd Oct 1942 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
7th Oct 1942 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
17th October 1942 Operation Robinson
11th Nov 1942 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
22nd Nov 1942 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
18th Dec 1942 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
21st Dec 1942 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
18th Jan 1943 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
28th Mar 1943 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
30th Mar 1943 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
10th Apr 1943 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
14th May 1943 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
14th May 1943 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
31st May 1943 On the Move
24th Jul 1943 Raid
18th Aug 1943 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
18th Aug 1943 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
18th Aug 1943 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
2nd Oct 1943 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
3rd Oct 1943 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
4th Oct 1943 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
10th Nov 1943 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
18th Nov 1943 Aircraft Lost
24th Nov 1943 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
24th Nov 1943 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
3rd Dec 1943 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
24th Dec 1943 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
7th Jan 1944 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
15th Jan 1944 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
25th Feb 1944 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
1st Mar 1943 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
25th Mar 1944 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
30th Mar 1944 Aircraft Lost
30th Mar 1944 Aircraft Lost
21st Apr 1944 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
27th Apr 1944 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
4th May 1944 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
8th May 1944 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
1st Jun 1944 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
10th Jun 1944 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
11th Jun 1944 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
21st Jun 1944 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
21st June 1944 Aircraft Lost
22nd Jun 1944 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
25th Jun 1944 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
5th Jul 1944 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
8th Jul 1944 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
16th Jul 1944 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
17th Aug 1944 Aircraft Lost
Sept 1944 Change of Base
5th Nov 1944 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
9th Feb 1945 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
7th Mar 1945 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
10th April 1945 Aircraft Lost
13th May 1945 44 Squadron Lancaster lost
June 1945 Operation Dodge
July 1945 On the Move
If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.
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Logbooks
Do you have a WW2 Flying Log Book in your possession?
If so it would be a huge help if you could add logbook entries to our new database. Thank you.
View Logbook entries
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Those known to have served with No. 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron, Royal Air Force during the Second World War 1939-1945. - Andrews K. G.. Sgt.
- Beaton Jack.
- Beckett Geoffrey. Sgt (d.17 Dec 1942)
- Bell William. Sgt. (d.6th Sep 1940)
- Bennett William. Sgt
- Bennie John Gowans. Gunner
- Birmingham Allen Sutherland. WO
- Brett Raymond William. Sgt. (d.22nd June 1944)
- Brock Thomas W.. Sgt. (d.22nd Nov1942)
- Brock Thomas William. Sgt. (d.22nd Nov 1942)
- Brock Thomas W.. Sgt. (d.23rd Nov 1942)
- Bull William Sharman. Flt.Lt. (d.4th July 1940)
- Cahill Dennis. Sgt. (d.4th Oct 1944)
- Cook William Bernard. F/Lt.
- Coults John. Sgt.
- Craig Gordon.
- Craig Thomas Watson. F/O.
- Crammond J. H.. F/Sgt
- Croft Leonard George. Sgt. (d.3rd Aug 1943)
- Currie DFM. John Richard. Sgt.
- Elgar John.
- Emson Joseph William. S/Sgt. (d.18th Oct 1943)
- Evans Norman Joseph. FO (d.4th October 1944)
- Forrest John la. P/O
- Gibbin Terrance. LAC. (d.21st December 1939)
- Giri Vincent Noel. P/O. (d.20th Dec 1942)
- Goulette Jimmy. Sgt.
- Greatz E. H.. F/Sgt.
- Harper John Derrick. P/O. (d.4th Oct 1944)
- Hayes Bernard Michael. P/O. (d.25th Mar 1944)
- Heath Merrik. Flt Lt
- Hill Charles Ellison. Flt.Lt. (d.23rd Nov 1943)
- Hough William John. P/O. (d.16th July 1944)
- Hynes DFC. Terence Gearld . P/O.
- Ibbotson T.. F/O
- Jack William Cameron. Sgt. (d.15th March 1944)
- Johnson Charles Edward. Sqd.Ldr. (d.24th May 1940)
- Lewis John. Sgt. (d.25th Jun 1944)
- Lewis John. Sgt. (d.25th Jun 1944)
- McCallum Robert. W/O
- McCoy Louis Joseph Patrick. Flt.Sgt. (d.22nd June 1944)
- Miller Reginald Talbot. Sgt. (d.20th July 1940)
- Murray I. R.. F/Sgt.
- Nettleton VC. John Dering. Sqd.Ldr. (d.13th July 1943)
- Nixon Percy Dryden. Sgt. (d.20th July 1940)
- Norman Allan. Sgt.
- Oakley Clarence.
- Openshaw Roy. Sgt. (d.25th Feb 1944)
- Parkinson Ron. Sgt
- Phillips John Ernest. F/Sgt. (d.1st September 1941)
- Pitcher DFM. Henry Robert. Flt/Sgt.
- Pitcher DFM. Henry Robert. F/O.
- Pyper Paddy. Sgt
- Rawson John. Flt Sgt
- Riddoch Robert Alexander. WO2 (d.25th Jun 1944)
- Saunders DFM. Harry. Sgt.
- Sewell William. Sgt. (d.2nd/3rd August 1943)
- Shearman Peter James. P/O (d.15th Jun 1943)
- Simons Harry. Pilot
- Smith A.. Sgt
- Stace John Alan. Flt.Sgt.
