No. 425 'Alouette' (RCAF) during the Second World War

No.425 "Alouette" Squadron was a RCAF squadron formed in Britain on 25 June 1942 as part of No.4 Group of Bomber Command. Operations with the Vickers Wellington began on 5 October 1942, before on 1 January 1943 the squadron transferred to No.6 (RCAF) Group.

In May 1943 the squadron took its Wellington Xs to North Africa, to support the invasions of Sicily and Italy. At the end of October the squadron returned to Britain, leaving its Wellingtons behind and converting to the Halifax.

For the rest of the war the squadron operated as part of the main bomber force. Its last operation was flown on 25 April 1945, and the squadron was then withdrawn to convert to the Canadian built Lancaster B.Mk X. The war ended before these aircraft became operational, and in June 1945 No.425 returned to Canada.

Location
25 June 1942-15 May 1943: Dishforth
19 June-29 September 1943: Hairouan/ Zina
29 September-26 October 1943: Hani East
6 November-12 December 1943: Dishforth
12 December 1943-13 June 1945: Tholthorpe

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)

6 Group Bomber Command: An Operation Record, Chris Ward. This is a very detailed reference book that looks at the wartime service of the Canadian group in RAF Bomber Command. A detailed narrative history of the group is followed by a series of chapters on each squadron, with a brief history, list of stations, commanding officers and types of aircraft, and most impressively a list of every individual aircraft to serve with each squadron and its fate [read full review]

Battlefields in the Air: Canadians in the Allied Bomber Command, Dan McCaffery. A look at Bomber Command's controversial campaign against Germany, and the role played in it by the Canadian pilots of No.6 Group. McCaffery's well researched text is supported by eye witness accounts from both the Canadian air crew and the German targets of the bombing campaign.

Review of Halifax Squadrons by John lake

Halifax Squadrons of World War II , Jon Lake. This is a very good book on the combat record of the Handley Page Halifax. It covers much more than just its role as a front line bomber, with chapters on the Halifax with Coastal Command, the Pathfinders and SOE, amongst others. [see more]

How to cite this article: Rickard, J (23 March 2007), No. 425 Squadron (RCAF): Second World War, http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/RAF/425_wwII.html

No. 425 "Alouette" (RCAF): Second World War