Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Aircraft and Vehicles => Topic started by: Jester on June 15, 2008, 11:39:48 AM

Title: RAF Bomber Squadrons
Post by: Jester on June 15, 2008, 11:39:48 AM
Anyone know of a good website that lists all the RAF BOMBER SQUADRONS of WW2 and list their histories, Unit Crests, etc.?

Thanks.   :salute
Title: Re: RAF Bomber Squadrons
Post by: Fencer51 on June 15, 2008, 11:55:19 AM
http://www.rafweb.org/Org-index.htm#Squadrons (http://www.rafweb.org/Org-index.htm#Squadrons)

Get it while you can, they are redoing their website and links are disappearing.  I hope they retain this information in some format, it is very useful for Scenario design.
Title: Re: RAF Bomber Squadrons
Post by: Guppy35 on June 15, 2008, 12:32:26 PM
This one is out there too

http://www.rafcommands.currantbun.com/Bomber/indexB.html
Title: Re: RAF Bomber Squadrons
Post by: Jester on June 15, 2008, 03:32:27 PM
Thanks Guys - exactly what I was looking for.   :aok

If we ever meet up I owe you a cold one.

 :salute
Title: Re: RAF Bomber Squadrons
Post by: Angus on June 16, 2008, 05:21:03 AM
Read up well on 617 sqn  :aok
Title: Re: RAF Bomber Squadrons
Post by: Scherf on June 16, 2008, 06:25:42 AM
The 617 Squadron Operations Record Book is "out there" in pdf format somewhere.
Title: Re: RAF Bomber Squadrons
Post by: MiloMorai on June 16, 2008, 08:37:14 AM
http://www.dambusters.org.uk/docs/recordbook.pdf
Title: Re: RAF Bomber Squadrons
Post by: Jester on June 16, 2008, 10:17:57 AM
Read up well on 617 sqn  :aok

Actually reading a book on 617 SQUADRON now - BEYOND THE DAMS TO THE TIRPITZ by Alan Cooper. Pretty good reading. It describes all their missions between the two events.

Thanks for the link Milo.   :salute
Title: Re: RAF Bomber Squadrons
Post by: Jester on June 16, 2008, 10:28:37 AM
OK, got another question about British Bombers you guys might can help me with.

The lettering that identified a bomber and squadron painted on the side - for example:  KC @ D

The RAF had a different "naming" (for lack of a better discription) of the alphabet than the US used. For example some of the ones I do know of are:

P for Popsie
T for Tommy
S for Sugar

Can anyone tell me what all the names for the letters the RAF used on aircraft or poit me to a website that shows it.

Thanks again.   :salute

Title: Re: RAF Bomber Squadrons
Post by: Scherf on June 17, 2008, 01:44:16 AM
D Dog or Dorothy
K King
O Oboe
A Apple
F Freddie
R Robert

Prolly have the rest at home somewhere
Title: Re: RAF Bomber Squadrons
Post by: RTHolmes on June 17, 2008, 09:09:11 AM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATO_phonetic_alphabet#History (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATO_phonetic_alphabet#History)
Title: Re: RAF Bomber Squadrons
Post by: Jester on June 17, 2008, 09:17:08 AM
Tks Holmes - exactly what I needed.   :aok

Funny, in some of the books I am reading and in my photo collections - some of the bombers have a mix of the WWI & WW2 names and some of the completely different.

Example:
Of 617 SQDN.'s Lancasters were listed as "W for WILLIE" & "P for POPSIE" instead of the standard names. I wonder if this is just a mistake on the part of the author?

Tks again.

