Avro Lancaster damaged over Dusselford, 22 April 1944
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No.467 Squadron (RAAF) was a bomber squadron that served with Bomber Command from the start of 1943 to the end of the war.
The squadron was formed at Scampton on 7 November 1942 as a Lancaster squadron in No.5 Group, Bomber Command. It became operational on 2 January 1943 (taking part in a minelaying mission) from Bottesford, and took part in the strategic bombing offensive until the end of the war.
On the night of 14/15 April the squadron took part in a raid on Stuttgart, providing some of the 98 Lancasters in the total force of 462 bombers.
On 21-21 June 1943 the squadron took part in a raid on the Zeppelin works at Friedrichshafen on Lake Constance which saw one of the earlier uses of the 'Master Bomber' technique on a major raid. The original master bomber, Group Captain L.C. Slee had to turn back after his aircraft developed engine problems, passing command to his deputy, Wing Commander G.L. Gomm of 467 Squadron. The raid caused significant damage to the Zeppelin works. It was also the first raid to fly on to North Africa after the attack, and as a result the German night fighters were unable to intercept it. No Lancasters were lost.
During the Berlin raids over the winter of 1943-44 the squadron took part in fourteen of the raids, flying 147 sorties and losing 10 aircraft, for a loss ratio of 6.8%, well over twice its normal loss rate.
During its time with Bomber Command the squadron flew 3,833 sorties during 299 bombing and 15 minelaying raids. It lost 104 aircraft during these raids, one of the highest loss ratios amongst the Australian squadrons in Bomber Command. Another fourteen aircraft were lost in crashes. Of these losses 44 were suffered in 1943 and 53 in 1944.
Despite these heavy losses one of the squadron's aircraft, LM227, completed exactly 100 missions with the squadron before being struck off charge on 19 October 1945.
The squadron was disbanded on 30 September 1945.
Aircraft
November 1942-September 1945: Avro Lancaster I and III
Location
November 1942: Scampton
November 1942-November 1943: Bottesford
November 1943-June 1945: Waddington
June-September 1945: Metheringham
Squadron Codes: PO
Motto: 'Recidite adversarius atque ferocitea' - To raid down with hostility and ferocity
Duty
1942-1945: No.5 Group, Bomber Command