No. 617 Squadron RAF
No. 617 Squadron RAF | |
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Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II |
Number 617 Squadron is a Royal Air Force aircraft squadron, originally based at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire and currently based at RAF Marham in Norfolk.[2] It is commonly known as "The Dambusters", for its actions during Operation Chastise against German dams during the Second World War. In the early 21st century it operated the Panavia Tornado GR4 in the ground attack and reconnaissance role until being disbanded on 28 March 2014. The Dambusters reformed on 18 April 2018, and was equipped at RAF Marham in June 2018 with the Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning, becoming the first squadron to be based in the UK with this advanced V/STOL type. The unit is composed of both RAF and Royal Navy personnel,[3] and operates from the Royal Navy's Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers.[4]
History
Between the wars
According to the squadron's entry in Flying Units of the RAF by Alan Lake, No. 617 Squadron was allocated the
Second World War
The squadron was formed under great secrecy at RAF Scampton during the Second World War on 21 March 1943 on Avro Lancaster heavy bombers.[6] It included Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force and Royal New Zealand Air Force personnel and was formed for the specific task of attacking three major dams that contributed water and power to the Ruhr industrial region in Germany: the Möhne, Eder and Sorpe. The plan was given the codename Operation Chastise and carried out on 17 May 1943. The squadron had to develop the tactics to deploy Barnes Wallis's "Bouncing bomb", and undertook some of its training over the dams of the Upper Derwent Valley in Derbyshire, as the towers on the dam walls were similar to those to be found on some of the target dams in Germany.[7]
The squadron's badge, approved by
After the raid, Gibson was withdrawn from flying (due to the high number of raids he had been on) and went on a publicity tour.
On 15 July 1943, 12 aircraft of the squadron took off from Scampton to attack targets in Northern Italy. All aircraft attacked and proceeded to North Africa without loss. The targets were San Polo d'Enza and Arquata Scrivia power stations; it was hoped that the attacks would delay German troops who were travelling down into Italy on the electrified railway system to support the Italian front. The operation met little opposition but the targets were obscured by valley haze and were not destroyed. The 12 crews returned to Scampton on 25 July from North Africa after bombing Leghorn docks on the return journey. The raid on Leghorn Docks was not a great success, due to mist shrouding the target. On 29 July 1943 nine aircraft took off from Scampton to drop leaflets on Milan, Bologna, Genoa and Turin in Italy. All aircraft completed the mission and landed safely in Blida, North Africa.[11]
The UK Government considered using No. 617 Squadron to target the Italian leader
Throughout the rest of the war, the squadron continued in a specialist and precision-bombing role, including the use of the enormous
In March 1945 the squadron used the Grand Slam bomb for the first time, against the
The Squadron's skills in precision flying were also utilized in the Normandy invasion, as part of a massive effort to
A particularly notable series of attacks caused the disabling and sinking of
During the Second World War the Squadron carried out 1,599 operational sorties with the loss of 32 aircraft.[25]
Cold War (1946–1981)
After the end of the Second World War, the squadron replaced its Lancasters with Avro Lincolns, following those in 1952 with the English Electric Canberra jet bomber. The squadron was deployed to Malaya for four months in 1955, returning to RAF Binbrook to be disbanded on 15 December 1955. Reformed at
The squadron began almost immediately to upgrade yet again to the Vulcan B2, taking delivery of the first on 1 September 1961,
Vulcans were configured for the
Following the transfer of responsibility for the nuclear deterrent to the Royal Navy, the squadron was reassigned to
Tornado GR (1983–2014)
The squadron reformed on 1 January 1983 at RAF Marham, re-equipped with twelve Panavia Tornado GR1.[35]
