Bomber Command No.305 (Polish) Squadron

No. 305 (Polish) Squadron

Motto: None
Badge: None authorised
Authority: -

No. 305 Squadron, the fourth and last of the Polish bomber squadrons, was formed at Bramcote, Warwickshire, in No. 6 (Training) Group, on 29th August 1940. It was manned by the same type of personnel as its immediate predecessor, No. 304 Squadron, and again, like No. 304, was originally equipped with Fairey Battle aircraft. In November 1940, it began to convert to Vickers Wellingtons and in December moved and transferred (with No. 304) to Syerston and No. 1 Group. It started operational flying in April 1941.

The squadron continued to operate with No. 1 Group until August 1943, and during this period was based at Syerston, Lindholme, Hemswell and Ingham in turn. It then disposed of its Wellingtons and early in September 1943, moved to Swanton Morley and joined the Second Tactical Air Force. It left a creditable record of service in Bomber Command: over a span of roughly 27 months of operations (25/26th April 1941 to 2nd/3rd August 1943) it had logged 1,117 sorties and dropped/laid 1,555 tons of bombs and mines. On the debit side it had lost 136 airmen killed, 10 missing and 33 taken prisoner.

At Swanton Morley No. 305 converted to North American Mitchell light bombers and during the first half of November started daylight bombing in formation with fighter escort, attacking Noball sites, enemy headquarters and fortifications in the Cap Griz Nez region. The squadron was transferred to RAF Lasham on 18th November, where it became part of 138 Wing, No. 2 Group, 2nd TAF. It ceased flying Mitchells in December and began to convert to Mosquito FB.VIs. With these, during the remainder of the European war, it operated somewhere on the hazy frontier between light-bomber and fighter-intruder duties; it operated both by day and night and from November 1944, onwards was based on the Continent. Two of the highlights of its wartime Mosquito period were the bombing of the Sabotage School at Chateau Maulny on 2nd August 1944, and the destruction of some millions of gallons of petrol at Nomeny near Nancy - a feat which helped to immobilise many of the German tanks and aircraft taking part in the Battle of Normandy - on 31st August 1944.

Bomber Command WWII Bases: