The squadron reformed again on 1 April 1941 at RAF Driffield, equipped with the Vickers Wellington and began night bombing operations in May as part of No. 4 Group RAF until February 1942. A squadron detachment was sent to Malta in October 1941, moving to Egypt in January 1942, shortly afterwards the home contingent of the squadron at Driffield was renumbered No. 158, whilst the remainder of the squadron in the Middle East remained No. 104. The squadron later moved first to captured airfields in Tunisia, followed by a move to the Italian mainland in December 1943.[3]
In February 1945 the squadron was re-equipped with the Consolidated Liberator, and then returned to Egypt in November 1945 where it converted to the Avro Lancaster. The squadron disbanded on 1 April 1947.[3]
Postwar
In March 1955 the squadron reformed at Gutersloh equipped with the English Electric Canberra. Appointed as CO by April 1955 was Squadron Leader Edward Stephenson, an experienced flying instructor.[4] The squadron became part of No. 551 Wing RAF, the Bomber Command Element of 2TAF: this consisted of Nos 102, 103, 104 and 149 Squadrons - each equipped with ten Canberra B2s. The squadron disbanded again in August 1956.[3]
In October 1962, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, the squadron was kept at full readiness, with the missiles aimed at strategic targets in the USSR. The squadron was disbanded on 24 May 1963, with the termination of the Thor Program in Britain.
^Pine, L G (1983). A Dictionary of mottoes. London: Routledge & K. Paul. p. 222. ISBN0-7100-9339-X.
^Poulsen, C M, ed. (2 September 1937). "RAF Unit Badges". Flight International. 32 (1, 497): 235. ISSN 0015-3710.
^ abcdefgBarrass, M. B. (2013). "Squadron Histories 101-105". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
^Sawden, Dennis (2013). "The English Electric Canberra". Scottish Saltire Aircrew Association. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
Bibliography
Chappel, F. R. (1980). Wellington Wings. London: W. Kimber. ISBN0-7183-0177-3.
Halley, James J. (1980). The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN0-85130-083-9.
Jefford, C. G. (2001) [1998]. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912 (2nd ed.). Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN1-84037-141-2.
Moyes, Philip J. R. (1976) [1964]. Bomber Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft (2nd ed.). London: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers) Ltd. ISBN0-354-01027-1.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to No. 104 Squadron RAF.
"RAF Bomber Command: No.104 Squadron". Royal Air Force. 2014. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
. Royal Air Force. 2014. Archived from the original on 18 August 2017. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
May 15, 2023
squadron, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, february, 2012, learn, when, remove, this, template, message, former. This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations February 2012 Learn how and when to remove this template message No 104 Squadron RAF is a former squadron of the British Royal Air Force No 104 Squadron RAFActive4 September 1917 31 June 19197 January 1936 8 April 19401 April 1941 1 April 1947 15 March 1955 1 August 195622 July 1959 24 May 1963CountryUnited KingdomBranchRoyal Air ForceMotto s Strike hard 1 InsigniaSquadron badge heraldryA winged thunderbolt 2 The device in conjunction with the motto implies the unit s formidable intentions and power Squadron codes104 Jan 1936 Apr 1939 PO Allocated Apr 1939 Sep 1939 EP Sep 1939 Apr 1940 Mar 1941 Apr 1947 Contents 1 History 1 1 First World War 1 2 Between the wars 1 3 Second World War 1 4 Postwar 2 Aircraft operated 3 See also 4 References 4 1 Citations 4 2 Bibliography 5 External linksHistory EditFirst World War Edit Officers of 104 Squadron RFC at Andover before the squadron set off for France early 1918 The squadron was formed at Wyton England on 4 September 1917 equipped with the DH 9 It then moved to Andover prior to being posted to France in May 1918 to form part of the Independent Air Force The squadron later began re equipping with the Airco DH 10 Amiens however the armistice arrived before this was completed and