No. 630 Squadron RAF was a heavy bomber squadron of the

Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) an ...

during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...

History

The squadron was formed at RAF East Kirkby, near

Spilsby Spilsby is a market town, civil parish and electoral ward in the East Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. The town is adjacent to the main A16, east of the county town of Lincoln, north-east of Boston and north-west of Skegness. I ...

Lincolnshire Lincolnshire (abbreviated Lincs.) is a Counties of England, county in the East Midlands of England, with a long coastline on the North Sea to the east. It borders Norfolk to the south-east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south-we ...

on 15 November 1943 from 'B' Flight of No. 57 Squadron RAF, equipped with Lancaster Mk.I bombers as part of

No. 5 Group RAF No. 5 Group was a Royal Air Force bomber group of the Second World War, led during the latter part (February 1943 – 1945) by AVM Sir Ralph Cochrane. History Overview The Group was formed on 1 September 1937, with its headquarters at RAF Mild ...

Bomber Command Bomber Command is an organisational military unit, generally subordinate to the air force of a country. The best known were in Britain and the United States. A Bomber Command is generally used for strategic bombing (although at times, e.g. during t ...

. It re-equipped with Lancaster Mk.III bombers the same month, carrying out strategic bombing roles. Between 18/19 November 1943 and 25 April 1945, the squadron took part in many major raids, including each of the 16 big raids made by Bomber Command on the German capital during what became known as the " Battle of Berlin".

Operational service

The units first operation was the night of 18/19 November 1943 when 9 of its Lancasters bombed

Berlin Berlin ( , ) is the capital and List of cities in Germany by population, largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's List of cities in the European Union by population within ci ...

and its last bombing sortie was 25 April 1945 with 5 Lancasters bombing Obersalzberg. Its last military operation was minelaying in Onions area (

Oslofjord The Oslofjord (, ; en, Oslo Fjord) is an inlet in the south-east of Norway, stretching from an imaginary line between the and lighthouses and down to in the south to Oslo in the north. It is part of the Skagerrak strait, connecting the Nor ...

off Horten) on 25/26 April 1945. Following April 1945 the squadron became involved in Operation Exodus: ferrying POWs back to Britain, finally disbanding on 18 July 1945.

Aircraft operated

References

Notes

Bibliography

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External links

- 630 Squadron detailed history

- 57 & 630 Squadron Association

630 Squadron history on RAF website

{{DEFAULTSORT:No. 630 Squadron RAF Bomber squadrons of the Royal Air Force in World War II 630 Squadron Military units and formations established in 1943 Military units and formations disestablished in 1945