Bomber Command No.630 Squadron
No. 630 Squadron
Motto: "Nocturna mors" ("Death by night").
Badge: On an ogress a Lancaster rose, fimbriated. The Lancaster rose refers to the aircraft used by the squadron. The ogress refers to night operations. The argent fimbriation is indicative of other duties executed in daylight.
Authority: King George VI, March 1945.
No. 630 Squadron was formed on 15th November 1943, at East Kirkby, near Spilsby, Lincolnshire, and remained based there throughout its existence. Equipped with Lancasters, it formed part of No. 5 Group and between 18/19th November 1943 and 25th April 1945, took part in many major raids, including each of the 16 big raids made by Bomber Command on the German capital during what became known as the "Battle of Berlin".
Bomber Command WWII Bases:
Formed 15.11.43 as No. 630 (Bomber) Squadron from B Flight of No. 57 (Bomber) Squadron at
- East Kirkby, Lincs : Nov 1943 onwards
Bomber Command WWII Aircraft:
- Avro Lancaster B.I, B.III : Nov 1943 onwards
Code Letters:
- "LE"
First Operational Mission in WWII:
- 18/19th November 1943 : 9 Lancasters bombed Berlin.
Last Operational Mission in WWII:
- 25/26th April 1945 : 4 Lancasters laid mines in Onions area (Oslo fjord off Horten).
Last Mission before VE Day:
- 4th May 1945 : 13 Lancasters ferried ex-POWs home to UK from Continent.