- No. 170 Squadron Royal Air Force during the Second World War -
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No. 170 Squadron Royal Air Force
No 170 Squadron was formed at Weston Zoyland in June 1942 as a tactical reconnaissance unit. For six months it took part in joint exercises with the army, but began armed reconnaissance missions over France in January 1943. From May 1943 it was tasked with intercepting German bomber raids over South Coast towns. No 170 joined Second Tactical Air Force in July 1943, and resumed raids on communications targets in northern France. Howver was disbanded in January 1944.170 squadron was reformed at RAF Kelstern on 15th October 1944 as a Lancaster-heavy bomber squadron. The squadron remained part of Bomber Command's main force until the end of the war.
Airfields No. 170 Squadron flew from:
- 15th June 1942: Weston Zoyland (Mustangs)
- June-October 1942: Hurn
- October 1942: Thruxton
- October 1942-February 1943: Andover
- February-March 1943: Ford
- March 1943: Andover
- March-June 1943: Snailwell
- June-September 1943: Odiham
- September-October 1943: Hutton Cranswick
- October 1943: Huggate
- October 1943: Leconfield
- October-November 1943: Thruxton
- November 1943-January 1944: Sawbridgworth (disbanded 15th January 1944)
- 15th October 1944: reformed RAF Kelstern, (Lancaster I, Lancaster III)
- 22nd October 1944: RAF Dunholme Lodge
- 29th November 1944: RAF Hemswell
15th June 1942 New Reconnaissance Squadron
16th August 1942 Accident
30th August 1942 Flying accident
October 1942 Army Cooperation Squadron relocated
January 1943 Operations
13th January 1943 Reconnaissance Pilot killed
9th February 1943 Pilot missing on first operation
24th February 1943 Move to Exercise area
26th February 1943 Move for Exercise
27th February 1943 Move completed
1st March 1943 Preparation for Exercise Spartan
2nd March 1943 Exercise Spartan
3rd March 1943 Exercise Spartan
3rd March 1943 Exercise Spartan
4th March 1943 Exercise Spartan
5th March 1943 Exercise Spartan
6th March 1943 Exercise Spartan
7th March 1943 Exercise Spartan
8th March 1943 Exercise Spartan
9th March 1943 Exercise Spartan
10th March 1943 Exercise Spartan
11th March 1943 Exercise Spartan
12th March 1943 Exercise Spartan ends
13th March 1943 Return to base
April 1943 Defensive Operations
27th May 1943 Mustang missing
30th May 1943 Crash landing
July 1943 Offensive role resumed
26th July 1943 Mustang missing
6th August 1943 Aircraft shot down
7th September 1943 Recce
September 1943 On the move
October 1943 On the move
24th November 1943 Pilot killed
30th November 1943 Relocated
15th January 1944 Mustang Squadron disbanded
15th October 1944 New Lancaster Squadron
19th October 1944 New Bomber Squadron On Operations
29th November 1944 Bomber Squadron relocated
29th December 1944 Lancaster lost over Germany
8th January 1945 Mission to Munich
21st February 1945 Two Lancasters shot down but 11 airmen survive.
24th February 1945 Lancaster failed to return
5th March 1945 Lancaster lost over Berlin
17th Mar 1945 170 Squadron Lancasters lost
17th March 1945 Lancaster lost on raid to Keil
26th April 1945 Final Ops
1st May 1945 Relief missions
June 1945 Operation DodgeIf 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.
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Those known to have served with
No. 170 Squadron Royal Air Force
during the Second World War 1939-1945.
- Alexandra George Peter. Fl/Lt. (d.3rd February 1945)
- Hepworth Walter Charles.
- Johnson A. B.C..
- McMillan James Malcolm. 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. 170 Squadron Royal Air Force from other sources.
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Want to know more about No. 170 Squadron Royal Air Force?
There are:2048 items tagged No. 170 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.
Sgt. James Malcolm McMillan No. 170 Squadron
James McMillan served as an RCAF tail gunner on Lancaster bombers. He was assigned to No. 12 Squadron on 1st of July 1944 and then to No. 170 Squadron at RAF Hemswell on 8th of January 1945.Barbara McMillan
Walter Charles Hepworth 170 Squadron
My father, Walter Hepworth, was a rear gunner. He never spoke about his war experience.Barbara
A. B.C. Johnson 170 Sqdn.
I flew Mustangs at Sawbridgeworth with 170 Squadron from 13th November 1943 to 26th December 1943.ABC Johnson
Fl/Lt. George Peter Alexandra 170 Sqdn. (d.3rd February 1945)
George Alexandra was a pilot of a Lancaster bomber that was shot down over the Gelsenkirchen Railway Station. He is buried with his crew at Reichwald Forest Cemetery.Mike Alexandra
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