No. 218 Squadron Royal Air Force

No 218 Squadron was formed in April 1918 as a day-bomber squadron in the 5th Group under Dover-Dunkirk Naval command. Disbanded in 1919, it was re-formed in 1936 as a bomber squadron and served continuously throughout WWII against Germany.
No 218 was in France in September 1939 doing reconnaissance and leaflet raids. In June 1940 it bombed the enemy's lines of communications and troops, hindering the German Advance into France. Having received heavy casualties it was evacuated to England and re-equipped with Blenheim medium-range bombers. It then was equipped with Wellington long-range aircraft, becoming a heavy-bomber squadron, targetting industrial centres, railways, V-weapon sites and gun batteries, the Channel ports, oil and petrol installations, troops and armour. In May 1945, with the cessation of heavy bombing, No 218 dropped food supplies to the Netherlands and ferried liberated POWs to England.

Airfields No. 218 Squadron flew from:

Auberive-sur-Suippes, France from 3rd September 1939 (75 Wing, Battle I)
Mosou Ferme, France from the 1st May, 1940
Rheges-St-Lucien Ferme, France from 2nd May 1940
Nantes-Chateau Bougon, France from 3rd May 1940 (to 2 Group)
RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk from 13th June 1940 (Blenheim IV)
RAF Oakington, Cambridgeshire from 18th July 1940 (to 3 Group)
RAF Marham, Norfolk from 25th November 1940 (Wellington Ia, Wellington Ic, Wellington II, Stirling I)
RAF Downham market, Norfolk from 7th July 1942 (Stirling III)
RAF Woolfox Lodge, Rutland from 7th March 1944
RAF Methwold, Norfolk from 4th October 1944 (Lancaster I, Lancaster III)
RAF Chedburgh, Suffolk from 5th December 1944
disbanded 10th October 1945

