No. 50 Squadron, Royal Air Force

No. 50 Squadron was formed at Swingate (Dover) on 15th May 1916 and served as a Home Defence Squadron covering Kent throughout the First World War. It was disbanded on 13 June 1919. The Squadron reformed at RAF Waddington on 3 May 1937, equipped with Hawker Hind biplane light bombers.
By the time the Second World War broke out it had converted to the Handley Page Hampden monoplane medium bomber. 50 Squadron dropped approximately 21,000 tons of bombs, the highest total of any 5 Group squadron. The Squadron flew 7,135 sorties during the war with a loss of 176 aircraft.
Airfields at which No: 50 Squadron were based:

Waddington. 1939 to 10 Jul 1940
Lindholme.10 Jul 1940 to 19 Jul 1941
Swinderby 19 Jul 1941 to 26 Nov 1941
Skellingthorpe. 26 Nov 1941 to 20 Jun 1942
Swinderby 20 Jun 1942 to 17 Oct 1942
Skellingthorpe. 17 Oct 1942 to 15 Jun 1945
Sturgate from 15 Jun 1945

19th March 1940 First bombing mission

9th Apr 1940 Posting

12th April 1940 Raid

14th April 1940

13th May 1940 Night Ops

13th May 1940 Bombing raids to the Low Countries

15th May 1940 German troops attacked

26th Jun 1940 Hampden L4078 lost

26th June 1940 Aircraft Lost

10th July 1940

26th Aug 1940 50 Squadron Hampden lost

31st August 1940 Bombing raids over Europe

15th Dec 1940 Aircraft Lost

2nd Mar 1941 Hampden Lost

12th Mar 1941 Night Ops

1st Apr 1941 Hampden Lost

5th Apr 1941 Hampden Lost

10th Apr 1941 50 Squadron Hampden lost

11th Apr 1941 50 Squadron Hampden lost

17th Apr 1941 Eleven Aircraft Lost

28th Apr 1941 Aircraft Lost

2nd Jun 1941 Aircraft Lost

18th Jun 1941 Aircraft Lost

18th Jun 1941 Aircraft Lost

12th Jul 1941 Aircraft Lost

16th Jul 1941 Aircraft Lost

19th Jul 1941 Aircraft Lost

20th July 1941

23rd Jul 1941 Aircraft Lost

25th Jul 1941 Aircraft Lost

28th Jul 1941 Aircraft Lost

5th August 1941 Aircraft Lost

8th Aug 1941 Aircraft Lost

11th Aug 1941 Tea, Bombs and Experiments

15th Aug 1941 Aircraft Lost

17th Aug 1941 Aircraft Lost

25th Aug 1941 Aircraft Lost

27th Aug 1941 Aircraft Lost

29th Aug 1941 Aircraft Lost

2nd Sep 1941 Aircraft Lost

7th September 1941 Aircraft Lost

8th Sep 1941 Aircraft Lost

12th Oct 1941 Aircraft Lost

13th Oct 1941 Aircraft Lost

20th October 1941 Aircraft Lost

23rd Oct 1941 Aircraft Lost

25th Oct 1941 Aircraft Lost

26th Oct 1941 Aircraft Lost

6th Nov 1941 Aircraft Lost

15th Nov 1941 Aircraft Lost

26th Nov 1941 On the Move

30th Nov 1941 Aircraft Lost

27th Dec 1941 Aircraft Lost

10th Jan 1942 Aircraft Lost

14th Jan 1942 Aircraft Lost

7th February 1942 Bombers lost on minelaying sortie

25th Mar 1942 50 Squadron Manchester lost

April 1942 New Aircraft Arrive

18th Apr 1942 50 Squadron Mancester lost

30th Apr 1942 50 Squadron Manchester lost

30th May 1942 1000 Bomber Raid

30th May 1942 Raid

31st May 1942 50 Squadron Manchester lost

20th June 1942 On the Move

5th Sep 1942 50 Squadron Manchester lost

19th Sep 1942 Aircraft Lost

16th Oct 1942 On the Move

17th October 1942 Operation Robinson

14th May 1943 50 Squadron Lancaster lost

13th Jun 1943 50 Squadron Lancaster lost

15th Jun 1943 50 Squadron Lancaster lost

15th Jul 1943 Aircraft Lost

25th July 1943 Operations

26th Jul 1943 50 Squadron Lancaster lost

31st Jul 1943 50 Squadron Lancaster lost

23rd Nov 1943 50 Squadron Lancaster lost

26th November 1943 Aircraft Lost

27th Nov 1943 50 Squadron Lancaster lost

29th Dec 1943 Aircraft Lost

30th Mar 1944 Aircraft Lost

9th April 1945 50 Squadron Lancaster lost

5th Jun 1944 Aircraft Lost

24th Sep 1944 50 Squadron Lancaster lost

3rd Feb 1945 50 Squadron Lancaster lost

26 April 1945 Last Ops

16th June 1945 Preparations

If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.

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

Those known to have served with
No. 50 Squadron, Royal Air Force
during the Second World War 1939-1945.