No. 617 Squadron was deployed to King Faisal Air Base, Saudi Arabia following the 1990 Iraqi Invasion of Kuwait, it returned to the UK in Nov 90' replaced by 16/20 Sqn, some of its aircrews did return, operating with various other squadrons throughout KSA.[36][37][38][39]
In 1993, No. 617 Squadron began the changeover to anti-shipping and by May 1994 was operating from
In 1995, crews from No. 617 Squadron deployed in support of Operation Warden.[42]
In 2003, the Squadron sent several airframes to the
In July 2009, the Dambusters deployed to
In July 2011, the squadron took part in Operation Ellamy[48][49]
In July 2013, it was announced that No. 617 Squadron would become the first operational RAF unit to receive the Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning.[50] No. 617 Squadron disbanded on 28 March 2014 as part of the draw-down of the Tornado force.[51]
F-35B Lightning (2017–present)
Beginning in 2016, the Dambusters started their training for conversion to the F-35B ahead of reforming as the first British front line squadron with the Lightning.[52] The squadron worked up at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina, throughout late 2017 and early 2018 before reforming on 18 April 2018.[53][54]
On 6 June 2018, a quartet of No. 617 Squadron Lightnings (ZM145, ZM146, ZM147 and ZM148), supported by three
The Dambusters underwent their first F-35 deployment on 22 May 2019 when six Lightnings deployed to RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus, for six weeks as part of 'Exercise Lightning Dawn'.[59][60] On 16 June, No. 617 Squadron carried out the first RAF F-35 operational mission when two Lightnings conducted a patrol over Syria as part of Operation Shader.[61] On 25 June, No. 617 Squadron's F-35Bs participated in 'Exercise Tri Lightning' alongside United States Air Force F-35As of the 4th Fighter Squadron and Israeli Air Force F-35Is of 140 Squadron over the eastern Mediterranean Sea.[62] Four F-35B Lightnings returned home to RAF Marham on 2 July, while the other two arrived at Amendola Air Base to carry out bilateral training with the Italian Air Force, including the local F-35As of 32º Stormo.[63] Three Lightnings departed RAF Marham on 9 October to MCAS Beaufort in preparation for Westlant 19,[64] with them embarking upon HMS Queen Elizabeth for the first time alongside No. 17 Test and Evaluation Squadron on 13 October.[65][66]
On 22 January 2020, the Dambusters departed Marham for Exercise Red Flag at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, their first with the Lightning.[67] Between September and November 2020, the Dambusters hosted United States Marine Corps F-35Bs from VMFA-211 who deployed to RAF Marham to work up on HMS Queen Elizabeth ahead of the carrier's deployment in 2021.[68][69]
In May 2021, No. 617 Squadron embarked eight F-35B Lightnings on board HMS Queen Elizabeth as part of Carrier Strike Group 2021 (CSG21), operating alongside VMFA-211 as the fixed wing component.[70] On 16 November 2021, one of the squadron's F-35B fighters crashed during operations in the Mediterranean. The pilot was able to eject safely.[71]
Aircraft operated
List of aircraft operated by No. 617 Squadron:[72][73][74][75][76]
- Avro Lancaster B.III (Special) (March 1943 – May 1943)
- Avro Lancaster B.I (March 1943 – June 1945)
- Avro Lancaster B.III (March 1943 – June 1945)
- Avro Lancaster B.VII (FE) (June 1945 – September 1946)
- de Havilland Mosquito Mk.VI (April 1944 – March 1945)
- North American P-51 Mustang Mk. III (June 1944 - 1945)
- Avro Lincoln B.II (September 1946 – January 1952)
- English Electric Canberra B.2 (January 1952 – April 1955)
- English Electric Canberra B.6 (February 1955 – December 1955)
- Avro Vulcan B.1 (May 1958 – July 1961)
- Avro Vulcan B.1A (October 1960 – July 1961)
- Avro Vulcan B.2 (September 1961 – December 1981)
- Panavia Tornado GR1 (January 1983 – April 1994)
- Panavia Tornado GR1B (April 1994 – 2002)
- Panavia Tornado GR4 (2002 – January 2014)
- Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning (December 2017 – present)
-
Avro Lancaster B.I (Special) of No. 617 Squadron, loaded with a 'Grand Slam' 22,000lb deep-penetration bomb, running up its engines at RAF Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire, during 1944.
-
Avro Vulcan B.2s of No. 617 Squadron at RAF Cottesmore, Rutland, circa 1975.
-
Two Panavia Tornado GR4s of No.617 Squadron, displaying later markings used on the Tornados.