the squadron returned home first to Turnhouse and then to Crail where it disbanded on 30 June 1919 3 Eight flying aces served within its ranks including future Rear Admiral Arthur Rullion Rattray Jeffrey Batters Home Hay William Bottrill Richard Gammon and W Harrop Between the wars Edit On 7 January 1936 the squadron was reformed at Abingdon from the C Flight of No 40 Squadron The squadron was equipped with the Hawker Hind In August 1936 the squadron moved to RAF Hucknall followed by a move to Bassingbourn in May 1938 and conversion to the Bristol Blenheim 3 Second World War Edit The squadron disbanded when it was absorbed into No 13 Operational Training Unit in April 1940 3 The squadron reformed again on 1 April 1941 at RAF Driffield equipped with the Vickers Wellington and began night bombing operations in May as part of No 4 Group RAF until February 1942 A squadron detachment was sent to Malta in October 1941 moving to Egypt in January 1942 shortly afterwards the home contingent of the squadron at Driffield was renumbered No 158 whilst the remainder of the squadron in the Middle East remained No 104 The squadron later moved first to captured airfields in Tunisia followed by a move to the Italian mainland in December 1943 3 In February 1945 the squadron was re equipped with the Consolidated Liberator and then returned to Egypt in November 1945 where it converted to the Avro Lancaster The squadron disbanded on 1 April 1947 3 Postwar Edit In March 1955 the squadron reformed at Gutersloh equipped with the English Electric Canberra Appointed as CO by April 1955 was Squadron Leader Edward Stephenson an experienced flying instructor 4 The squadron became part of No 551 Wing RAF the Bomber Command Element of 2TAF this consisted of Nos 102 103 104 and 149 Squadrons each equipped with ten Canberra B2s The squadron disbanded again in August 1956 3 The squadron was again reformed as No 104 Strategic Missile Squadron on 22 July 1959 one of 20 squadrons associated with Project Emily The squadron was equipped with three PGM 17 Thor Intermediate range ballistic missiles and based at RAF Ludford Magna 3 In October 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis the squadron was kept at full readiness with the missiles aimed at strategic targets in the USSR The squadron was disbanded on 24 May 1963 with the termination of the Thor Program in Britain Aircraft operated Edit Wellington Mk II of No 104 Squadron 1941 43 1918 1919 Airco DH 9 1918 1919 Airco DH 10 Amiens 1936 1938 Hawker Hind 1938 1940 Bristol Blenheim I 1939 1940 Avro Anson I 1939 1940 Bristol Blenheim IV 1941 1943 Vickers Wellington II 1943 1945 Vickers Wellington X 1945 1946 Consolidater Liberator VI 1945 1947 Avro Lancaster B7 FE 1955 1956 English Electric Canberra B2 1959 1963 Thor IRBMSee also EditList of UK Thor missile basesReferences EditCitations Edit Pine L G 1983 A Dictionary of mottoes London Routledge amp K Paul p 222 ISBN 0 7100 9339 X Poulsen C M ed 2 September 1937 RAF Unit Badges Flight International 32 1 497 235 ISSN 0015 3710 a b c d e f g Barrass M B 2013 Squadron Histories 101 105 Air of Authority A History of RAF Organisation Retrieved 31 December 2014 Sawden Dennis 2013 The English Electric Canberra Scottish Saltire Aircrew Association Retrieved 31 December 2014 Bibliography Edit Chappel F R 1980 Wellington Wings London W Kimber ISBN 0 7183 0177 3 Halley James J 1980 The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force Tonbridge Kent UK Air Britain Historians Ltd ISBN 0 85130 083 9 Jefford C G 2001 1998 RAF Squadrons a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912 2nd ed Shrewsbury UK Airlife Publishing Ltd ISBN 1 84037 141 2 Moyes Philip J R 1976 1964 Bomber Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft 2nd ed London Macdonald and Jane s Publishers Ltd ISBN 0 354 01027 1 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to No 104 Squadron RAF RAF Bomber Command No 104 Squadron Royal Air Force 2014 Retrieved 31 December 2014 RAF 104 Squadron Royal Air Force 2014 Archived from the original on 18 August 2017 Retrieved 31 December 2014 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title No 104 Squadron RAF amp oldid 1083576851, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