Alsopp Kenneth George. Sgt. (d.8th Jul 1944)
Amey DFM. F. W.. Flt.Sgt.
Andrews Edgar James. Sgt. (d.15th Oct 1940)
Austin Derrick. Sergeant (d.8th Jul, 1944)
Bake Alfred George.
Ballantyne Donald.
Barnes Richard. Pilot Officer
Barnes Richard. Pilot Officer
Baveystock L H. Sergeant
Baveystock L H. Sergeant
Bell Derek. Sgt. (d.27th Dec 1941)
Beresford A. G.. F/Sgt.
Berry Ernest. F/Sgt.
Bishop James Douglas. P/O (d.8th Jul 1944)
Blakemore E. J.. P/O
Brown Frederick. Sgt.
Brown John Downie. (d.2nd Jun 1942)
Buchan David McDougal. Sgt.
Bull John. (d.12th Apr 1940)
Bunbury John Shirley. F/O (d.17th Aug 1942)
Cole T. B.. Sqd Ldr.
Collins Eugene Patrick. Sgt.
Cook Michael Arthur. Sgt. (d.6th Nov 1944)
Cook Michael Arthur. F.Sgt. (d.6th Nov 1944)
Copson D.. Sgt. (d.22nd Jun 1944)
Craig Robert. Flt.Sgt. (d.25th July 1944)
Craven J.. F/O.
Crockart Norman David. Wg.Cdr. (d.27th June 1940)
Dane William Frederick Selwood. WO.
Darby William. Sgt. (d.6th Nov 1944)
Dowling Ralph Andrew. Flt.Sgt. (d.6th Nov 1944)
Dunkelman George Amos. P/O (d.6th Nov 1944)
Dunkleman Fred. Sgt.
Endean DFC William John Keand. F/O.
Erdwin Frederick Henry. Sgt. (d.17th April 1941)
Farrow James Phillip. Sqd.Ldr.
Faulkner William John. Sgt. (d.30th Aug 1944)
Ferris George .
Fleming Jerrold Ronald. Sqd.Ldr.
Franklin Kenneth Alfred Edward. WO.
Frith Stanley R.. Flt.Sgt. (d.30th Aug 1944)
Grant Donald. F/O
Green Albert William. Sgt.
Guest Jack. Sgt. (d.12th July 1941)
Gurney Denis Albert. Sgt. (d.24th Jan 1945)
Hannah N.. P/O
Harper Robert Noel. Sergeant (d.8th Jul 1944)
Hart Robert Isaac. (d.2nd Jun 1942)
Higgins George Albert. Sgt. (d.8th Jul 1944)
Hill Gordon Leslie. Flt.Sgt. (d.26th July 1943)
Hill John Kenneth. P/O. (d.17th April 1941)
Hobbs Frank. Flt.Sgt. (d.16th March 1944)
Hopkins Frederick Randall. P/O (d.8th Jul 1944)
Hopkinson Eric. Sgt. (d.23rd May 1944)
Horning Fred. Sgt.
Horning Frederick Arthur. F/O (d.6th Nov 1944)
Horsley R M. Pilot Officer
Horsley R M. Pilot Officer
Huggins Albert George. F/Lt.
Ingram Allen John Dennis. Sgt. (d.27th June 1940)
Ingram Allen John Dennis. Sgt. (d.27th June 1940)
Ingram Kenneth Herschel Callender. F/Sgt. (d.2nd Oct 1944)
Jackson Clifford. F/Sgt. (d.8th Jul 1944)
Jackson H.. Sgt. (d.12th July 1941)
King S E. Sergeant
