No. 189 Squadron RAF
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No. 189 Squadron was a Royal Air Force squadron.
The squadron was formed at
The squadron was re-formed as part of No. 5 Group RAF on 15 October 1944 at RAF Bardney near the village of Bardney in Lincolnshire. However, Jefford in RAF Squadrons lists the reformation date as November 1944.[2]
The squadron flew
The commanding officer was
After RAF Bardney, the squadron was based at RAF Fulbeck near the village of Fulbeck, returning to Bardney in April 1945 and then on to RAF Metheringham near Metheringham.
The unit was mixed, with many personnel from other parts of the Commonwealth including Australians, New Zealanders and Canadians.
No. 189 Squadron was among the 107 Lancasters and 12
In July 1945 the Commanding Officer, Wing Commander Shorthouse, transferred back from the RAF to the RNZAF.[3]
After the war the unit was involved in dropping food to the
Aircraft operated
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Sopwith_Pup_9917_%28G-EBKY%29_%286736515331%29.jpg/220px-Sopwith_Pup_9917_%28G-EBKY%29_%286736515331%29.jpg)
- 1917 - Avro 504K
- 1917 - Royal Aircraft Factory BE2e
- 1917 - Sopwith Pup
- 1918 - Sopwith Camel
- 1944 - Avro Lancaster I and III
Example of Operations
The following sortie details are taken from the operations record book for 189 sqdn.
DATE | AIRCRAFT TYPE & NUMBER | CREW | DUTY | TIME UP | TIME DOWN | DETAILS OF SORTIE OR FLIGHT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3 March 1945 | LANC.1 ME.374 |
F/O WALTON.J.H.(AUS.417607) |
LADBERGEN | 1835 | 0035 | LADBERGEN. 22051⁄2 hrs. 8,800 ft.
Target attacked on 3rd run, on 1st run attacked by fighter. R.T.I clearly seen in break in cloud. Flares seen well, N of A/P. Met. good. Red and green T.I.'s seen on 3rd run. Mod. amount of flak over target but not heavy. Considered successful sortie.
|
7/8 March 1945 | LANC.1 PB.879 |
F/O RICCIUTI.G.A(CAN.J90848) |
HARBURG | 1808 | 0101 | HARBURG. 22071⁄2 hrs. 11,000 ft.
Numerous explosions Orange, black smoke rising 4,500 ft. Concentrated large fires over the whole area 2209 hrs. Target was identified visually and marking very good. A large number of fires were burning right on the target and it was a very good effort. Considered successful sortie. |
23 April 1945 | LANC.1 PB.732 |
F/O WALTON.J.H.(Aus.417607) |
FLENSBURG | 15121⁄2 | 2033 | FLENSBURG. 10/10ths S/Cu, tops 6-8000'. A/C jettisoning from coast to Wash on way home. Sortie completed. |
25 April 1945 | LANC.1 PB.732 |
F/O WALTON.J.H.(AUS.417607) |
TONSBERG | 20341⁄2 | 0321 | TONSBERG. 2347 hrs, 9,500'.
Bombing appeared well concentrated, two large explosions seen before bombing and one very large one at 23471⁄2 with quantities of smoke. Marking thought to be good. Sortie completed. |
Notes
- ISBN 9780859791816.
- ^ Jefford 1988, p. 66.
- ^ a b Thompson 1956, p. 402.
- ^ Supplement 36230 of the London Gazette, p. 4814.
References
- Jefford, C.G. (1988). RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
- Moyes, Philip J. R. (1964). Bomber Squadrons of the R.A.F. and Their Aircraft. MacDonald.
- Thompson, Wing Commander H. L. (1956). "Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939โ45 New Zealanders with the Royal Air Force (Vol. II) CHAPTER 14 โ Bomber Command and the Battle of Germany | NZETC". nzetc.victoria.ac.nz. Wellington: Historical Publications Branch. Retrieved 1 April 2023. (See Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War)
External links
- http://airfieldarchaeology.fotopic.net/c937064.html
- http://raf-lincolnshire.info/fulbeck/fulbeck.htm
- "Squadron Histories 186-190". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 2 April 2023.