617 Squadron: Difference between revisions
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'''617 Squadron,''' "Perhaps the most famous [[Royal Air Force]] squadron currently flying",<ref>{{ | {{TOC|right}} | ||
'''617 Squadron,''' "Perhaps the most famous [[Royal Air Force]] squadron currently flying",<ref>{{citation | |||
| url = http://www.raf.mod.uk/organisation/617squadron.cfm | |||
| title = 617 Squadron | |||
| publisher = [[Royal Air Force]] }}</ref> was formed for a special [[strategic bombing]] mission in the [[Second World War]], continuing in precision bombing and Pathfinder roles, and then in a variety of bombing and attack missions after the war. It remains in service, at RAF Marham, flying [[Panavia Tornado|Panavia Tornado GR4]] multirole fighters. | |||
==Second World War== | ==Second World War== | ||
617 Squadron, known as the '''Dambusters''', was formed at Scampton on 21 March 1943, originally for a single special mission:[[Operation Chastise]], the breaching of dams vital to the German war effort. | 617 Squadron, known as the '''Dambusters''', was formed at Scampton on 21 March 1943, originally for a single special mission: [[Operation Chastise]], the breaching of dams vital to the German war effort. | ||
===Operation Chastise=== | ===Operation Chastise=== | ||
The Squadron's Commanding Officer, Wing Commander Guy Gibson, was given free reign to comb other Lancaster squadrons for the crews he thought could best undertake the mission. For weeks, not even Gibson was told of the unit's task, only that low-level flying over water was essential, and training was undertaken in around the dams and reservoirs of Derbyshire | The Squadron's Commanding Officer, Wing Commander Guy Gibson, was given free reign to comb other Lancaster squadrons for the crews he thought could best undertake the mission. For weeks, not even Gibson was told of the unit's task, only that low-level flying over water was essential, and training was undertaken in around the dams and reservoirs of Derbyshire. | ||
===Precision bombing=== | ===Precision bombing=== | ||
The unit was retained to carry out highly specialised attacks, many of which employed the 12,000lb (5,448kg) 'Tallboy' and 22,000lb (9,988kg) 'Grand Slam' | The unit was retained to carry out highly specialised attacks, many of which employed the 12,000lb (5,448kg) 'Tallboy' and 22,000lb (9,988kg) 'Grand Slam' [[earthquake bomb]]s. | ||
==Postwar== | |||
Number 617 continued to fly the Tornado GR1 until it was replaced by the updated GR4 and it was with these that the squadron carried out the first attacks with the RAF's stand-off weapon - Storm Shadow - | It received Lincolns in September 1946 and [[English Electric Canberra]]s six years later with which the Squadron took part in Operation Firedog in Malaya before disbanding on 15 December 1955. On 1 May 1958, No 617 reformed at Scampton equipped with [[Vulcan]]s, a type that remained on strength until 31 December 1981 when the unit disbanded. The following year, the Squadron reformed with Tornado GR1s at Marham, initially in the strike role, but latterly in the maritime strike mission based at Lossiemouth. | ||
==Current operations== | |||
Number 617 continued to fly the Tornado GR1 until it was replaced by the updated GR4 and it was with these that the squadron carried out the first attacks with the RAF's stand-off weapon - [[Storm Shadow]] - in RAF [[Operation Telic]] during the [[Iraq War]] in April 2003. | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
Revision as of 17:28, 13 February 2011
617 Squadron, "Perhaps the most famous Royal Air Force squadron currently flying",[1] was formed for a special strategic bombing mission in the Second World War, continuing in precision bombing and Pathfinder roles, and then in a variety of bombing and attack missions after the war. It remains in service, at RAF Marham, flying Panavia Tornado GR4 multirole fighters.
Second World War
617 Squadron, known as the Dambusters, was formed at Scampton on 21 March 1943, originally for a single special mission: Operation Chastise, the breaching of dams vital to the German war effort.
Operation Chastise
The Squadron's Commanding Officer, Wing Commander Guy Gibson, was given free reign to comb other Lancaster squadrons for the crews he thought could best undertake the mission. For weeks, not even Gibson was told of the unit's task, only that low-level flying over water was essential, and training was undertaken in around the dams and reservoirs of Derbyshire.
Precision bombing
The unit was retained to carry out highly specialised attacks, many of which employed the 12,000lb (5,448kg) 'Tallboy' and 22,000lb (9,988kg) 'Grand Slam' earthquake bombs.
Postwar
It received Lincolns in September 1946 and English Electric Canberras six years later with which the Squadron took part in Operation Firedog in Malaya before disbanding on 15 December 1955. On 1 May 1958, No 617 reformed at Scampton equipped with Vulcans, a type that remained on strength until 31 December 1981 when the unit disbanded. The following year, the Squadron reformed with Tornado GR1s at Marham, initially in the strike role, but latterly in the maritime strike mission based at Lossiemouth.
Current operations
Number 617 continued to fly the Tornado GR1 until it was replaced by the updated GR4 and it was with these that the squadron carried out the first attacks with the RAF's stand-off weapon - Storm Shadow - in RAF Operation Telic during the Iraq War in April 2003.