 :salute
Title: Re: RAF Bomber Squadrons
Post by: RTHolmes on June 17, 2008, 09:38:43 AM
I think these are probably unofficial names used by the squadron internally. some of the alphabet was ok because it already used names like "William", but who really wants to fly around in a Lanc called "Pudding"?  :D
Title: Re: RAF Bomber Squadrons
Post by: MiloMorai on June 17, 2008, 11:41:56 AM
One of the Lancs with the most missions flown had the code PO+S. :eek:
Title: Re: RAF Bomber Squadrons
Post by: Angus on June 17, 2008, 12:00:31 PM
I've spent hours on Bravo-Alpha-Romeo missions with a WW2 ace :D
Title: Re: RAF Bomber Squadrons
Post by: Jester on June 17, 2008, 01:13:52 PM
One of the Lancs with the most missions flown had the code PO+S. :eek:

That aircraft is best known as "S for SUGAR" (R5868) a LANCASTER MK.1 - is likely the most famous Lancaster, or any other single British bomber for that matter, of the War.
She was operated by 83 SQDN, 463 SQDN & 467 SQUADRON (RAAF) and was the first bomber to complete 100 missions and went on to fly a total of 137 Combat missions.
She has been preserved and is on display at the RAF Museum, Hendon.

 :salute

(http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/5381/ppfn9.jpg) (http://imageshack.us)

Title: Re: RAF Bomber Squadrons
Post by: Angus on June 17, 2008, 04:46:53 PM
I have seen her  :salute
Title: Re: RAF Bomber Squadrons
Post by: Jester on June 17, 2008, 05:00:15 PM
Lucky Bastage!   :furious

Didn't get to make it to Hendon on my visit to the UK but did get to see HMS Belfast and HMS Victory and the RN museum.

Maybe next time.

Have got to sit in the cocpit of the "Memphis Belle" though.   :D

 :salute
Title: Re: RAF Bomber Squadrons
Post by: MiloMorai on June 17, 2008, 07:59:00 PM
Thanks Jester for filling in the details. :aok Was being lazy.

PO*S
Piece Of Sugar or Piece Of Shiite
Title: Re: RAF Bomber Squadrons
Post by: Angus on June 18, 2008, 03:40:36 AM
Jester: Hendon is a bit of a detour inside London, well, the tube connection there is not so nice. But it's worth it! Ohh, and they have a Vulcan there.....arrrfff!
But the top IMHO is Duxford.
HMS Belfast is also great fun, I remember that even my wife enjoyed it quite a bit.
The IWM is great as well, and it's within walking range from Belfast...if you have good legs. (had to, there was a tubestrike and my wallet was light)
Haven't seen HMS Victory yet (Portsmouth) so I envy you absolutely when you beat me to it :D
Title: Re: RAF Bomber Squadrons
Post by: Jester on June 19, 2008, 02:13:46 PM
Was there during the 50th Anniversary of D-Day so the main reason I didn't get to see a lot of the stuff I wanted to was because they were SWAMPED with veterans and other tourists there for the event.

Thanks for the tip on what to see, the IWM was on my list but couldn't get near it.

HMS Victory is just a wonder, how they got anything that big to move by sail power is just amazing in itself. Was funny though - they wouldn't let you take pictures or movies on board her so all of us that were taking the tour would work together to keep the guide busy while we took turns lagging behind snapping photos.   :D

 :salute
Title: Re: RAF Bomber Squadrons
Post by: Angus on June 20, 2008, 03:41:57 AM
I've been on this one, - it's still in full action:
(http://images.google.is/url?q=http://www.esys.org/gofo/sturm.jpg&usg=AFQjCNET1RiN6MtV7FgzpeTQhQ2cH7khYA)
Title: Re: RAF Bomber Squadrons
Post by: Jester on June 20, 2008, 08:32:51 AM
That Gorch Fock?

If so we are close again - I have been aboard the USCGC Eagle.   :aok

(http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/2391/eagleir7.jpg) (http://imageshack.us)

 :salute
Title: Re: RAF Bomber Squadrons
Post by: Angus on June 20, 2008, 10:45:37 AM
My boarding was a cultural VIP dinner at anchor :D
Title: Re: RAF Bomber Squadrons
Post by: Jester on June 20, 2008, 01:50:20 PM
My boarding was a cultural VIP dinner at anchor :D

OOOOHHHH! Got me there - I was a "mere" Tourist.   :P

 :salute