No. 227 Squadron RAF
No. 227 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron that formed as bomber unit in World War I and World War II.
No. 227 Squadron RAF | |
---|---|
Active | 1 April 1918 – 9 December 1918 1 July 1942 – 7 September 1942 20 August 1942 – 5 September 1945 |
Country | |
Branch | |
Motto(s) | None |
Insignia | |
Squadron Badge | None |
Squadron Codes | 9J (Oct 1944 - Sep 1945) |
History
Formation and World War I
No. 227 Squadron was formed on 1 April 1918 as a day bomber unit and operated former RNAS Capronis from Pizzone, Italy, but it did not become operational and it disbanded on 9 December 1918.
Reformation in World War II
On 1 July 1942 the squadron reformed, serviced and operated Handley Page Halifax Bombers of 10 Squadron pending the arrival of Bristol Beaufighters. The squadron merged with 76 Squadron and 462 Squadron. On 20 August 1942, Beaufighters at Luqa, Malta were named 227 Squadron and the unit then moved to Egypt, Libya and Italy. On 12 August 1944, it was renumbered 19 Squadron, South African Air Force. It reformed again at RAF Bardney on 7 October 1944 and flew Lancasters against Germany. No. 227 Squadron was based at RAF Balderton, Nottinghamshire with Avro Lancasters between October 1944 - April 1945. 227 Squadron moved to RAF Strubby, Lincolnshire on 5 April 1945, then in June to RAF Graveley, where it was finally disbanded on 5 September.
Aircraft operated
From | To | Aircraft | Variant |
---|---|---|---|
Apr 1918 | Apr 1918 | Caproni Ca 42 | |
Apr 1918 | Dec 1918 | Airco DH.4 | |
Jun 1918 | Dec 1918 | Airco DH.9 | |
Aug 1942 | Feb 1943 | Bristol Beaufighter | IC |
Aug 1942 | Aug 1944 | Bristol Beaufighter | VIC |
Sep 1943 | Aug 1944 | Bristol Beaufighter | XI |
Oct 1943 | Dec 1943 | Bristol Beaufighter | X |
Oct 1944 | Sep 1945 | Avro Lancaster | I & III |
References
- C.G.Jefford (1988). RAF Squadrons. UK Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to No. 227 Squadron RAF. |