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- No. 170 Squadron Royal Air Force during the Second World War -


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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945

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 Dodge


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



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Those known to have served with

No. 170 Squadron Royal Air Force

during the Second World War 1939-1945.

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 with his crew-mates and Halifax bomber

The Fox - Dedicated to the Personnel of Fox Squadron RAF Prisoners of War

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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