No. 623 Squadron RAF

No. 623 Squadron RAF
Active 10 Aug 1943 – 6 Dec 1943
Country United Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
Type inactive
Role Bomber Squadron
Part of No. 3 Group RAF RAF Bomber Command
Base RAF Downham Market
Insignia
Squadron Codes IC (Aug 1943 – Dec 1943)[1][2]
Aircraft flown
Bomber Short Stirling
Four-engined heavy bomber

No. 623 Squadron RAF was a heavy bomber squadron of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.

History

The squadron was formed on 10 August 1943 at RAF Downham Market in Norfolk from 'C' Flight of 218 Squadron, as well as receiving crews from No.3 L.F.S. and No.1653 Conversion Unit.[3] It was equipped with Stirling Mk.III bombers, as part of No. 3 Group RAF in Bomber Command. The squadron carried out night raids against Germany, but was short-lived and was disbanded on 6 December 1943 at Downham Market. The aircraft went mostly to conversion units of No. 5 Group RAF.[4]

Commanding officers

Officers commanding No. 623 Squadron RAF, data from[5]
Date Name Comments
18 August 1943 W/Cdr. E.J. Little, DFC Killed in action, 31-08-1943
6 September 1943 W/Cdr. G.T. Wynne-Powell Moved to 90 Sqn, 29-11-1943
29 November 1943 W/Cdr. F.M. Milligan, AFC

Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated by no. 623 Squadron RAF, data from[6][7]
From To Aircraft Variant
August 1943 December 1943 Short Stirling Mk.III

Some examples:[6][8]

Operations

Date Type Target Despatched DCO Alt DNCO Recalled Lost Comments
10/11-Aug-43 Stirling Nürnberg 4 4 0 0 0 0
12/13-Aug-43 Stirling Turin 4 4 0 0 0 0
16/17-Aug-43 Stirling Turin 5 5 0 0 0 0
23/24-Aug-43 Stirling Berlin 6 5 0 0 0 1 EH925
24/25-Aug-43 Stirling Gardening 2 2 0 0 0 0 Nectarines
25/26-Aug-43 Stirling Gardening 1 1 0 0 0 0 Deodars
26/27-Aug-43 Stirling Gardening 2 2 0 0 0 0 Deodars
27/28-Aug-43 Stirling Nürnberg 5 3 0 1 0 1 EE909
30/31-Aug-43 Stirling Mönchengladbach 5 4 0 1 0 0
31/01-Aug-43 Stirling Berlin 4 2 0 1 0 1 EE949
02/03-Sep-43 Stirling Gardening 1 0 0 1 0 0 Nectarines
05/06-Sep-43 Stirling Mannheim 3 2 0 0 0 1 EH878
08/09-Sep-43 Stirling Boulogne 3 3 0 0 0 0
15/16-Sep-43 Stirling Montluçon 3 3 0 0 0 0
16/17-Sep-43 Stirling Modane 4 4 0 0 0 0
22/23-Sep-43 Stirling Hannover 4 4 0 0 0 0
23/24-Sep-43 Stirling Mannheim 3 3 0 0 0 0
24/25-Sep-43 Stirling Gardening 3 3 0 0 0 0 Nectarines
25/26-Sep-43 Stirling Gardening 2 1 0 0 0 1 Nectarines EF499
27/28-Sep-43 Stirling Hannover 2 2 0 0 0 0
27/28-Sep-43 Stirling Gardening 1 1 0 0 0 0 Nectarines
02/03-Oct-43 Stirling Gardening 2 2 0 0 0 0 Silverthorne
03/04-Oct-43 Stirling Kassel 5 2 0 1 0 2 EF158 and EH994
04/05-Oct-43 Stirling Frankfurt am Main 3 2 0 1 0 0
04/05-Oct-43 Stirling Gardening 2 2 0 0 0 0 Deodars
07/08-Oct-43 Stirling Gardening 3 3 0 0 0 0 Nectarines 1, Silverthorne 2
08/09-Oct-43 Stirling Bremen 4 4 0 0 0 0
08/09-Oct-43 Stirling Gardening 1 1 0 0 0 0 Deodars
17/18-Oct-43 Stirling Gardening 5 5 0 0 0 0 Nectarines
20/21-Oct-43 Stirling Gardening 2 2 0 0 0 0 Nectarines
22/23-Oct-43 Stirling Gardening 3 2 0 1 0 0 Nectarines
24/25-Oct-43 Stirling Gardening 2 2 0 0 0 0 Nectarines
25/26-Oct-43 Stirling Gardening 2 2 0 0 0 0
03/04-Nov-43 Stirling Gardening 4 4 0 0 0 0
04/05-Nov-43 Stirling Gardening 2 2 0 0 0 0
07/08-Nov-43 Stirling Gardening 5 4 0 0 0 1 Deodars, Furze EF156
10/11-Nov-43 Stirling Gardening 2 2 0 0 0 0 La Rochelle
18/19-Nov-43 Stirling Mannheim 7 3 0 2 0 2 EF155 and LJ454
19/20-Nov-43 Stirling Leverkusen 2 2 0 0 0 0
19/20-Nov-43 Stirling Gardening 5 5 0 0 0 0 Nectarines/Cinnamon
22/23-Nov-43 Stirling Berlin 3 2 1 0 0 0
25/26-Nov-43 Stirling Gardening 3 1 0 2 0 0
04/05-Dec-43 Stirling Gardening 2 1 0 0 0 1 Nectarines LK387
Totals 138 115 1 11 0 11

See also

References

Notes

Bibliography

  • Bowyer, Michael J.F. The Stirling Bomber. London: Faber and Faber Ltd., 1980. ISBN 0-571-11101-7.
  • Bowyer, Michael J.F. and John D.R. Rawlings. Squadron Codes, 1937–56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd., 1979. ISBN 0-85059-364-6.
  • Falconer, Jonathan. Stirling Wings: The Short Stirling Goes to War. Stoud, Gloucestershire, UK: Alan Sutton Publishing Ltd., 1995 (republished by Budding Books, 1997. ISBN 1-84015-004-1.).
  • Flintham, Vic and Andrew Thomas. Combat Codes: A full explanation and listing of British, Commonwealth and Allied air force unit codes since 1938. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd., 2003. ISBN 1-84037-281-8.* Dickinson, Jack. The Time of my Life: Life with 218 & 623 Squadrons.
  • Gomersall, Bryce. The Stirling File. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd. and Aviation Archaeologists Publications, 1979. ISBN 0-85130-072-3.
  • Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
  • Jefford, Wing Commander C.G., MBE,BA,RAF (Retd). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 2001. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
  • Moyes, Philip J.R. Bomber Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers) Ltd., 1964 (second edition 1976). ISBN 0-354-01027-1.
  • No. 623 Squadron Operational Record Book (Forms 540/541), National Archives, Kew (AIR 27/2141).
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