No. 627 Squadron RAF

No. 627 Squadron RAF
Active	12 November 1943 - 1 october 1945
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Air Force
Role	Pathfinder Bomber Squadron
Motto	At First Sight[1][2]
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldry	A hawk diving, holding in the beak a firebrand[2] The badge symbolises two of the unit's wartime functions - high-level bombing and target marking for the main heavy bomber force.[1]
Squadron Codes	AZ (November 1943 - October 1945)[3][4]
Aircraft flown
Bomber	de Havilland Mosquito Twin-engined light fighter-bomber

No. 627 Squadron was a Royal Air Force Mosquito aircraft pathfinder bomber squadron that operated during the Second World War.^[2]

History

The squadron was formed on 12 November 1943 at RAF Oakington from part of 139 Squadron.^[5] It was equipped with the de Havilland Mosquito twin-engined fighter-bomber it flew operations as part of No. 8 Groups light bomber force.^[6] As well as normal bombing missions it also carried out Pathfinder duties and was involved in attacks on Berlin in early 1944.^[6] In April 1944 it was transferred to No. 5 Group as a specialised target marking squadron, although it also carried out amend reconnaissance and normal bombing duties.^[6] It was disbanded on the 1 October 1945 at RAF Woodhall Spa when it was re-numbered 109 Squadron.^[2][5][6]

Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated by no. 627 Squadron RAF, data from^[2][5]

From	To	Aircraft	Variant
November 1943	September 1945	De Havilland Mosquito	Mk.IV
July 1944	September 1945	De Havilland Mosquito	Mk.XX
October 1944	September 1945	De Havilland Mosquito	Mk.XXV
March 1945	September 1945	De Havilland Mosquito	Mk.XVI

Squadron bases

The Blue Bell. A Linclonshire country inn with a history dating back to ca.1250. Reputedly haunted, visited by King Henry VIII and popular with 617 and 627 squadrons RAF during the war.

Bases and airfields used by no. 627 Squadron RAF, data from^[1][2][5]

From	To	Base
November 1944	April 1944	RAF Oakington, Cambridgeshire
April 1944	September 1945	RAF Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire

Commanding officers

Officers commanding no. 627 squadron^[7]

From	To	Name
November 1942	June 1944	W/Cdr. R.P. Elliott, DSO, DFC
June 1944	January 1945	W/Cdr. G.W. Curry, DFC
January 1945	April 1945	W/Cdr. B.R.W. Hallows, DFC
April 1945	October 1945	W/Cdr. R. Kingsford-Smith, DSO, DFC

See also

• List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons
• Pathfinder

References

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b c} Moyes 1976, p. 288.
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Halley 1988, p. 441.
3. ^ Bowyer and Rawlings 1979, p. 19.
4. ^ Flintham and Thomas 2003, p. 64.
5. ^ ^{a b c d} Jefford 2001, p. 102.
6. ^ ^{a b c d} Orbis 1985, p. 4257.
7. ^ Bowyer 1984, p. 128.

Bibliography

• Bowyer, Chaz. Mosquito Squadrons of the Royal Air Force. Shepperton, Surrey, UK: Ian Allan Ltd., 1984. ISBN 0-7110-1425-6.
• Bowyer, Michael J.F. and John D.R. Rawlings. Squadron Codes, 1937-56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd., 1979. ISBN 0-85059-364-6.
• Flintham, Vic and Andrew Thomas. Combat Codes: A full explanation and listing of British, Commonwealth and Allied air force unit codes since 1938. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd., 2003. ISBN 1-84037-281-8.
• Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918-1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
• Jefford, Wing Commander C.G., MBE, BA, RAF(Retd.). RAF Squadrons: A Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of All RAF Squadrons and Their Antecedents Since 1912, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1988. ISBN 1-853100-536-1. (2nd edition 2001. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.)
• Moyes, Philip J.R. Bomber Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London, UK: Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd., 1964, 2nd edition 1976. ISBN 0-354-01024-1.
• Ward, Cris. Royal Air Force Bomber Command Squadron Profiles, Number 123: 627 Squadron. "At First Sight". Berkshire, UK: Ward Publishing, 1998.
• Webb, Alan B. At First Sight: A Factual and Anecdotal Account of No.627 Squadron Royal Air Force 1943-1945. St.Albans, UK: The Mosquito Aircraft Museum, 1991. ISBN 0-95175-340-1.
• The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing. 

External links

• 627 Squadron in retirement
• 627 Squadron on RAF website (with text from Moyes 1976)
• Squadron history on RAFweb