No. 107 Squadron (RAF) during the Second World War

At the start of the Second World War No.107 Squadron was a light bomber squadron, equipped with the Bristol Blenheim. It was one of the few bomber squadrons to begin active operations in 1939, taking part in the attack on Wilhelmshaven on the second day of the war.

The squadron was then involved in the fighting in Norway (April 1940), before taking part in the desperate attacks on German columns during the Battle of France. After the fall of France No. 107 Squadron took part in the attack on German invasion barges.

In March 1941 the squadron moved to Scotland and to Coastal Command, and spent the next two months carrying out anti-submarine patrols and attacks on German shipping in the North Sea, before returning to Bomber Command and to Great Massingham in Norfolk.

In August 1941 the squadron's Blenheims flew out to Malta, from where they attacked Axis targets in Italy, Sicily and North Africa. This lasted until 9 January 1942 when the surviving aircraft were withdrawn, and the detachment was dissolved.

In the same month the squadron began to receive Boston bombers back at Great Massingham, and in March operations from Britain resumed. For the next two years the squadron attacked German airfields and transport targets in occupied Europe.

The squadron's final chance of duty came in February 1944 when it received the Mosquito FB.VI, and began to fly night intruder missions over Germany and occupied Europe. The squadron moved to Cambrai in November 1944, and remained there until the end of the war, still performing its night intruder duties. For three years after the war the squadron was part of the occupation force in Germany, before being renumbered as No. 11 Squadron in 1948.

Location
11 May 1939-3 March 1941: Wattisham(Suffolk)
3 March-11 May 1941: Leuchars (Fife, Scotland)
11 May 1941-20 August 1941: Great Massingham (Norfolk)
20 August 1941-12 January 1942: Luqa (Malta)
January 1942-1 August 1943: Great Massingham
1 August 1943-3 February 1944: Hartfordbridge
3 February 1944-30 October 1944: Lasham
30 October-19 November 1944: Hartfordbridge
19 November 1944-3 July 1945: A.75 Cambrai/ Epinoy (France)

Group and Duty
26 September 1939: Bomber squadron with No.2 Group, 83 Wing Force
March-May 1941: Coastal Command
August 1941-January 1942: Aircraft to Malta
January 1942-January 1944: Bomber squadron
February 1944- : Night intruder with Mosquitoes

Bomber Offensive, Sir Arthur Harris. The autobiography of Bomber Harris, giving his view of the strategic bombing campaign in its immediate aftermath. Invaluable for the insights it provides into Harris’s approach to the war, what he was trying to achieve and the problems he faced. Harris perhaps overstates his case, not entirely surprisingly given how soon after the end of the war this book was written (Read Full Review)

Mosquito Fighter/ Fighter-Bomber Units of World War 2, Martin Bowman. The second of three books looking the RAF career of the Mosquito covers its use as a night fighter, first on the defensive in the skies over Britain, and then as an intruder over Occupied Europe and Germany, and finishing with a look at the "Mosquito Panic" [see more]

Blenheim Squadrons of World War Two, Jon Lake. This book looks at the entire RAF service career of the Bristol Blenheim, from its debut as a promising fast bomber, through the deadly disillusionment of the blitzkrieg, on to its work in the Middle East and Mediterranean, where the aircraft found a new lease of life. Lake also looks at the use of the Blenheim as an interim fighter aircraft and its use by Coastal Command.

How to cite this article: Rickard, J (24 March 2007), No. 107 Squadron (RAF): Second World War, http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/RAF/107_wwII.html