20th Apr 1940 Aircraft Lost

10th May 1940 218 Squadron Battle lost

11 May 1940 218 Squadron Battle lost

11th May 1940 218 Squadron Battle lost

11th May 1940 Aircraft Lost

11th May 1940 Aircraft Lost

12th May 1940 218 Squadron Battle lost

12th May 1940 Aircraft Lost

14th May 1940 218 Squadron Battle lost

14th May 1940 218 Squadron Battle lost

14th May 1940 218 Squadron Battle lost

14th May 1940 Overwhelming losses

14th May 1940 Aircraft Lost

14th May 1940 Aircraft Lost

15th May 1940 On the Move

17th May 1940 New base

23rd Aug 1940 218 Squadron Blenheim lost

12th Mar 1941 Night Ops

22nd Apr 1941 Aircraft Lost

24th Apr 1941 Aircraft Lost

25th Apr 1941 Aircraft Lost

15th May 1941 Gee Navigation system tested

18th May 1941 Aircraft Lost

20th Jun 1941 Aircraft Lost

15th Jul 1941 Aircraft Lost

24th Jul 1941 218 Squadron Wellington lost

24th Jul 1941 Aircraft Lost

3rd Aug 1941 Aircraft Lost

11th Aug 1941 Tea, Bombs and Experiments

14th Aug 1941 Aircraft Lost

18th Aug 1941 Aircraft Lost

2nd Sep 1941 Aircraft Lost

7th September 1941 Aircraft Lost

12th Sep 1941 Aircraft Lost

16th Sep 1941 Aircraft Lost

10th Oct 1941 Aircraft Lost

12th Oct 1941 Aircraft Lost

14th Oct 1941 Aircraft Lost

16th Oct 1941 Aircraft Lost

29th Oct 1941 Aircraft Lost

7th November 1941 Aircraft Lost

15th Nov 1941 Aircraft Lost

11th Dec 1941 Aircraft Lost

16th Dec 1941 Aircraft Lost

14th February 1942 Squadron Formed

31st May 1942 Postings and Awards

16th Jul 1942 In Action

21st Aug 1942 218 Squadron Stirling lost

2nd Sep 1942 218 Squadron Stirling lost

7th October 1942 Heavy Conversion Unit created

26th Feb 1943 Confirmation

19th Mar 1943 218 Squadron Lancaster lost

14th May 1943 218 Squadron Stirling lost

22nd June 1943 218 Squadron Stirling lost

24th Jul 1943 Aircraft Lost

24th Oct 1943 Bomber Command

7th Nov 1943 Bomber Command

19th Nov 1943 Bomber Command

22nd Nov 1943 Bomber Command

1st Dec 1943 Bomber Command

January 1944 Increase in Special Duties squadrons

28th Jan 1944 Operations

30th Mar 1944 Orders

18th Apr 1944 Operations

20th Apr 1944 Operations

22nd Apr 1944 Operations

23rd Apr 1944 Operations

25th Apr 1944 Operations

1st May 1944 Bomber Command

7th May 1944 Bomber Command

13th May 1944 Bomber Command

5th Jun 1944 Bomber Command

6th Jun 1944 Messages

17th Jun 1944 Bomber Command

21st Jun 1944 Bomber Command

24th Jun 1944 Bomber Command

23rd Jul 1944 Bomber Command

25th Aug 1944 Bomber Command

29th Aug 1944 Bomber Command

10th Oct 1944 Bomber Command

14th Oct 1944 Bomber Command

18th Oct 1944 Bomber Command

22nd Oct 1944 Bomber Command

23rd Oct 1944 Bomber Command

26th Oct 1944 Bomber Command

30th Oct 1944 Bomber Command

31st Oct 1944 Bomber Command

31st Dec 1944 218 Squadron Lancaster lost

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

Logbooks

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Those known to have served with
No. 218 Squadron Royal Air Force
during the Second World War 1939-1945.

Aaron VC, DFM. Arthur Louis. Flt.Sgt. (d.13th August 1943)
Anderson B. O.. Sgt.
Banks George Leslie. Sergeant (d.27th Jan 1943)
Barton Ronald James. Sgt. (d.29th April 1943)
Berridge Gordon Frederick. Flt.Lt. (d.28th April 1943)
Bray Earl Clarence. F/Sgt. (d.30th July 1943)
Burke DFM. Hugh. Sgt. (d.20th Sep 1943)
Campion Eric Bertram. WO
Crawshaw Luther. Sgt. (d.18th May 1941)
Dockrill Charles James. Sgt. (d.11th May 1940)
Dormer Percival Francis. Sgt. (d.11th May 1940)
Dunham Peter Francis.
Empson Gordon E.. Sgt.
Erne Kenneth Frank. Sgt. (d.28th April 1943)
Findley George Fenwick.
Fitzpatrick Arthur Allen. Sgt. (d.28th April 1943)
Frankton Jack Gordon.
Gregory Kenneth George. AC1 (d.11th May 1940)
Guest Peter C..
Hailey Kenneth Sidney. PO (d.29th April 1943)
Heath Denis Graham. Flt.Sgt. (d.3rd Feb 1943)
Jamieson Thomas Arthur. Sgt. (d.13th May 1943)
Kneeshaw John. Sgt (Pilot). (d.30th May 1942)
Lister H. J... P/O
Longmire Mervin L..
Morris Derek. Sgt. (d.31st Dec 1944)
Needle Charles.
Parsloe Cyril Vincent. F/O. (d.28th April 1943)
Pickard Raymond Stuart. Sgt. (d.30th July 1943)
Saunders Albert Edward. LAC.
Searle Ray Horace Brook. Sgt.
Sindrey Arthur George Percival. Sgt. (d.29th April 1943)
Snook Alfred Arthur. Sgt. (d.2nd May 1944)
Strand W. L.. Sgt.
Strang William Laird. F/Sgt.
Surtees Andrew George. Sgt. (d.29th April 1943)
Traynor James Mellon. P/O. (d.28th April 1943)
Turner H.. Sgt.
Warnes Jack. Flt Sgt (d.21st Apr 1943)
Warrington George Ninian. Grp.Cpt. (d.8th Sep 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. 218 Squadron Royal Air Force from other sources.

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Want to know more about No. 218 Squadron Royal Air Force?

There are:2088 items tagged No. 218 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.