King S E. Sergeant
Knight Harold. Sgt. (d.17 April 1942)
Laidlaw Alain. P/O
Lamb John Thompson. Sgt. (d.17th April 1941)
Lambert William Lewis. (d.2nd Jun 1942)
Lane J. F..
Layne DFC. Walter Henry.
Lewis Clifford Howard. Sgt. (d.2nd Mar 1943)
Lewis Denys William. Flt.Sgt
Lloyd Edgar Charles Prytherch . Sgt. (d.8th Jul 1944)
Lord Kenneth John. Sgt. (d.12th July 1941)
Manser VC Leslie Thomas. Flying Officer (d.31st May 1942)
Manser VC Leslie Thomas. Flying Officer (d.31st May 1942)
Marlow Ronald.
McCallum Robert. W/O
McCray David William. F/Sgt. (d.17th Dec 1944)
McDonald H. S.. F/Sgt.
Meeking Donald William. Sgt. (d.12th Feb 1942)
Mills A McF. Sergeant
Mills A McF. Sergeant
Miners C. Alf. Sgt.
Morfey Ainsley Henry. Sgt. (d.10th August 1944)
Motriuk Stanley Arcadie. W/O (d.8th Jul 1944)
Mutch Ernest. Sgt. (d.30th August 1944)
Nash MID Reginald Morris.
Naylor B W. Sergeant
Naylor B W. Sergeant
Newman DFC Cecil. W/O
Nisbet DFC. Adrian Home. F/O.
Noren Peter Oliver Kenneth. Flt Sgt. (d.8th Jul 1944)
O'Connor Charles Joseph. F/Sgt. (d.8th Jul 1944)
Packard S. E.. F/Sgt.
Pate Alfred Joseph William.
Pate Alfred. WO
Poole David John. Sgt. (d.24th Dec 1943)
Rennie Robert .
Rennie Robert Edward. F/O (d.6th Nov 1944)
Robson George. (d.2nd Jun 1942)
Ross Robert John S.. Sgt.
Sanderson Victor Andrew. Fl. Sgt. (d.31st March 1944)
Sanderson Victor Andrew. F/Sgt. (d.31st March 1944)
Scott C. J.. Sgt. (d.30th Apr 1942)
Shorter Frederick Henry. Sgt. (d.22nd Jun 1944)
Smettem Kenneth Richard K.. P/O. (d.30th Aug 1940)
Stenner DSO, DFC. Charles Darwen. Wing Cdr.
Stenner DSO, DFC. Charles Darwen. Wing Cdr.
Steward Maurice James. F/O. (d.13th Feb 1943)
Stirling Eric John Walter. F/Sgt. (d.8th Jul 1944)
Taylor John Cecil Philip. P/O.
Terris George Thompson Gilbert. F/O (d.6th Nov 1944)
Thibedeau Roy Frederick. P/O (d.31st Mar 1944)
Tucker George Henry. Sgt. (d.8th Jul 1944)
Tweedale Frederick. Sgt. (d.4th Oct 1943)
Vivian Edward Douglas. P/O. (d.12th July 1941)
Weber Arthur John. Flt.Sgt. (d.13th Jun 1943)
Wilkins DFC. George A.. A/Fl.Lt
Willett DFM. S.. F/Sgt.
Willett Tim. Flt. Sgt.
Williams D. A.. Sgt. (d.30th Apr 1942)
Winter Robert Gordon. Sgt.
Wise Geoffrey Norman. F/Sgt. (d.12th Sep 1944)
Wright Stanley. Sgt. (d.17th April 1941)

