Active: 1 April 1944 - 10 September 1945
Motto: Praevolamus designates (Translation: "We fly before marking")
The squadron was formed with Avro Lancasters on 1 April 1944 at RAF Little Staughton, Huntingdonshire, England, from 'C' Flight of 7 Squadron and 'C' Flight 156 Squadron. It was part of No. 8 Group RAF, also referred to as the Pathfinder Force, and began operation nine days later with a night raid on Lille on the 9/10 April 1944.
The squadron's last operational raid against enemy forces was a raid on gun batteries on the island of Wangerooge on 25 April 1945. The squadron spent the remainder of the war dropping food to the Dutch, during Operation Manna, and repatriating prisoners of war in Operation Exodus. It was disbanded at RAF Little Staughton on 10 September 1945.
The squadron had operated 2,157 sorties and lost 28 aircraft during the war.
– Excerpt from Wikipedia
Flight Lieutenant Gordon Baker (seated in front row, 7th from left)
