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No. 97 Squadron RAF
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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII
No. 97 Squadron RAF
No. 97 was re-formed in September 1935 as a night-bomber squadron at Catfoss. In June 1938 it ceased to be an operational squadron and became part of an air observers' school. In March 1939 it became a No. 4 Group pool squadron moving to Abingdon and the No. 6 (Training) Group. In April 1940 No 97 merged with 166 Squadron and SHQ Abingdon to form No.10 OTU. In May 1940 it again re-formed at Driffield in No. 4 Group as a Whitley heavy bomber squadron but disbanded again same month. In February 1941 it re-formed at Waddington in No. 5 Group as a heavy-bomber squadron equipped with Avro Manchesters; it moved to Coningsby and began operations against Fortress Europe, converting to Lancasters in 1942. In 1942 and in conjunction with No. 44 Squadron, No. 97 made a historic low-level daylight attack on MAN Diesel engine works at Augsburg, took part in 1,000-bomber raids on Cologne, Essen and Bremen, took part in No. 5 Group's dusk attack on the Schneider locomotive and armament works at Le Creusot and the Group's (and Bomber Command's) first daylight attack on Italy (Milan). In 1943 No. 97 moved to Bourn, joined No. 8 (PFF) Group and became a marker squadron, illuminating the Zeppelin works at Friedrichshafen and an Italian naval base at Spezia for the first shuttle-bombing raid. In April 1944 No. 97 returned to Coningsby and No. 5 Group to help lead the Group against separate targets, flying its final offensive mission in April 1945.
In the Second World War No.97 Squadron flew a total of 4,091 operational sorties and lost 130 aircraft. The following decorations were awarded to members: 21 DSOs, 222 DFCs, 2 bars to DFCs 157 DFMs, 2 bars to DFMs 1 OBE and 1 BEM.
Airfields No. 97 Squadron RAF flew from.
- RAF Leconfield, Yorkshire. from 3rd to 17th Sep 1939
- RAF Abingdon, Berkshire. from 17th Sep 1939 to 8th Apr 1940 (became No. 10 OTU)
- RAF Driffield Yorkshire. reformed 1st May 1940 to 20th May 1940 (disbanded)
- RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire. reformed 25th Feb 1941 to 10th Mar 1941
- RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire. from 10th Mar 1941 to 2nd Mar 1942
- RAF Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire. from 2nd Mar 1942 to 18th Apr 1943
- RAF Bourn, Cambridgeshire from 18th Apr 1943 to 18th Apr 1944
- RAF Coningsby from 18th Apr 1944
List of those who served with No. 97 Squadron RAF during The Second World War
- Douglas Charles Fentiman (d.30th July 1943) Read his Story.
Douglas Charles Fentiman 97 Squadron (d.30th July 1943)
My uncle, Douglas Charles Fentiman, was in the RAF during WW2. I believe he flew for the 97 Squadron.
He was possibly in a Pathfinder role but I am not sure. He could have flown out of Bourn but again I don't know this.
Would anyone have any information on him or remember him? He had only been married one year when he was killed on the 30th of July 1943.
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Website © Copyright IMM - MMIX
- All Rights Reserved
Website and ALL Material © Copyright MIM to MMIX
- All Rights Reserved