- Stoddart Raymond Tarlton. Sgt. (d.29th May 1943)
- Suckling Russell Henry. F/O. (d.28th August 1942)
- Swinfen MID. Kenneth Edward. Flt.Lt.
- Thompson DFM. John Charles. Sgt
- Thompson DFC. John Charles. Sgt.
- Toft William Eric. Sgt. (d.2nd Mar 1943)
- Towill Charles Edgar. WO. (d.23rd October 1944)
- Towill Charles Edgar. WO. (d.23rd October 1944)
- Vause Charles William. Sgt.
- Wells DFC F. A.. F/Lt.
- Wells DFC Frances Arthur. F/Lt
- Weymouth Charles Anthony. Sgt. (d.23rd Nov 1942)
- Whithead T. W.. F/Sgt.
- Whitney Stanley William. Sgt. (d.24th Dec 1943)
- Wilde James Alec. Sgt. (d.23rd Dec 1943)
- Williams Robert Earnest. Sgt. (d.14th Sep 1942)
- Worrall J. R.W.. Sgt.
The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed,
please Add a Name to this List
Records of No. 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron, Royal Air Force from other sources.
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Want to know more about No. 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron, Royal Air Force? There are:2123 items tagged No. 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron, Royal Air Force available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War. |
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Gordon Craig 44 Sqd. My father, Gordon Craig was moved to Stalag
VIIIB from Stalag Luft III after being caught up in various escape
attempts. He had been shot down in Lancaster C-Charlie from 44
Squadron, RAF on the night of 6th October, 1942, during a raid on
Osnabrück. He remained at VIIB until being force-marched on what
became known as the Death March.
I have a collection of letters between him and my mother, Mary Craig,
written during his time as a POW, together with his prison camp and
Death March diary and various artifacts, such as a polished tin
'mirror' he made to keep up his appearance (and thus his spirits) while
he was there. He also wrote notes for a couple of talks he gave;
apparently people with various types of civilian or technical expertise
were encouraged to give talks to groups of inmates. He was involved
with some of the shows they put on as well.
My dad was a Stockton boy, he grew up in Durham Road
and first flew as a auxiliary from Middleton St George. My Mum was a
Norton girl from Birkley Road; she worked in the torpedo labs at the
ICI during the war and often did Fire-watch Duty at night.
My Dad and Mum died within a year of each other in the
mid 1980s and are much missed. Despite the privations and sometimes
horrors of my dad's wartime experiences, he always said in later years
that he felt 'more alive' during the war and that life often seemed
duller afterwards. On the whole, he spoke quite freely of events at
Stalag VIIB, although he did refer to it as a much more 'serious' place
that was grimmer and more prison-like than Stalag Luft III had been.
His sense of humour certainly helped, he described a few situations
that I would have been hard-pressed to find amusing had they happened
to me!
My compliments to you on the site, it's beautifully put together and a
real mine of information.
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P/O. Terence Gearld "Turlough" Hynes DFC. 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron Terence Hynes was shot down during a bombing raid on oil refinery in Glenererhin on the night of 29th of August 1940 and was a POW until May 1945 and as far as I know he was in Oflag VI B.
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Pilot Harry Simons 44 Squadron Pilot Harry Simons flew with George Cutter (Navigator), Jock Taylor (Rear Gunner), Bob Davis (Bomb Aimer), John Bennie (Mid Upper Gunner), Harry Middleton (Wireless Op).
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WO. Charles Edgar Towill 44 Squadron (d.23rd October 1944) Charles Towill was a former pupil of Carlisle Grammar School. He was the son of Marcus Herbert Towill and Martha Grace nee Watson.
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WO. Charles Edgar Towill 44 Squadron (d.23rd October 1944) Charles Towill was a former pupil of Carlisle Grammar School. He was the son of Marcus Herbert Towill and Martha Grace nee Watson.
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LAC. Terrance Gibbin 44 Squadron (d.21st December 1939) Terrance Gibbin was a Wireless Operator, I look after his war grave in St Cuthbert's Cemitary, Kirkleatham, Near Redcar. It was never attended to, as no known Family now exist. It appears his Hamden Bomber was shot down by friendly fire over the North Sea on the 21st of December 1939.
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Sgt. Dennis Cahill 44 Squadron (d.4th Oct 1944) Sergeant (Air Gunner) Dennis Cahill was the son of Thomas and Mildred Powel Cahill, of Scawthorpe, Yorkshire.
He was 23 when he died and is buried in the Strandby (Aars) Churchyard in Denmark.
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P/O. John Derrick Harper 44 Squadron (d.4th Oct 1944) Pilot Officer (Air Bomber) John Harper was the son of F/O. James Leslie Harper, R.A.F. (V.R.) who died on active service on the 24th August, 1944 and of his wife Nora of Prenton, Cheshire.
John was aged 21 when he died and is buried in the Skive General Cemetery in Denmark.
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P/O. Vincent Noel Giri 44 Squadron (d.20th Dec 1942) Pilot Officer Vincent Giri flew as a Wireless Op./Air Gunner with 44 Squadron. He lost his life on the 20th of December 1942 and is buried in Horsted (All Saints) Churchyard.
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Flt.Lt. William Sharman Bull 44 Squadron (d.4th July 1940) Flight Lieutenant (Air Gunner) William Bull was the son of Frederick and Helen Bull, husband of Patricia Bull of Ivybridge, Devon.
He was aged 34 when he died and is buried in the Norre Lyngvig Churchyard in Denmark.
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