No. 106 Squadron (RAF) during the Second World War

No. 106 Squadron had been formed from a flight of No.15 Squadron on 1 June 1938 to act as an operational training unit, at first with the Hind, then the Battle, and then in the months before the outbreak of the Second World War a mix of Ansons and Hampdens.

Once the war began the Ansons left, and the squadron concentrated on training with the Hampden until September 1940.

In that month No. 106 Squadron finally became an operational bomber squadron, carrying out minelaying duties, before joining the strategic bombing campaign over Germany.

At the start of 1942 No. 106 became one of the small number of squadrons unfortunate enough to operate the flawed Avro Manchester, but the much superior Lancaster began to arrive in May, and the squadron used that aircraft until the end of the war.

Location
1 September-6 October 1939: Cottesmore
6 October 1939-23 February 1941: Finningley
23 February 1941-1 October 1942: Coningsby
1 October 1942-11 November 1943: Syerston
11 November 1943-18 February 1946: Metheringham

Group and Duty
September 1939-September 1940: Reserve bomber squadron with No. 5 Group
September 1940-: Operational bomber squadron

Lancaster Squadron 1942-43, Jon Lake. This book looks at the early career of the Avro Lancaster. During this period the Lancaster was just one of a number of aircraft used by Bomber Command, important amongst them the Wellington, the Stirling and the Halifax. Only by the end of this period do we see the Lancaster begin to emerge as the most important aircraft in Bomber Command. Lake covers the wide range of activities performed by the Lancaster squadrons during this squadron, including the famous Dam Busters raid. [see more]

Lancaster Squadrons 1944-45, Jon Lake. A well balanced look at the career of the Avro Lancaster in 1944-45, the period most famous for the systematic night bombardment of German cities. This was also the period that saw the Lancaster used to support the invasion of France, and the period that saw 617 Squadron drop Barnes Wallis's huge streamlined bombs with great precision. [see more]

How to cite this article: Rickard, J (15 April 2008), No. 106 Squadron (RAF): Second World War, http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/RAF/106_wwII.html