Hq 5 group bomber command book

After a short period of operations from raf foulsham, the squadron transferred to its permanent home at raf waterbeach, cambridgeshire, in december 1943, some aircraft travelling from the old base to the new via a raid on berlin. Vincents house in grantham in oct 1937, then to morton hall in morton, near swinderby, in nov 1943, and had sir arthur harris as cinc. Group hq was moved to morton hall, at raf swinderby in november 1943, using the stabilizing automatic bomb sight sabs and the 12,000 lb 5,400 kg tallboy, 617 sqn achieved a bombing error of only 94 yd 86 m at the v weapon launch site at abbeville, during december 1943. With the end of the war in europe, no 5 group began training to. To mark the twentieth anniversary of this authoritative work, the book has been updated with additional photos and published in paperback. Groups were normally commanded by an air vice marshall. Our guest speaker at the raf club, following the societys. As an alternative, the kindle ebook is available now and can be read on any device with the free kindle app. Inside, a plaque commemorates the use of the building by 5 group raf bomber command from 1937 to december 1945. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Today, the group is referred to as the air combat group, as it controls the rafs combat fastjet aircraft and has airfields in the uk, as well as raf support unit goose bay in canada. Below bomber command were groups group in 1939 there were 6 groups in bomber command, 5 no. In october 1937, the group headquarters was moved to st vincents hall. The group hq moved to bawtry hall near doncaster on 20 july 1940.

Raf bomber command controlled the rafs bomber forces from 1936 to 1968. In 1939 there were 6 groups in bomber command, 5 no. The book carries on in the same vein as their previous two books on bomber command those being 5 group bomber command and 6 group bomber command, and i eagerly look forward to seeing 4 group bomber command appear in the near future. Initially headquartered at raf mildenhall it moved to st. Chris ward is a respected historian who has specialised in bomber command history, especially 5 group, of which 617 was a member. Split into seven operational groups, the airfields of bomber command formed the. The group operated as part of bomber commands main force. Bases of bomber command then and now after the battle. Group of staff outside st vincents near grantham, lincolnshire, which served as the headquarters from 1937 until 1943. An operational record first edition by chris ward isbn. The group was formed on 1 september 1937 with headquarters at raf mildenhall. During that time american forces took over st vincents hall to coordinate allied aviation activity for dday in may 1944. Kens book tells the operational history of the squadrons that made up the group for the duration of the second world war, including.

An operational record first edition by ward, chris isbn. Group captain g a gus walker sitting middle,front row, while station commander of raf. During the immediate period before world war two, the raf modified its command structure to rationalise for rapid expansion. Bomber command also gained two new groups during the war. Editor, imttp raf, rm 5128, st christopher house, southwark, london, se1 0td. Avm ralph cochrane, who was to become influential in terms of bomber command tactics, took command of 5 group in october 1943. Heritage of flight south kesteven district council.