156 Squadron was reformed at RAF Alconbury in February 1942 with Wellingtons as part of 3 Group. In August 1942 it moved to RAF Warboys as one of the original Pathfinder squadrons. In January 1943 the Pathfinders became 8 Group and 153 Squadron converted to Lancasters. In March 1944 the squadron moved to RAF Upwood. At the end of the war it took part in Operation Manna, Operation Exodus and Operation Dodge.
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157 Squadron reformed in December 1941 as a night fighter and intruder squadron flying Mosquitos. The squadron transferred to Bomber Command in May 1944 as part of 100 Group. The squadron was based at RAF Swannington until the end of the war apart from a 5 week spell in July-August 1944 when it was located at RAF West Malling to intercept V-1s. The squadron operated in an intruder role against German night fighters and their stations in order to support Bomber Command operations.Refinements:
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158 Squadron formed at RAF Driffield in February 1942 from the renumbering of 104 Squadron. Equipped with Wellingtons in 4 Group the squadron moved to RAF East Moor to convert to Halifaxes. A move to RAF Rufforth followed in November 1942 and then to RAF Lissett in February 1943 where the squadron stayed until the end of the war having flown the most Halifax sorties of any squadron in Bomber Command.
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161 Squadron was formed at RAF Newmarket in February 1942 in a Special Duties role in 3 Group. After a brief spell at RAF Graveley it moved to RAF Tempsford in April 1942 where it stayed until the end of the war. The squadron supported resistance groups in Occupied Europe by picking up and dropping Special Operations Executive agents and supplies. The squadron also flew convoy escort patrols. It flew a mix of Lysanders, Whitleys, Wellingtons, Havocs, Hudsons, Albermarles, Ansons, Halifaxes and Stirlings.
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162 Squadron was formed in the Middle East in January 1942 and operated Blenheims, Wellingtons and Baltimores in a radar and radio calibration role until disbanding in September 1944. The squadron reformed in December 1944 at RAF Bourn. It was equipped with Mosquitos and formed part of 8 Group Light Night Striking Force 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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From July 1942 to June 1943, 163 Squadron operated Hudsons in a communications role in North Africa. The squadron reformed in January 1945 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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In September 1939, 166 Squadron was equipped with Whitleys at RAF Abingdon and used as a training squadron before merging with other units in 1940 to become 10 Operational Training Unit. In January 1943, 166 Squadron was reformed at RAF Kirmington in 1 Group equipped with Wellingtons. It converted to Lancasters in September 1943. At the end of the war the squadron took part in Operation Manna, dropping food to the Dutch.
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169 Squadron formed in June 1942 as a tactical reconnaissance army co-operation squadron flying P-51s. The squadron was disbanded in September 1943 but reformed the following day at RAF Ayr in a night fighter and intruder role with Mosquitos. In December 1943 the squadron moved to RAF Little Snoring and joined 100 Group Bomber Command charged with defending the bomber stream from German night fighters. 169 Squadron moved to RAF Great Massingham in June 1944 from where it continued its night fighter and intruder role until it was disbanded in August 1945.
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170 Squadron was originally formed in June 1942 as an Army co-operation squadron flying P-51s but was disbanded in January 1944. In October 1944 it was reformed with Lancasters in 1 Group Bomber Command at RAF Kelstern but almost immediately moved to RAF Dunholme Lodge. In December 1944 it moved again to RAF Hemswell. 170 Squadron took part in Operation Manna, dropping food to the Dutch, and Operation Exodus, repatriating ex-prisoners of war, before disbanding in November 1945.
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171 Squadron was formed at RAF Gatwick in June 1942 in an Army co-operation role equipped with P-40s and P-51s. It was disbanded in December 1942. The squadron reformed in September 1944 at RAF North Creake in 100 Group Bomber Command in a radio countermeasures role. Initially equipped with Stirlings it converted to Halifaxes in October 1944.
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178 Squadron was formed in January 1943 in Egypt as a heavy bomber squadron and spent the war operating in North Africa, Italy and the Balkans using B-24s and Halifaxes.
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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.
