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Originally named RAF Minchinhampton during World War One the station was officially reopened as RAF Aston Down in 1938 and controlled by Fighter Command. 5 Operational Training Unit (OTU), later renumbered 55 OTU, used the station to train Hurricane, Blenheim and Typhoon pilots as did 52 OTU training Spitfire pilots. Other units operating from RAF Aston Down included the Air Transport Auxiliary, a detachment of B-25s from 180 Squadron and Mosquitos from 4 Squadron. 20 Maintenance Unit used the station from 1938 to 1960 with the role of storing and assembling aircraft.
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At the start of the war 100 Squadron was stationed in Singapore equipped with obsolete Vildebeests and in early 1942 it was virtually destroyed by the Japanese. In December 1942 the squadron was reformed at RAF Grimsby in 1 Group Bomber Command equipped with Lancasters. In April 1945 the squadron moved to RAF Elsham Wolds. The squadron took part in Operation Manna, dropping food to the Dutch, and Operation Exodus repatriating ex-prisoners of war.
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In September 1939 102 Squadron was part of 4 Group flying Whitleys from RAF Driffield. Brief spells were spent at RAF Leeming, RAF Prestwick on a 6 week loan to Coastal Command and then RAF Linton on Ouse before spending a year from November 1940 to November 1941 at RAF Topcliffe. The squadron moved to RAF Dalton where it converted to Halifaxes before returning to RAF Topcliffe in June 1942. In August 1942 the squadron moved to RAF Pocklington where it stayed until the end of the war.
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Item type refinement is covered in the FAQ section, questions 12 and 13. The Archive also comes with a range of tools for searching and browsing content: please see the help page.]]>At the start of the war 103 Squadron was part of the Advanced Air Striking Force in France with Battles. The squadron returned to Britain in June 1940 and, via a two week spell at RAF Honington, moved to RAF Newton where it re-equipped with Wellingtons as part of 1 Group. The Squadron moved to RAF Elsham Wolds in July 1941 where it remained for the rest of the war. It converted to Halifaxes in July 1942 and Lancasters in November 1942.
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105 Squadron formed part of the Advanced Air Striking Force in France with Battles early in the war before returning to England in June 1940 at RAF Honington and then to RAF Watton converting to Blenheims in 2 Group in July 1940. From October 1940 to December 1941 the squadron operated from RAF Swanton Morley with detachments sent to RAF Lossiemouth and Malta. In November 1941 it became the first squadron to be equipped with the Mosquito and moved the next month to RAF Horsham St Faith staying until September 1942. From September 1942 to March 1944 it operated from RAF Marham and whilst there in June 1943 transferred to 8 Group in an Oboe equipped Pathfinder role. The squadron’s final move was to RAF Bourn in March 1944 where it stayed until the end of the war having carried out more Mosquito operations than any other squadron. At the end of the war the squadron took part in Operation Manna, by marking the dropping points for food to the Dutch.
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In 1939, 107 Squadron was in 2 Group at RAF Wattisham equipped with Blenheims. During early 1941 the squadron sent detachments to RAF Lossiemouth, RAF Newmarket and RAF Swanton Morley and was attached to Coastal Command for two months. From May 1941 to August 1943 it was stationed at RAF Great Massingham where it converted to Bostons in January 1942. In June 1943 the squadron transferred to the Second Tactical Air Force and continued to operate Bostons until February 1944 when it switched to operating Mosquitos in a night intruder role until the end of the war.
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109 Squadron was reformed in December 1940 at RAF Boscombe Down. Using Whitleys, Ansons and Wellingtons it developed radio counter-measures and also the Oboe blind bombing system. From January 1942 to April 1942 it was based at RAF Tempsford before moving to RAF Stradishall until August 1942. The squadron then moved to RAF Wyton as one of the original Pathfinder squadrons and converted to Mosquitos and, for two months only, Lancasters. It led the first Oboe marker operation for main force bombers in December 1942 and became one of two Oboe marker squadrons in 8 Group. From July 1943 to April 1944 it was based at RAF Marham and subsequently at RAF Little Staughton until the end of the war. At the end of the war the squadron took part in Operation Manna, by marking the dropping points for food to the Dutch.