Sergeant George Leslie "Les" Banks 218 (Gold Coast) Squadron (d.27th Jan 1943)

The Crew of N3721 were as follows:-
Pilot Officer A.E.Gough age 20 Pilot and Captain
Pilot Officer K.A. Taylor age 23 2nd Pilot 1st Trip
Pilot Officer G C Layley age 23 Navigator
Sergeant N W Whithead age 20 Bomb-Aimer
Sergeant G L Banks age 31 Wirless Operator
Sergeant L C Ehrhart 22 Mid-Upper Gunner
Sergeant E J Forward age 24 Flight Engineer
Sergeant W E Jackson 22 Rear Gunner( Later Warrant Officer) Survivor

Their last flight, No 19, was mine-laying in the Baltic. On their return journey they crashed into the forest near the village of Grassborn at Dassel. They were not in their usual aircraft N3721 'P' for Peter as it was being repaired. They were in N6077. The crew are all buried at Limmer Military Cemetry Hannover.
Bill Jackson was the only survivor and he ended up in a POW Camp. He wrote a book called Three Stripes and Four Brownings which details all their Missions. G C Layley's brother was killed 12 months later and is also buried jut behind him in Hanover.

Susan Henshall

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Flt.Sgt. Denis Graham Heath 218 Squadron (d.3rd Feb 1943)

Denis Heath was educated at Frome School, presumably as a boarder, but we don't know why, as he lived in Leicester. He won medals for football at the school. He was employed as a Technical Salesman by A. de St. Dalmas, a well-known Leicester firm supplying medical equipment and consumables. He then joined Blatchfords, a manufacturer of artificial limbs. His skills in carpentry were well utilised as he became a skilled fitter.
When WWII started, his occupation was classed as Reserved due to the need for skilled prosthetics fitters. I have a letter from their MD warning employees that if they applied to join the armed forces their application would be turned down. Nevertheless he joined the RAFVR and was promoted to Flight Sergeant. He was assigned to 218 Squadron at Downham Market flying Stirling Bombers as a rear gunner. These aircraft were flying coffins. Due to monumental stupidity by the Air Ministry, the design was changed because they wouldn't fit in the hangars, which resulted in them not being able to climb high enough to avoid enemy anti-aircraft fire. Not one Stirling survived the war. Denis was shot down over Arnhem, Holland on 3rd of February 1943, during a bombing raid on Germany. He is buried in Arnhem cemetery.

David Heath

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Sgt. Luther Crawshaw 218 Squadron (d.18th May 1941)

Luther Crawshaw was a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner who is interred in the family grave in Monk Bretton Cemetery. A member of staff at Barnsley Public Assistance Office prior to serving, he was the son of Mr. Arthur Crawshaw (1896-1960) and his wife Sarah Elizabeth (1896-1986) and fiancee of Miss Joan Hyde at time of death. I am an old boy of Barnsley and District Holgate Grammar School who was stumbled across during my research of 98 old boys who lost their lives during WW2.

Ian Harley

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Mervin L. Longmire 218 (Gold Coast) Squadron

Mervin Longmire flew with R.A.F. and returned home in 1945. He lead 33 successful flights with 218 (Gold Coast) Squadron.

Tom Cashin

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F/Sgt. William Laird Strang 218 (Gold Coast) Squadron

My father-in-law William Laird Strang flew with 218 Gold Coast Squadron. We as a family are well aware of the lads who flew with him and some of whom visited Scotland with him on leave during wartime. He survived the war on return from POW Camp Stalag Luft IVb.

William J Moore

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Sgt. Derek Morris 218 (Gold Coast) Squadron (d.31st Dec 1944)

Sgt Derek Morris joined the Royal Air Force on 2nd Mar 1943 just short of his 18th birthday. After qualifying as a Flight Engineer on the Lancaster B Mk 1, he and his crew were posted to No. 218 (Gold Coast) Squadron on 12th of August 1944 based at RAF Methwold. Derek married Nancy May Horler on 20th Sep 1944. The Sqn relocated to RAF Chedburgh on 5th Dec 1944.
The official summary for No. 218 (Gold Coast) Sqn operations on the 31st of December 1944 recorded that 17 aircraft were detailed and briefed for operations this day. They departed RAF Chedburgh at 11.15 hours to carry out a daylight bombing mission on the Vohwinkel Railway Marshalling Yards, Solingen in Germany, with 154 other Lancasters from 3 Group. Two aircraft, NF926 and NG330, either collided or one's bombs hit the other and were seen going down in the target area. Nothing was heard from NF926 and NG330 after take-off.
Crew list for Lancaster B Mk 1, NF926 callsign HA-X
F/O 175154 RAFVR Roy William Woodrow Captain
Flt Lt 47598 RAF George Neville Chandler 2nd Pilot
Sgt 1568847 RAFVR William Neil Watson Navigator
F/S Aus/428566 John Leslie Stagg Wireless Operator
F/S 1399446 RAFVR Cyril Henry Robert James Bomb Aimer/Air Gunner
Sgt 1595839 RAF Joseph Carver Mid Upper Gunner
Sgt 1629751 RAFVR V. Welbourne Rear Gunner
Sgt 591938 RAFVR Derek Morris Flight Engineer

