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No 223 Squadron was originally "B" Flight, then "B" Squadron, RNAS, both of which were general duties units stationed on the island of Mitylene in the Ægean in 1917-18. The Mitylene station broke up, but the squadron was re-formed at Stavros. In July 1918, the squadrons of the Ægean Group were reorganized and No 223 Squadron, RAF (as "B" Squadron had become in April 1918) ceased to exist, but the seaplane unit at Otranto became No 223 Squadron. In August No 223 was redesignated No 263 Squadron and its number given to a mobile bombing squadron in the Ægean. No 223 Squadron remained mobile until November 1918, and was disbanded at Mudros in May 1919. No 223 Squadron was re-formed in 1936 in Kenya as a light bomber unit and during the Second World War flew in many campaigns. Equipped with Vickers Wellesleys, it took part in the East African campaign before going to Egypt to re-equip with Martin Marylands (later supplemented by Douglas Bostons and Martin Baltimores) and spend several months as an OTU training crews for other squadrons. In May 1942, after having trained its own crews, it became an operational Baltimore bomber squadron and subsequently took an active part in the North African, Sicilian and Italian campaigns. During this period it flew more than 5,000 operational sorties and, dropped more than 2,000 tons of bombs. No 223 was re-designated 30 (SAAF) Squadron in Italy in August 1944, but almost immediately afterwards it re-formed in England as a bomber-support squadron in No 100 Group and during the remainder of the European war flew specially modified Liberators and Fortresses and helped fight the "Battle of the Ether". Bomber Command WWII Bases: Re-formed in the UK as No 223 (BS) Sqn in No 100 Group & given a RCM role.
Bomber Command WWII Aircraft:
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Date Last Updated : Wednesday, April 6, 2005 2:40 AM |
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