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110 Squadron was in 2 Group during the first part of the war. It was stationed at RAF Wattisham flying Blenheims in daylight operations. Detachments were sent to RAF Lossiemouth in April-May 1940, to RAF Horsham St Faith in February-March 1941, to RAF Manston in May-June 1941, Malta in July 1941 and RAF Lindholme in September 1941. In March 1942 the squadron transferred to India and spent the rest of the war operating in the Far East with Vengeances and Mosquitos.
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In September 1939, 114 Squadron was stationed at RAF Wyton in 2 Group equipped with Blenheims. It was sent to France in December 1939 as part of the Advanced Air Striking Force. It returned to Britain in May 1940, initially to RAF Wattisham and subsequently to RAF Horsham St Faith in June 1940 and RAF Oulton in August 1940. From March to July 1941 the squadron was loaned to Coastal Command. It returned to Bomber Command at RAF West Raynham from July 1941 to November 1942 when it moved to North Africa and operated from there, Sicily and Italy for the rest of the war equipped with Bostons.
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115 Squadron was in 3 Group throughout the war. In September 1939 it was based at RAF Marham equipped with Wellingtons. From September 1942 to November 1942 it moved to RAF Mildenhall and then to RAF East Wretham where, having carried out the most Wellington operations in Bomber Command, the squadron converted to the radial engined Lancaster Mk 2s in March 1943. From August 1943 to November 1943 the squadron operated from RAF Little Snoring before moving to RAF Witchford from where it operated until the end of the war having switched to Merlin engined Lancasters in in March 1944. At the end of the war the squadron took part in Operation Manna, dropping food to the Dutch.
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From October 1941 to March 1943 128 Squadron was a fighter squadron with Hurricanes stationed in West Africa. The squadron reformed in September 1944 at RAF Wyton as part of 8 Group. It was equipped with Mosquitos and formed part of the Light Night Striking Force.
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138 Squadron was reformed at RAF Newmarket in August 1941 in 3 Group in a Special Duties role. From December 1941 to March 1942 the squadron was based at RAF Stradishall before moving to RAF Tempsford. Using a mix of Lysanders, Whitleys, Halifaxes and Stirlings the squadron supported resistance groups in Occupied Europe by picking up and dropping Special Operations Executive agents and supplies. In March 1945 the squadron moved to RAF Tuddenham, converted to Lancasters and took part in the bombing campaign for the last two months of the war.
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In September 1939 149 Squadron was stationed at RAF Mildenhall in 3 Group equipped with Wellingtons. In November 1941 the squadron converted to Stirlings and it flew more sorties with the Stirling than any other squadron. From April 1942 to May 1944 the squadron was based at RAF Lakenheath and from May 1944 to the end of the war it was at RAF Methwold where Lancasters replaced the Stirlings in August 1944. The squadron used the Gee-H blind bombing system. At the end of the war it took part in Operation Manna, dropping food to the Dutch and Operation Exodus, repatriating ex-prisoners of war.
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At the start of the war the Battles of 150 Squadron was sent to France as part of the Advanced Air Striking Force. On returning to Britain in June 1940 the squadron was assigned to 1 Group, re-equipped with Wellingtons and spent two weeks at RAF Stradishall before moving to RAF Newton where it stayed until July 1941. The squadron then spent 15 months at RAF Snaith followed by three months at RAF Kirmington. At the end of 1942 the squadron was transferred to North Africa. In November 1944 the squadron was reformed back in 1 Group at RAF Fiskerton as a Lancaster squadron, moving three weeks later to RAF Hemswell for the rest of the war. It took part in Operation Manna, dropping food to the Dutch in the last days of the war.
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153 Squadron was formed as a night-fighter squadron in October 1941 and flew Defiants, Blenheims and Beaufighters. In December 1942 the squadron moved to North Africa and also operated Beaufighters, Hurricanes and Spitfires from Sardinia until it was disbanded in September 1944. 153 Squadron reformed in October 1944 at RAF Kirmington with Lancasters as part of 1 Group. The squadron moved immediately to RAF Scampton from where it operated until the end of the war. It took part in Operation Manna, dropping food to the Dutch in the last days of the war and also Operation Exodus, repatriating ex-prisoners of war.
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