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. 50 Squadron, Royal Air Force from other sources.

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Want to know more about No. 50 Squadron, Royal Air Force?

There are:2089 items tagged No. 50 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.

Flt.Sgt. Stanley R. Frith 50 Squadron (d.30th Aug 1944)

A good friend of my family had a brother Stanley R Frith who flew with 50 Squadron. He was killed August 30th 1944. He was an Air Gunner. My friend has no idea where his brother was when he went down or what he was doing. It would be helpful for him to know.

T. McIsaac

Add to this record.

Flt.Sgt. Arthur John Weber 50 Squadron (d.13th Jun 1943)

John Weber was my wife's cousin. He was an old boy of Bembridge School on the Isle of White and his name also appears on their war memorial.

Dick Wingrove

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Sgt. David McDougal Buchan 50 Squadron

My Uncle, Sgt David McDougal Buchan, was a Navigator serving with 50 Squadron at Skellingthorpe.

David and his crew.

Scan of a letter received from Skellingthorpe

David William Buchan

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Sergeant B W Naylor 50 Squadron

Manchester L7301, airborne 30th May 1942 from Skellingthorpe, was hit by flak over Cologne and very severely damaged. Subsequently abandoned by six of the crew, after which the Manchester crashed 0200 31st May 1942 into a dyke at Bree (Limburg), 21 km NNE of Genk, Belgium. The testimonies of the five evaders were instrumental in the posthumous award of the VC made to their skipper, P/O Manser.
P/O L.T.Manser KIA
P/O R.J.Barnes PoW
Sgt L.H.Baveystock Evd
P/O R.M.Horsley Evd
Sgt S.E.King Evd
Sgt A.McF Mills Evd
Sgt B.W.Naylor Evd

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Sergeant A McF Mills 50 Squadron

Manchester L7301, airborne 30th May 1942 from Skellingthorpe, was hit by flak over Cologne and very severely damaged. Subsequently abandoned by six of the crew, after which the Manchester crashed 0200 31st May 1942 into a dyke at Bree (Limburg), 21 km NNE of Genk, Belgium. The testimonies of the five evaders were instrumental in the posthumous award of the VC made to their skipper, P/O Manser.
P/O L.T.Manser KIA
P/O R.J.Barnes PoW
Sgt L.H.Baveystock Evd
P/O R.M.Horsley Evd
Sgt S.E.King Evd
Sgt A.McF Mills Evd
Sgt B.W.Naylor Evd

Add to this record.

Sergeant S E King 50 Squadron

Manchester L7301,airborne 30th May 1942 from Skellingthorpe, was hit by flak over Cologne and very severely damaged. Subsequently abandoned by six of the crew, after which the Manchester crashed 0200 31st May 1942 into a dyke at Bree (Limburg), 21 km NNE of Genk, Belgium. The testimonies of the five evaders were instrumental in the posthumous award of the VC made to their skipper, P/O Manser.
P/O L.T.Manser KIA
P/O R.J.Barnes PoW
Sgt L.H.Baveystock Evd
P/O R.M.Horsley Evd
Sgt S.E.King Evd
Sgt A.McF Mills Evd
Sgt B.W.Naylor Evd

Add to this record.

Pilot Officer R M Horsley 50 Squadron

Manchester L7301,airborne 30th May 1942 from Skellingthorpe, was hit by flak over Cologne and very severely damaged. Subsequently abandoned by six of the crew, after which the Manchester crashed 0200 31st May 1942 into a dyke at Bree (Limburg), 21 km NNE of Genk, Belgium. The testimonies of the five evaders were instrumental in the posthumous award of the VC made to their skipper, P/O Manser.
P/O L.T.Manser KIA
P/O R.J.Barnes PoW
Sgt L.H.Baveystock Evd
P/O R.M.Horsley Evd
Sgt S.E.King Evd
Sgt A.McF Mills Evd
Sgt B.W.Naylor Evd

Add to this record.

Sergeant L H Baveystock 50 Squadron

Manchester L7301,airborne 30th May 1942 from Skellingthorpe, was hit by flak over Cologne and very severely damaged. Subsequently abandoned by six of the crew, after which the Manchester crashed 0200 31st May 1942 into a dyke at Bree (Limburg), 21 km NNE of Genk, Belgium. The testimonies of the five evaders were instrumental in the posthumous award of the VC made to their skipper, P/O Manser.
P/O L.T.Manser KIA
P/O R.J.Barnes PoW
Sgt L.H.Baveystock Evd
P/O R.M.Horsley Evd
Sgt S.E.King Evd
Sgt A.McF Mills Evd
Sgt B.W.Naylor Evd
P/O R.J.Barnes was interned in Camp L3. PoW No.370.

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Flying Officer Leslie Thomas Manser VC 50 Squadron (d.31st May 1942)

50 Squadron Manchester crashed on 30th May 1942 in occupied Belgian. It had been hit by flak over Cologne, very severely damaged and subsequently abandoned by six of the crew, after which the Manchester crashed 0200 31May42 into a dyke at Bree (Limburg), 21 km NNE of Genk, Belgium. The event resulted in the pilot F/O Leslie Manser receiving a posthumous VC for holding the aircraft until the crew could bail out. He was 20 years old.

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Pilot Officer Richard Barnes 50 Squadron

I am the son of P/O Richard Barnes who, with his identical twin P/O Eddie Barnes, were prisoners in Stalag Luft III.
The story of the Barnes brothers meeting each other for the first time in Stalag Luft III is described in Paul Brickhill's book "Escape to Danger" on page 111. Dick was shot down as a navigator in a 50 Squadron Manchester on 30th May 1942, the airplane crash happening in occupied Belgian. The event resulted in the pilot F/O Leslie Manser receiving a posthumous VC for holding the aircraft until the crew could bail out. Dick was captured by the Germans. Almost a year later on 5th May 1943, Dick's brother Eddie, a rear gunner of a 78 Squadron Halifax, was shot down and captured. He also arrived at Sagan and the story of the confusion and humour when Eddie arrived at the camp and was mistaken for Dick and is described in Paul Brickhill's book.
Towards the end of the war the two brothers joined the other POWs in the long march westwards during the winter of 1944/1945 to meet up eventually with Allied forces.

Julian Barnes

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- No. 50 Squadron, Royal Air Force during the Second World War -

No. 50 Squadron, Royal Air Force

Logbooks

Those known to have served with
No. 50 Squadron, Royal Air Force
during the Second World War 1939-1945.

The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website.

Announcements

Want to know more about No. 50 Squadron, Royal Air Force?

Recomended Reading.

Links

The Wartime Memories Project - No. 50 Squadron, Royal Air Force during the Second World War -

No. 50 Squadron, Royal Air Force

Logbooks

Those known to have served with No. 50 Squadron, Royal Air Forceduring the Second World War 1939-1945.

The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website.

Announcements

Want to know more about No. 50 Squadron, Royal Air Force?

Recomended Reading.

Links

The Wartime Memories Project
- No. 50 Squadron, Royal Air Force during the Second World War -

Those known to have served with
No. 50 Squadron, Royal Air Force
during the Second World War 1939-1945.