-
A pair of F-35B Lightnings operating alongside a Tornado GR4
Battle honours
No. 617 Squadron has received the following
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Commanding officers
The following men have commanded No. 617 Squadron:[79][80]
1943–1955
- March 1943, Wing Commander Guy Gibson
- August 1943, Wing Commander George Holden
- September 1943 Squadron Leader Harold Martin
- November 1943, Wing Commander Leonard Cheshire
- July 1944, Wing Commander James Brian Tait
- December 1944, Wing Commander John Emilius Fauquier
- April 1945, Wing Commander John Grindon
- June 1945, Wing Commander C Fothergill
- April 1946, Squadron Leader C K Saxelby
- May 1947, Wing Commander C D Milne (for goodwill visit to USA)
- July 1947, Squadron Leader C K Saxelby
- February 1948, Squadron Leader P G Brodie
- May 1950, Squadron Leader W H Thallon
- June 1952, Squadron Leader M J O'Bryen-Nichols
- Dec 1952, Squadron Leader D Roberts
- May 1954, Squadron Leader J A Ruck (Squadron disbanded December 1955)
1958–1981
- May 1958, Wing Commander D Bower[81] (Squadron reformed with Vulcans)
- May 1960, Wing Commander L G A Bastard
- December 1962, Wing Commander H G Currell
- March 1965, Wing Commander D G L Heywood
- March 1967, Wing Commander R C Allen
- March 1969, Wing Commander C A Vasey
- March 1971, Wing Commander F M A Hines
- October 1973, Wing Commander V L Warrington
- September 1975, Wing Commander R B Gilvary
- July 1977, Wing Commander F Mason (brief tenure due to illness)
- July 1977, Wing Commander J N Stephenson-Oliver
- August 1979, Wing Commander J N Herbertson (Squadron disbanded December 1981)
1983–2014
- January 1983, Wing Commander A J Harrison (Squadron reformed with Tornados)
- June 1985, Wing Commander P J J Day
- January 1988, Wing Commander N J Day
- May 1990, Wing Commander R D Iveson
- March 1993, Wing Commander J H Dickinson
- July 1995, Wing Commander I L Dugmore
- March 1998, Wing Commander G E Thwaites
- September 2000, Wing Commander D G Robertson
- July 2003, Wing Commander A Monkman
- January 2006, Wing Commander S P Rochelle
- January 2008, Wing Commander D J E Cooper
- October 2010, Wing Commander K D Taylor
- October 2012, Wing Commander D S Arthurton (Squadron disbanded 2014)
2017–Present
- December 2017, Wing Commander J R Butcher (Squadron reformed with F-35 Lightnings)[53]
- April 2020, Commander Mark Sparrow (Squadron commanded by a Royal Navy officer for the first time in its history)[3]
- 13 May 2022, Wing Commander Dave Tait (Commander Sparrow leaves on promotion to Captain Air Group HMS Queen Elizabeth)[82]
- 5 August 2022, Wing Commander Stew Campbell (Former Red Arrows Pilot and previous 617 Squadron Tornado Pilot)[83]
In popular culture
The Second World War exploits of the squadron and Chastise in particular, were described in Guy Gibson's own 1944 account Enemy Coast Ahead, as well as Paul Brickhill's 1951 book The Dam Busters and a 1955 film, though the accuracy and completeness of these accounts were compromised by many of the documents relating to the war years still being secured by the Official Secrets Act. The definitive work however is considered The Dambusters Raid by John Sweetman.[84]
In 2006, it was announced that New Zealand film director Peter Jackson and David Frost would co-produce a re-make of the film. It was scripted by Stephen Fry, and intended to be directed by Christian Rivers. The last living Dam Buster pilot at the time, New Zealander Les Munro (1919–2015), offered his services as a technical adviser.[85]
See also
- List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons
- Operation Chastise, the attack by 617 Squadron on German dams during the Second World War
- Operation Garlic, an attack by 617 Squadron on the Dortmund-Ems Canal.
- Operation Catechism, the sinking of German battleship Tirpitz by 617 Squadron
- Enemy Coast Ahead a book by Guy Gibson written in 1944 shortly before his death
- The Dam Busters a 1951 book by Paul Brickhill about the operation.
- The Dam Busters, a 1955 film about the operation based on both the Gibson and Brickhill books
References
Notes
- ISBN 0-7100-9339-X.
- ^ "617 Squadron". raf.mod.uk. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
- ^ a b "At 6:17pm on 2 April, Wg Cdr Butcher formally handed over command of the Dambusters to Cdr Sparrow". @RAF_Marham. 15 May 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
- ^ Dambusters To Be Next Lightning II Squadron Archived 15 July 2015 at the Wayback Machine – RAF, 18 July 2013
- ISBN 1-84037-086-6.
- ^ Ashworth 1989, p. 207.
- ^ "Bouncing bomb that flew in the face of reason". The Independent. 12 May 2003. Archived from the original on 21 June 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
- OCLC 603388299.
- doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/33390. (Subscription or UK public library membershiprequired.)
- ISBN 978-0-7553-1633-5.