Further research has established that NF926, from C flight, was probably a G-H leader as the crew included a 2nd pilot and had a bomb load which included Red Target Indicators (TI). It was reported that after leaving the target area NF926 and NG330 collided. The crew of NF926 were on their 27th mission, 26th for Sgt Derek Morris. The crew of NG330, only on their 2nd mission, perished when their aircraft crashed near Solingen.
Research conducted for the website Aircrew Remembered has established that NF926 crashed at around 14:50 hours on Somerstrasse 6 (apparently a workshop) in Solingen, a few kilometres south of the target. It appears that some of the inhabitants, sheltering in a nearby air raid shelter, heard the thump as the aircraft hit the building. F/O Woodrow (Pilot) and Sgt Watson (Navigator) were found alive but badly injured in the wreckage. F/O Woodrow, still strapped into his seat and trapped by his legs pleaded for help from passers-by who ignored him; except for Fritz Schulze, a German policeman who pulled his pistol and shot them both dead. Schulze was arrested in 1945 and tried for the murder of the two airmen before a British Military Court at Hamburg in Jul 1947. He was found guilty and hanged for his crimes on 14th Nov 1947 in Hameln Prison.
Records reveal that Sgt V. Welbourne, the Rear Gunner for NF926, managed to bail out and was subsequently captured. He was repatriated after the war in Europe ended.
Sgt Derek Morris and the rest of the crew of NF926 were originally buried at the Grafrath Cemetery near Solingan. After the war the Commonwealth War Graves Commission reinterred them at the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery on the 27th Feb 1947.

Ralph E Snape

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AC1 Kenneth George Gregory 218 Sqd. (d.11th May 1940)

Aircraftman 1st Class (Wireless Op./Air Gunner) Gregory was the Son of John and Emily Jane Gregory, of Bude, Cornwall.
He was 20 when his aircraft was hit by ground fire and crashed in Luxembourg. He is buried in the Bas Bellain Churchyard in Luxembourg.

S Flynn

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Sgt. Charles James "Ernest" Dockrill 218 Sqd. (d.11th May 1940)

Sergeant Dockerill was Son of Charles Graham Harris Dockrill and Anne Dockrill, of Hounslow, Middlesex.
He was 26 when his aircraft was hit by ground fire and crashed in Luxembourg. He is buried in the Bas Bellain Churchyard in Luxembourg.

S Flynn

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Sgt. Percival Francis Dormer 218 Sqd. (d.11th May 1940)

Sergeant Dormer was the Son of Harry Johnson Dormer and Mildred Dormer, of Freshwater, Isle of Wight.
He was 27 when the aircraft took off from Auberieve-sur-Suippes on operations to St Vith, and crashed at Trois Vierges in Luxembourg. The three crewmen are buried in a collective grave in the Churchyard of Bas Bellain in Luxembourg.

S Flynn

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P/O. James Mellon Traynor 218 (Gold Coast) Squadron (d.28th April 1943)

Pilot Officer (Navigator) James Traynor was the Son of John and Annie McLoughlin Traynor of Shotts, Lanarkshire. He was aged 23 when he died and is buried in a collective grave with his crewmates in Reerslev Churchyard.

S Flynn

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- No. 218 Squadron Royal Air Force during the Second World War -

No. 218 Squadron Royal Air Force

Logbooks

Those known to have served with
No. 218 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. 218 Squadron Royal Air Force?

Recomended Reading.

Links

The Wartime Memories Project - No. 218 Squadron Royal Air Force during the Second World War -

No. 218 Squadron Royal Air Force

Logbooks

Those known to have served with No. 218 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. 218 Squadron Royal Air Force?

Recomended Reading.

Links

The Wartime Memories Project
- No. 218 Squadron Royal Air Force during the Second World War -

Those known to have served with
No. 218 Squadron Royal Air Force
during the Second World War 1939-1945.