No. 618 Squadron RAF

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No. 618 Squadron RAF
Mosquito B Mark IV development aircraft, DK290/G of the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment based at Boscombe Down, Wiltshire, in flight following modification to its deepened bomb bay to accommodate two "Highball" weapons for trials, March 1943
Mosquito B Mark IV development aircraft, DK290/G of the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment based at Boscombe Down, Wiltshire, in flight following modification to its deepened bomb bay to accommodate two "Highball" weapons for trials, March 1943
Active1 April 1943 – 14 July 1945
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldryNo badge authorised
Squadron codesNo markings known to be carried
Aircraft flown
AttackBristol Beaufighter
Twin-engined fighter
BomberDe Havilland Mosquito
Twin-engined light bomber
Fairey Barracuda
Single-engined torpedo bomber-dive bomber

No. 618 Squadron RAF was a squadron of the

Second World War, intended to carry off a variation of the Barnes Wallis-designed bouncing bomb
code-named "Highball". Due to various circumstances the "Highball" weapon was never used, and the squadron disbanded at the end of the war.

History

Formation

No. 618 Squadron was first formed at RAF Skitten on 1 April 1943, as part of No. 18 Group of Coastal Command, from crews of No. 105 Squadron RAF and No. 139 Squadron RAF. The unit was initially equipped with Beaufighter Mk.II fighter-bombers, but quickly changed to converted Mosquito Mk.IVs.

The Highball

The "Highball" device was intended to bounce across the sea until it hit an enemy ship, sank and exploded. Unlike the cylindrical Upkeep weapon used by No. 617 Squadron RAF in Operation Chastise, the "Highball" was more spherical. The Mosquito selected for the conversion work to carry "Highball" was the Mk.IV series II: the work entailed removing the bomb bay doors and equipping the aircraft with specialised carriers enabling them to carry two "Highballs", each weighing 1,280 lb (580 kg), in tandem. The bombs were designed to skip across water and to provide weapon stability and accuracy. Before release they were spun backwards at 700 to 900 rpm by a ram air turbine mounted in the bomb bay's midsection, fed by an extendable air scoop. The bombs were to be dropped from a maximum altitude of 60 ft (20 m) at a speed of 360 mph (600 km/h).

In the event, through lack of weapons, training and aircraft, No. 618 Squadron was kept frustratingly inactive and never attacked the Tirpitz. Instead, the unit was selected for carrier-borne operations in the Pacific.

For this role 25 Mosquito B.Mk.IVs were further modified:

  • Each aircraft was equipped with Merlin 25s, adapted to provide peak power at low altitudes, driving four-bladed
    Rotol
    propellers: these propellers had narrower blades than the standard three-bladed units, meaning that the engines would rev up faster and respond quicker to throttle movement, factors vital in the limited length of carrier takeoffs.
  • Longer intakes under the engine cowlings were fitted with tropical filters.
  • The undercarriage legs were made of heavier-gauge metals and the wheels were fitted with the twin brake units of FB Mk VIs.
  • The rear fuselages were structurally modified with a special internal longeron and reinforced bulkheads designed to take the additional loads imposed by carrier landings: an additional bulkhead (No. 5a) was fitted.
  • Externally a "V-frame" arrestor hook was fitted. The "snap gear" which released the hook was operated by a Bowden cable from a lever mounted on the cockpit port side.
  • An access hatch was moved from the starboard rear fuselage to underneath, and an extra longitudinal stiffening strake, identical to that already fitted to the starboard side of production Mosquitos, was fitted to the port fuselage.
  • The tailwheel fork pivots incorporated end plates to avoid being caught in the arrestor cables.
  • Armoured windscreens were fitted, along with hydraulic wipers.
  • Three PR.Mk.XVIs, which were to be used for reconnaissance duties were also fitted with the four-bladed propellers and fuselage modifications for carrier operations.

UK squadron movements

The squadron's primary target was designated as the

RAF Beccles in Suffolk, and in September changed aircraft again to Mosquito Mk.XVIs. The squadron deployed to RAF Benson
in September, transitioning to Mosquito Mk.XVIIIs in October.

Australian deployment

In December 1944, No. 618 Squadron was deployed to Australia for carrier-borne operations, as Japanese targets for the "Highball" weapon were still available there. These Mosquitos were transported to Australia on board the carriers

Fishermans Bend aircraft factory for reassembly.[1] In order to keep up aircrew proficiency and safeguard the modified Mosquitos, 12 disassembled FB Mk VIs were also sent, arriving in Sydney in February 1945. Training began at Narromine that month A detachment was sent to British Pacific Fleet base at Manus Island in March, but the squadron was unable to go into action against Japanese shipping, mostly because there was no target left in the area anymore.[2]

Due to political-strategic infighting between the British Pacific Fleet and the U.S. military, the unit was never in action, and was disbanded (officially) at RAAF Station Narromine on 14 July 1945.[3] The converted Mosquitos were stripped of all military equipment and sold off. The sole surviving No. 618 Squadron Mosquito, an FB. Mk.VI HR621, is currently undergoing restoration at the Camden Museum of Aviation.[4]

Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated by No. 618 Squadron RAF, data from[5][6][7]
From To Aircraft Variant
April 1943 June 1943 Bristol Beaufighter Mk.II
April 1943 June 1945 de Havilland Mosquito Mk.IV
July 1944 October 1944 de Havilland Mosquito Mk.VI
October 1944 June 1945 de Havilland Mosquito Mk.XVI
December 1944 December 1944 Fairey Barracuda Mk.II
March 1945 June 1945 de Havilland Mosquito Mk.VI

Commanding officers

Officers commanding No. 618 Squadron, data from[5]
From To Name
April 1943 April 1943
S/Ldr. C.T. Rose, DFC, DFM
April 1943 September 1943
W/Cdr.
G.H.B. Hutchinson
September 1943 July 1944
F/O.
H.B. Mcready
July 1944 October 1944
W/Cdr.
G.H.B. Hutchinson
October 1944 July 1945
G/Cpt.
R.C. Keary

References

Notes

  1. ^ Gardner 2006, p. 47
  2. ^ Bowyer 1984, p. 127.
  3. ^ Rawlings 1982, pp. 240–241.
  4. ^ Mosquito Photos
  5. ^ a b Rawlings 1982, p. 241.
  6. ^ Halley 1988, p. 436.
  7. ^ Jefford 2001, p. 102.

Bibliography

External links
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