- ^ Jones, Tobin (2002). "617 Squadron – The Operational Record Book – 1943–1945" (PDF). Blinx Publishing. p. 34.
- ^ "Britain planned Dambusters assassination of Mussolini". The Telegraph. 12 March 2010. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
- ^ Ashworth 1989, pp. 207–208.
- ^ Jones, Tobin (2002). "617 Squadron – The Operational Record Book – 1943–1945" (PDF). Blinx Publishing. p. 459.
- ^ "Ten Tonner - video of a Grand Slam being dropped on the Bielefeld Viaduct". Movietone News/youtube.com. Retrieved 21 March 2010.
- ^ "14th March 1945 - First 'Grand Slam' raid". Memorial Flight Club. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
- ^ Alfred Price, "Instruments of Darkness: The History of Electronic Warfare, 1939–1945." Frontline Books. Kindle. 2017.
- ^ José M. Rico. "Battleship Tirpitz". Kbismarck.com. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
- ^ John Asmussen. "Tirpitz – Menu". Bismarck-class.dk. Retrieved 6 June 2014. [failed verification]
- ^ Bomber Command: Tirpitz, 12 November 1944, Royal Air Force Bomber Command 60th Anniversary web site
- ^ John Leavitt, Daily Telegraph, 10 January 2010. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
- ^ "Douglas Tweddle DFC". Archived from the original on 1 September 2017. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
- ^ Garzke & Dulin 1985, p. 272.
- ^ "No. 36915". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 January 1945. p. 640.
- ^ Falconer 2003, page 256
- ^ global security.org / wmd / uk / 617 squadron. Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
- ISBN 0-11-772833-0
- ISBN 978-0-85979-127-4
- ^ Wynn. p566
- ^ McLelland, p. 155.
- ^ Wynn. p620
- ^ RAF nuclear front line Order-of-Battle 1970. None. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
- ^ "Weapon overview". nuclear-weapons.info.
- ^ "RAF Vulcan Squadrons". Avro Vulcan Cold War Archive. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
- ^ "617 Squadron". gov.uk. Royal Air Force. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
- ^ "No.617 Squadron". Rraf.mod.uk. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
- ^ "20 Sqn history whilst at Laarbruch". Flt Lt N.J. Roberson. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
- ^ "The Gulf War 1990-1991". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
- ^ "List of British gallantry awards for Operation Granby" (PDF). The London Gazette. 29 June 1991.
- ^ "End of an era for RAF Lossiemouth Tornados". Ministry of Defence. 22 March 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
- ^ "women-of-the-air-force". rafmuseum.org.uk/. Royal Air Force Museum. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
- ^ "No.617 Squadron". nationalcoldwarexhibition.org. Royal Air Force Museum. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
- ^ "Storm Shadow performs in Iraq with 'clinical' efficiency". flightglobal. Retrieved 15 June 2003.
- ^ "Storm Shadow / Scalp". MBDA. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
- ^ a b "Dambusters finish first Herrick detachment". Air Forces Monthly. 22 July 2011. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
- ^ Price 2019, p. 74.
- ^ "Tornado ground attack jets clock up one million flying hours". gov.uk. Ministry of Defence. 27 June 2011. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
- ^ "The UK's contribution to freeing Libya". gov.uk. Ministry of Defence. 27 June 2011. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
- ^ "617 SQUADRON". gov.uk. Royal Air Force. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
- ^ "RAF's 'Dambusters' squadron to be disbanded and reformed". BBC News. 18 July 2013. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
- ^ "Final Salute for Historic RAF Squadrons". Raf.mod.uk. 28 March 2014. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
- ^ Stevenson, Beth (20 May 2016). "UK F-35 commander highlights training challenge". Flight Global.