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180 Squadron was formed in 2 Group at RAF West Raynham in September 1942. The squadron was equipped with B-25s and also flew from the nearby satellite station at RAF Great Massingham. In October 1942 the squadron moved to RAF Foulsham. In May 1943 2 Group, including 180 Squadron, transferred from Bomber Command to the Second Tactical Air Force.
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In September 1939 185 Squadron was based at RAF Cottesmore flying Hampdens and Herefords in a training role. In April 1940 it was absorbed into 14 Operational Training Unit. 185 Squadron was reformed in Malta in May 1941 as a fighter squadron, initially flying Hurricanes but converting to Spitfires in 1942. It stayed in the Mediterranean theatre until the end of the war.
This entry has been added for consistency purposes. As of Oct 2021, there are no relevant items in the Archive.
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186 Squadron was formed in 1943 initially as an Army support squadron but then as a fighter-bomber squadron flying Hurricanes, Typhoons and Spitfires until being renumbered as 130 Squadron in April 1944. 186 Squadron was reformed in October 1944 as a heavy bomber squadron with Lancasters in 3 Group at RAF Tuddenham. In December 1944 the squadron moved to RAF Stradishall. The squadron took part in Operation Manna, dropping food to the Dutch, and Operation Exodus, repatriating ex-prisoners of war before disbanding in July 1945.
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189 Squadron reformed at RAF Bardney in October 1944 as part of 5 Group. Operating Lancasters the squadron moved to RAF Fulbeck in November 1944 but returned to RAF Bardney in April 1945 from where it took part in Operation Manna, dropping food to the Dutch, and Operation Exodus repatriating ex-prisoners of war.
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192 Squadron re-formed in January 1943 in 3 Group at RAF Gransden Lodge with Wellingtons, Halifaxes and Mosquitos. By late 1943, via a move to RAF Feltwell, the squadron was at RAF Foulsham in 100 Group deploying electronic and radio countermeasures against German radar defences in order to protect the main bomber force. Two P-38s were also used. Detachments were sent to the Mediterranean and also to Coastal Command.
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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.]]>195 Squadron first formed as a fighter-bomber squadron with Typhoons from November 1942 to February 1944. The squadron reformed with Lancasters in October 1944 in 3 Group at RAF Witchford before moving to RAF Wratting Common for the remainder of the war. It took part in Operation Manna dropping food to the Dutch.
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196 Squadron was formed at RAF Driffield in November 1942 as part of 4 Group. Moving to RAF Leconfield in December 1942 it was equipped with Wellingtons. In July 1943 the squadron transferred to 3 Group, moved to RAF Witchford in July 1943 and converted to Stirlings. In November 1943 the squadron transferred out of Bomber Command to 38 Group in an airborne support role for the rest of the war. From January to March 1944 it was based at RAF Tarrant Rushton.
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199 Squadron was formed as part of 1 Group at RAF Blyton in November 1942 flying Wellingtons. It moved to RAF Ingham in February 1943 but in June 1943 it transferred to 3 Group at RAF Lakenheath and converted to Stirlings. In May 1944 it transferred again, this time to 100 Group and was stationed at RAF North Creake. It flew radio counter-measure operations initially with its Stirlings but from February 1945 with Halifaxes.
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206 Squadron spent the war serving in Coastal Command in anti-shipping and anti-submarine roles. Aircraft used included Ansons, Hudsons, B-17s and B-24s. It had spells based in Northern Ireland, Scotland, the Azores as well as in Norfolk at RAF Bircham Newton and in Cornwall at RAF St Eval.
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By September 1939, 214 squadron was flying Wellingtons as part of 3 Group stationed at RAF Methwold. From February 1940 to October 1942 the squadron was based at RAF Stradishall, converting to Stirlings in April 1942. From October 1942 to December 1943 the squadron was based at RAF Chedburgh from where it went to RAF Downham Market for a month. In January 1944 the squadron transferred to 100 Group and converted to B-17s in a radio counter-measures role. From January to May 1944 it carried out this role at RAF Sculthorpe but from May 1944 to the end of the war it was based at RAF Oulton.
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