MINELAYING
68 aircraft - 27 Halifaxes, 23 Lancasters, 18 Wellingtons - to Texel, Heligoland and the Frisians. The 5 Group Lancasters were recalled but most of the other types carried out their tasks. There were no losses.
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5 Wellingtons minelaying off Lorient and St-Nazaire without loss.
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and flew Lancasters until the end of the war. Based at Grimsby until the last few weeks of the war when a move was made to Elsham Wolds.
OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
Raids Flown
Lancasters - 267 bombing, 13 minelaying = 280 raids
Sorties and Losses
Lancasters - 3,984 sorties, 92 aircraft lost (2.3 percent), 21 aircraft destroyed in crashes.
101 SQUADRON
SERVICE
In 2 Group with Blenheims from the outbreak of the war until May 1941, in 3 Group with Wellingtons until September 1942, then in 1 Group with Wellingtons and Lancasters until the end of the war. Based at West Raynham, Oakington, Bourn, Stradis-hall, Holme-on-Spalding Moor and Ludford Magna.
OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
Raids Flown
2
Group Blenheims - 81 bombing
3
Group Wellingtons - 129 bombing, 13 minelaying
1
Group Wellingtons - 4 bombing, 4 minelaying
1
Group Lancasters - 298 bombing, 10 minelaying
Total - 512 bombing, 27 minelaying = 539 raids
Sorties and Losses
2
Group Blenheims - 618 sorties, 15 aircraft lost (2.4 percent)
3
Group Wellingtons - 1,216 sorties, 42 aircraft lost (34 percent)
1
Group Wellingtons - 37 sorties, 1 aircraft lost (1.7 percent)
1
Group Lancasters - 4,895 sorties, 113 aircraft lost (2.3 percent)
Total - 6,766 sorties, 171 aircraft lost (2.5 percent)
6 Blenheims and 33 Lancasters were destroyed in crashes.
POINTS OF INTEREST
An original squadron on the outbreak of war but it did not fly its first operation until July 1940. In service with Bomber Command until the end of the war but with frequent interruptions for changes of group and aircraft type.
From early October 1943, the squadron operated Lancasters equipped with A.B.C. (Airborne Cigar). With an extra, German-speaking crew member, they mixed with the bomber stream and jammed German night-fighter communications. The A.B.C. aircraft also carried normal bomb loads. 101 Squadron was the only squadron to perform the A.B.C. role in Bomber Command and retained the duty even after 100 Group was formed. Because of this role, the squadron was often dispatched on raids when its parent group was being rested and this led to its taking part in more bombing raids than any other Lancaster squadron in 1 Group.
102 (CEYLON) SQUADRON
SERVICE
In 4 Group from the outbreak until the end of the war, though with short detachments to Coastal Command in 1939 and 1940. Flew Whitleys and Halifaxes; based at Driffield, Leeming, Linton-on-Ouse, Topcliffe (twice), Dalton and Pocklington.
OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
Raids Flown
Whitleys - 181 bombing, 14 recce/leaflet
Halifaxes - 310 bombing, 84 minelaying, 13 leaflet
Total - 491 bombing, 84 minelaying, 27 recce/leaflet = 602 raids
Sorties and Losses
Whitleys - 1,372 sorties, 52 aircraft lost (38 percent)
Halifaxes - 4,734 sorties, 140 aircraft lost (3.0 percent)
Total - 6,106 sorties, 192 aircraft lost (3.1 percent)
POINTS OF INTEREST
An original squadron on the outbreak of the war; 3 Whitleys dropped leaflets over the Ruhr on the second night of the war. Served until the end with only short breaks on detachment to Coastal Command.
Suffered the third heaviest overall losses in Bomber Command (sharing this distinction with 44 and 78 Squadrons).
Suffered most losses in 4 Group (sharing with 78 Squadron).
Suffered highest percentage losses in 4 Group.
Suffered highest percentage losses in any Whitley squadron.
103 SQUADRON
SERVICE
Came to 1 Group in July 1940 after returning from operations in France with the Advanced Air Striking Force and served continuously with 1 Group until the end of the war, carrying out intensive operations during that long period and often suffering heavy casualties. Based at Newton and Elsham Wolds.
OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
Raids Flown
Battles - 16 bombing
Wellingtons - 138 bombing, 6 minelaying
Halifaxes - 15 bombing
Lancasters - 317 bombing, 27 minelaying
Total - 486 bombing, 33 minelaying = 519 raids
Sorties and Losses
Battles - 51 sorties, 1 aircraft lost (2.0 percent)
Wellingtons - 1,116 sorties, 31 aircraft lost (2.8 percent)
Halifaxes - 137 sorties, 12 aircraft lost (8.8 percent)
Lancasters - 4,536 sorties, 135 aircraft lost (3.0 percent)
Total - 5,840 sorties, 179 aircraft lost (3.1 percent)
22 Lancasters were destroyed in crashes.
POINTS OF INTEREST
Counting service with the Advanced Air Striking Force, unbroken service as a bomber squadron throughout the Second World War.
Only squadron in 1 Group to operate Halifaxes and thus the only squadron to operate all four types of aircraft flown by 1 Group in the war.
Carried out the most bombing raids in 1 Group.
Suffered most losses in 1 Group.
Suffered highest percentage losses in 1 Group Lancaster squadrons.
104 SQUADRON
SERVICE
A training squadron on the outbreak of war and absorbed into an O.T.U. in April 1940. Re-formed as a Wellington squadron in 4 Group on
