No. 640 Squadron RAF

In today's world, No. 640 Squadron RAF has become a topic of great relevance and interest to a wide range of audiences. From its impact on society to its influence on the global economy, No. 640 Squadron RAF is a topic that leaves no one indifferent. Throughout history, No. 640 Squadron RAF has played a fundamental role in different aspects of daily life, and its importance continues to increase today. In this article, we will explore in depth the relevance of No. 640 Squadron RAF and its impact in various areas, offering a complete and updated vision of this very relevant topic.

No. 640 Squadron RAF
Active7 January 1944 – 7 May 1945
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
RoleBomber Squadron
Part ofNo. 4 Group, RAF Bomber Command
BaseRAF Leconfield, East Riding of Yorkshire
Insignia
Squadron CodesC8 (Jan 1944 – May 1945)
Aircraft flown
BomberHandley-Page Halifax

No. 640 Squadron RAF was a heavy bomber squadron of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.

History

No. 640 Squadron was first formed at RAF Leconfield, East Riding of Yorkshire on 7 January 1944, from 'C' Flight of No. 158 Squadron RAF. It was equipped with Halifax Mk.III bombers, and operated as part of No. 4 Group in Bomber Command. It re-equipped with Halifax VI bombers in March 1945, and was disbanded at RAF Leconfield on 7 May of that year.

Operational highlights

A crew from No. 640 Squadron at Leconfield taken in December 1944, with a Halifax III in the background. Photograph features: Captain F/O R.Wakeman, DFC; Navigator P/O Reginald William Parr, DFC; Bomb Aimer F/O C.B.Morrison, RCAF, DFC; W/Op. F/Sgt H. Bearyman; Flt.Eng F/Sgt P/McPhie; Mid-upper Gunner F/S R.Thomas; Rear Gunner F/Sgt E.G. Humphries.
  • First Operational Mission 5 Halifaxes bombed Berlin while 3 others aborted on the night from 20 to 21 January 1944
  • Last Operational Mission 18 Halifaxes bombed gun batteries on the island of Wangerooge on 25 April 1945
Listed below are further operational highlights for the Wakeman crew (see photograph right)
Position Name crew member Known as
Captain F/O R.Wakeman, DFC Jimmy
Navigator P/O Reginald William Parr, DFC Reg
Bomb Aimer F/O C.B.Morrison, RCAF, DFC Cliff
W/Op F/Sgt. H.Bearyman Harry
Flt.Eng. F/Sgt. P.McPhie Peter
Mid-upper Gunner F/S R.Thomas Tommy
Rear Gunner F/Sgt. E.G.Humphries Eric
Individual missions for the above named crew, data from
Date (all dates are in 1944) Off Back Target Mission Detail Bomb Load (lbs) Individual Aircraft Code Aircraft Serial No.
6 August 11:12 14:27 Forêt de Nieppe V-Weapon Sites. 16×500 X
7 August 20:53 01:48 May-sur-Orne Army Support – Five aiming points in front of Allied ground troops in Normandy. 9×1000 H NA573
9 August 11:53 15:28 Le Châtellier Chemical works. 4×500 X
10 August 20:50 03:50 Dijon A railway junction and the railway yards. 4×500 J
11 August 18:22 22:07 Étaples Railway bridge. 4×500 Z
15 August 09:40 13:45 Eindhoven Airfield 4×500 B MZ561
16 August 21:40 01:45 Kiel 4×500 B MZ561
18 August 22:20 03:00 Sterkrade/Holten, Ruhr. Ruhrchemie AG synthetic oil plant
(SBC = small bomb container)		 1×2000, 4×SBC B MZ561
9 September 06:44 11:09 Le Havre Abandoned – cloud. 16×500 G
11 September 05:19 09:49 Cadillac 7×1000, 6×500 K
12 September 16:15 20:50 Münster 1×2000 & Incendiary P MZ678
17 September 06:52 10:43 Boulogne German positions in preparation for an attack by Allied troops. 9×1000, 4×500 J NP631
25 September 06:35 10:36 Calais German defensive positions. 9×1000, 4×500 J NP931
27 September 09:29 13:03 Calais German defensive positions. 9×1000, 4×500 D LW554
30 September 09:45 14:22 Bottrop, Ruhr. Oil plant. 16×500 H MZ344
6 October 14:28 19:04 Sterkrade/Holten, Ruhr. Ruhrchemie AG Synthetic oil plant. 16×500 J NP931
7 October 11:45 16:03 Kleve Army support – Approach routes by which German units could threaten the vulnerable Allied right flank near Nijmegen. 9×1000, 4×500 J NP931
15 October 00:16 05:53 Duisburg 8×1000, 5×500 K MZ930
15 October 17:48 21:41 Wilhelmshaven 8×1000, 5×500 K MZ930
25 October 12:09 17:51 Essen Industrial concerns, particularly to the Krupps steelworks. 9×1000, 4×500 J NP931
28 October 09:45 13:05 Walcheren Gun positions at 5 places on the rim of the island. 1×2000, 7×1000, 4×500 L NP931
31 October 18:03 23:10 Cologne 1×2000, 6×1000, 5×500 G MZ404
2 November 16:05 22:00 Düsseldorf 1×2000 & Incendiary J NP931
4 November 17:34 22:34 Bochum Industrial areas, particularly the steelworks. 1×2000, 6×1000, 5×500 J NP931
6 November 11:42 16:42 Gelsenkirchen Nordstern synthetic-oil plant. 1×2000, 6×1000, 5×500 J NP931
16 November 12:43 17:30 Jülich Army support – cut communications behind the German lines. 1×2000, 6×1000, 5×500 J NP931
21 November 17:25 23:55 Sterkrade/Holten, Ruhr. Ruhrchemie AG Synthetic oil plant. 16×500 J NP931
29 November 02:26 08:22 Essen Industrial areas, including the Krupps works. 1×2000, 16×500 J NP931
2 December 17:35 00:07 Hagen Industrial areas – unknown at the time this included a factory making U-boat accumulator batteries. 1×2000 & Incendiary J NP931
12 December 16:24 21:58 Essen Industrial areas, including the Krupps works. 1×2000, 4×1000, 6×500 J NP931
22 December 15:05 21:33 Bingen am Rhein Railway yards. 1×2000, 4×1000, 6×500 J NP931
24 December 11:17 16:42 Essen/Mülheim Airfields. 5×1000, 8×250 J NP931

Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated by no. 640 Squadron RAF, data from
From To Aircraft Version
January 1944 March 1945 Handley-Page Halifax Mk.III
March 1945 May 1945 Handley-Page Halifax Mk.VI

Squadron bases

Base operated by no. 640 Squadron RAF, data from
From To Name
7 January 1944 7 May 1945 RAF Leconfield, East Riding of Yorkshire

References

Notes

  1. ^ Delve 1994, p. 69.
  2. ^ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 27.
  3. ^ Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 65.
  4. ^ a b c Halley 1988, p. 443.
  5. ^ a b c Jefford 2001, p. 102.
  6. ^ a b c Moyes 1976, p. 290.
  7. ^ a b Reginald William Parr Flight Log 1944
  8. ^ "RAF History - Bomber Command 60th Anniversary". Archived from the original on 7 June 2007. Retrieved 24 May 2007.
  9. ^ "RAF History - Bomber Command 60th Anniversary". Archived from the original on 14 March 2008. Retrieved 20 February 2008.
  10. ^ "RAF History - Bomber Command 60th Anniversary". Archived from the original on 11 June 2007. Retrieved 11 June 2007.
  11. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 15 October 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. ^ "RAF History - Bomber Command 60th Anniversary". Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 7 April 2011.

Bibliography

  • Bowyer, Michael J.F.; Rawlings, John D.R. (1979). Squadron Codes, 1937–56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 0-85059-364-6.
  • Delve, Ken (1994). The Source Book of the RAF. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-85310-451-5.
  • Flintham, Vic; Thomas, Andrew (2003). Combat Codes: A Full Explanation and Listing of British, Commonwealth and Allied Air Force Unit Codes since 1938. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-84037-281-8.
  • Halley, James J. (1988). The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
  • Jefford, C.G. (2001). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912 (2nd ed.). Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
  • Moyes, Philip J.R. (1976). Bomber Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers) Ltd. ISBN 0-354-01027-1.
  • Norman, Bill (2005). Halifax Squadron: the Wartime Bombing Operations of No. 640 Squadron, Leconfield. Preston, Lancashire: Compaid Graphics/Bill Norman Publications. ISBN 0-9547325-1-0.
  • Norman, Bill (1999). No. 640 (Halifax) Squadron, RAF Leconfield: a Diary of Wartime Bombing Operations. Warrington: Compaid Graphics/Bill Norman Publications. ISBN 1-900604-08-6.

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