The squadron was formed at RAF Weston Zoyland on 15 June 1942 as a fighter-reconnaissance squadron equipped with the American-built North American Mustang I. After a few months' training with the Army it began operations over continental Europe in January 1943. In the first few months of action it had a speciality for attacking and destroying rail traffic. It eventually operated defensive patrols against German fighter-bombers until it was disbanded at RAF Sawbridgeworth on 15 January 1944.
No. 170 Squadron was re-formed on 15 October 1944 at RAF Kelstern from C Flight of 625 Squadron, moving shortly to RAF Dunholme Lodge then again to RAF Hemswell. Equipped with the four-engined Avro Lancaster heavy bomber it was soon operating as part of the Bomber Command offensive over Germany through the winter of 1944/45. As the risk from German fighters grew less it also operated daylight raids. It only operated as a heavy bomber unit for six months but flew 980 sorties with the loss of 13 Lancasters. Following its last raid on 25 April 1945 against Berchtesgaden it concentrated on dropping relief supplies into the Netherlands and transporting prisoners of war and troops back to England from Germany. With its job done it was disbanded on 14 November 1945.
There is a 170 Sqn. memorial at the former RAF Hemswell site.
RAF History 170 Sqn site at the Wayback Machine (archived 4 July 2013)
Photos of 170 Sqn memorial at RAF Hemswell
Obituary of Wg Cdr Basil Templeman-Rooke
Wilfred Earl Weber and the Crew of Lancaster Bomber ME320
January 01, 1970
squadron, second, world, royal, force, squadron, that, operated, north, american, mustang, fighter, reconnaissance, role, later, avro, lancaster, part, bomber, command, active1942, 19441944, 1945countryunited, kingdombranchroyal, forcemotto, videre, videri, se. No 170 Squadron RAF was a Second World War Royal Air Force squadron that operated the North American Mustang in the fighter reconnaissance role and later the Avro Lancaster as part of Bomber Command No 170 Squadron RAFActive1942 19441944 1945CountryUnited KingdomBranchRoyal Air ForceMotto s Videre Non Videri To see is not to be seen Contents 1 History 2 Aircraft operated 3 Squadron Commanders 4 Pilots 5 References 5 1 Citations 5 2 Bibliography 6 External linksHistory editThe squadron was formed at RAF Weston Zoyland on 15 June 1942 as a fighter reconnaissance squadron equipped with the American built North American Mustang I After a few months training with the Army it began operations over continental Europe in January 1943 In the first few months of action it had a speciality for attacking and destroying rail traffic It eventually operated defensive patrols against German fighter bombers until it was disbanded at RAF Sawbridgeworth on 15 January 1944 No 170 Squadron was re formed on 15 October 1944 at RAF Kelstern from C Flight of 625 Squadron moving shortly to RAF Dunholme Lodge then again to RAF Hemswell Equipped with the four engined Avro Lancaster heavy bomber it was soon operating as part of the Bomber Command offensive over Germany through the winter of 1944 45 As the risk from German fighters grew less it also operated daylight raids It only operated as a heavy bomber unit for six months but flew 980 sorties with the loss of 13 Lancasters Following its last raid on 25 April 1945 against Berchtesgaden it concentrated on dropping relief supplies into the Netherlands and transporting prisoners of war and troops back to England from Germany With its job done it was disbanded on 14 November 1945 There is a 170 Sqn memorial at the former RAF Hemswell site Aircraft operated edit 1 Dates Aircraft Variant Notes 1942 1944 North American Mustang I and IA Single engined fighter 1944 1945 Avro Lancaster I and III Four engined heavy bomberSquadron Commanders edit1945 Sqn Ldr Basil Templeman RookePilots edit1944 1945 Pilot Officer Robert Byron Pattison1944 1945 Flight Lieutenant Donald Edward Thomas Hudson DFC1944 1945 Flight Lieutenant Denis Michael Evans1944 1944 Pilot Officer Jack StevensonReferences editCitations edit Jefford 1988 page 64 Bibliography edit The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft Part Work 1982 1985 Orbis Publishing 1985 Jefford C G 1988 RAF Squadrons Airlife Publishing Ltd ISBN 1 85310 053 6 External links editRAF History 170 Sqn site Bomber Command No 170 Squadron at the Wayback Machine archived 4 July 2013 Photos of 170 Sqn memorial at RAF Hemswell Obituary of Wg Cdr Basil Templeman Rooke Wilfred Earl Weber and the Crew of Lancaster Bomber ME320 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title No 170 Squadron RAF amp oldid 1193561631, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
