No. 550 Squadron (RAF): Second World War

Aircraft - Locations - Group and Duty - Books

No.550 Squadron was a Lancaster squadron that formed part of Bomber Command's main force from its formation in November 1943 until the end of the war. The squadron was formed on 25 November 1943 around C Flight, No.100 Squadron, and was thus able to become operational immediately.

The squadron took part in Bomber Command's strategic bombing offensive, flying 3,582 sorties in 192 separate raids. Fifty nine aircraft were lost in combat, a comparatively low total for a heavy bomber squadron.

After the end of the war the squadron was used on trooping flights to Italy, before being disbanded on 31 October 1945.

Aircraft
October 1943-October 1945: Avro Lancaster III

Location
November 1943-January 1944: Grimsby
January 1944-October 1945: North Kilingholme

Squadron Codes: BQ

Duty
1943-1945: Heavy Bomber squadron, Bomber Command

Part of
1943-1945: No.1 Group; Bomber Command

Books

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)
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How to cite this article: Rickard, J (27 February 2012), No. 550 Squadron (RAF): Second World War, http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/RAF/550_wwII.html

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