- ^ a b "OC 617 Squadron takes his first flight in F-35B". Royal Air Force. 1 December 2017. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
- ^ "RAF's legendary Dambusters squadron reforms to fly F-35 jets". gov.uk. Ministry of Defence. 18 April 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
- ^ "Four RAF F-35 fighter jets land in UK". BBC News. 6 June 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
- ^ "RAF centenary: Thousands watch flypast". BBC News. 10 July 2018. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
- ^ "Further five F-35 fighter jets land at new RAF Marham home". ITV News. 4 August 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
- ^ Nicholls, Dominic (10 January 2019). "New RAF jet 'combat ready' in face of resurgent Russia threat". The Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
- ^ "UK's most advanced jets deploy overseas for the first time". gov.uk. Ministry of Defence. 8 April 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
- ^ "Exercise Lightning Dawn". raf.mod.uk. Royal Air Force. 22 May 2019. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
- ^ "History made as UK F-35s complete first operational missions". gov.uk. Ministry of Defence. 25 June 2019. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
- ^ Millette, Christine D. (25 June 2019), Three-nation F-35 exercise demonstrates air power interoperability, U.S. Air Forces Central Command, retrieved 4 July 2019
- ^ "F-35 Lightning Aircraft Deploy to Italy for Bilateral Training". raf.mod.uk. Royal Air Force. 3 July 2019. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
- ^ "Today three F-35 Lightnings departed RAF Marham to return to Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort in the USA". RAF Marham (Facebook). 9 October 2019. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
- ^ "First UK fighter jets land onboard HMS Queen Elizabeth". gov.uk. Ministry of Defence. 13 October 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
- ^ "First UK F-35 Lightning Jets Land on HMS Queen Elizabeth". raf.mod.uk. Royal Air Force. 14 October 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
- ^ "F-35 Lightnings depart for Exercise Red Flag in USA". raf.mod.uk. Royal Air Force. 22 January 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
- ^ "US F-35 Jets arrive at RAF Marham". raf.mod.uk. Royal Air Force. 4 September 2020. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
- ^ Shelbourne, Mallory (10 November 2020). "Marine F-35 Squadron Details Training Deployment Aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth". USNI News. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
- ^ "F-35B jets to join the fight against Daesh from the Carrier Strike Group". Ministry of Defence. 3 May 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
- ^ "Probe after British F-35 fighter crashes in Mediterranean". 17 November 2021 – via www.bbc.com.
- ^ Moyes1976, p. 285.
- ^ Halley 1988, p. 435.
- ^ Jefford 2001, pp. 101–102.
- ^ "No 617 Squadron Aircraft & Markings". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
- ISBN 978-1-5098-6006-7.
- ^ "617 Squadron". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
- ^ "RAF Squadrons Receive Battle Honours from Her Majesty The Queen". Royal Air Force. 24 March 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
- ^ RAF 617 Squadron Crest Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Bomber-command.info. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
- ^ CO name boards in 617 Squadron Mess, RAF Lossiemouth
- ^ D Bower. Rafweb.org. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
- ^ "New Officer Commanding for 617 Squadron". @RAF_Marham. 13 May 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
- ^ "Campbell Takes Command of 617 Sqn". @RAF_Marham. 5 August 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
- ISBN 0-304-35173-3.
- ^ .Alan Veitch, "Dambusters' Anzac legend" (Courier Mail 1 October 2006). Access date: 1 October 2006.
Bibliography
- ISBN 978-1-905264-33-9. – first hand accounts of the planning, preparation and execution of the raid.
- Ashworth, Chris (1989). Encyclopaedia of Modern Royal Air Force Squadrons. Wellingborough: Patrick Stephens Limited. ISBN 1-85260-013-6.
- Bouquet, Tim 617 Going to War with Today's Dambusters. London: Orion (Orion Publishing Group Limited), 2012. ISBN 978-1-4091-4415-1
- Falconer, J (2003). Bomber Command Handbook 1939–1945. Stroud, England: Sutton Publishing. ISBN 0-7509-3171-X.
- Garzke, William H.; Dulin, Robert O. (1985). Battleships: Axis and Neutral Battleships in World War II. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-0-87021-101-0.
- Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
- Jefford, C.G. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury: Airlife Publishing, 1998 (second edition 2001). ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
- Moyes, Philip J.R. Bomber Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers) Ltd., 1964 (new edition 1976). ISBN 0-354-01027-1.
- Price, Nigel. Royal Air Force Salute - Tornado. Stamford: Key Publishing Ltd, 2019.
External links
- 617 Squadron RAF Official Web Page
- RAFweb.org
- 617 Squadron Dambusters site
- Royal Air Force Bomber Command 60th Anniversary: No. 617 Squadron
- 617 Squadron – The Operational Record Book 1943 – 1945 (PDF) with additional information by Tobin Jones; Binx Publishing, Pevensey House, Sheep Street, Bicester. OX26 6JF. Acknowledgement is given to HMSOas holders of the copyright on the Operational Record Book
- 16./17.05.1943 – "Operation Chastise"
- Pathe newsreel, 1963, 617 equipped with Blue Steel nuclear missiles
- Pathe newsreel, 1967, Dambusters re-union
- 617 Squadron at the International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive.