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No. 623 Squadron RAF

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No. 623 Squadron RAF
Active10 Aug 1943 – 6 Dec 1943
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
Typeinactive
RoleBomber Squadron
Part ofNo. 3 Group RAF RAF Bomber Command
StationRAF Downham Market
Insignia
Squadron CodesIC (Aug 1943 – Dec 1943)[1][2]
Aircraft flown
BomberShort Stirling
Four-engined heavy bomber

No. 623 Squadron RAF was a heavy bomber squadron of the Royal Air Force for several months in 1943 during the Second World War.

History

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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

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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

Notable personnel

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Flt Lt John Henry Smythe, a black navigator from Sierra Leone, who was shot down and captured, and later became a Queen's Counsel barrister and the attorney general of Sierra Leone.

Aircraft operated

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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]

  • BF568: IC-B Taken over from No. 218 Squadron RAF, later to No. 214 Squadron RAF and 1651 Heavy Conversion Unit (HCU). Struck of charge 24.4.45
  • BK727: IC-A Taken over from No. 218 Squadron, later to No. 214 Squadron and 1651 HCU. Struck of charge 24.4.45
  • BK803: IC-S and IC-D Taken over from No. 218 Squadron, later to 1654 HCU. Crashed 30.6.44
  • EE876: IC-T Taken over from No. 218 Squadron, later to 1654 HCU. Struck of charge 25.4.46
  • EE966: IC-E Taken over from No. 218 Squadron, later transferred to No. 299 Squadron RAF. Crashed 11.5.45 at Gardermoen, Norway
  • EF199: IC-I Went to No. 214 Squadron RAF and later to 1651 HCU. Struck of charge 24.4.45
  • EF204: IC-E Went to 1654 Conversion Unit after its service life with No. 623 Squadron, crashed 14.1.45
  • EH878: IC-I Failed to return from a bombing mission to Mannheim, 6.9.43
  • EH925: IC-C Failed to return from bombing mission to Berlin, 23/24.08.43. Aircraft crashed 10 km south of Zossen, crew killed. Crash site has now been discovered in local area.
  • EJ121: IC-Q Went to 1654 Conversion Unit after its service life with No. 623 Squadron. Struck of charge 28.2.45
  • LJ454: IC-E Failed to return from a bombing mission to Mannheim, 19.11.43
  • LK387: IC-P Failed to return on 5.12.43 on a mine laying operation at the Friesian Islands

Operations

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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
  • Despatched – number of aircraft taking off
  • DCO – Duty Carried Out
  • Alt – Alternative target attacked
  • DNCO – Duty Not Carried Out (sortie aborted)
  • Gardening – laying anti-shipping mines in coastal waters
  • Comments – code names for area where mines dropped and identity of losses.

See also

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References

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Notes

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  1. ^ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 54.
  2. ^ Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 79.
  3. ^ Bowyer 1980, p. 129.
  4. ^ Bowyer 1980, p. 136.
  5. ^ Falconer 1997, p. 201.
  6. ^ a b Moyes 1976, p. 287.
  7. ^ Halley 1988, p. 439.
  8. ^ Gomersall 1979

Bibliography

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  • Bowyer, Michael J.F. (1980). The Stirling Bomber. London: Faber and Faber Ltd. ISBN 0-571-11101-7.
  • Bowyer, Michael J.F.; Rawlings, John D.R. (1979). Squadron Codes, 1937–56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 0-85059-364-6.
  • Falconer, Jonathan (1997) [1995]. Stirling Wings: The Short Stirling Goes to War. Budding Books. ISBN 1-84015-004-1.
  • Flintham, Vic; Thomas, Andrew (2003). Combat Codes: A Full Explanation and Listing of British, Commonwealth and Allied Air Force Unit Codes since 1938. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-84037-281-8.
  • Gomersall, Bryce (1979). The Stirling File. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd. and Aviation Archaeologists Publications. ISBN 0-85130-072-3.
  • Halley, James J. (1988). The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
  • Jefford, C.G. (2001). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912 (2nd ed.). Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
  • Moyes, Philip J.R. (1976). Bomber Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers) Ltd. ISBN 0-354-01027-1.
  • No. 623 Squadron Operational Record Book (Forms 540/541), National Archives, Kew (AIR 27/2141).
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