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No. 115 Squadron Royal Air Force
No. 115 Squadron, was first formed at Catterick, Yorkshire, on 1st December 1917. It went to France in August 1918 and joined the Independent Air Force making night bombing raids behind enemy lines.
The Squadron was disbanded in 1919 and reformed at RAF Marham on 15th June 1937. By the outbreak of war it was equipped with Wellington bombers. It was declared operational on the first day of the war. In April 1940 the Wellingtons of 115 Squadron, made the RAF's first mainland bombing raid of the war, bombing the enemy held Norwegian airfield at Stavanger.
In August 1941 115 Squadron undertook the first Service trials of the Gee Navigational system. In the spring of 1943 the squadron was re-equipped with Lancasters.
As a consequence of their continuous service in Bomber Command throughout the war, 115 Squadron dropped the second greatest tonnage of bombs - approximately 23,000 tons - of any RAF Squadron as well as participating in the third highest number of raids. However as a direct result of their almost continuous availability, 115 Squadron suffered the highest losses of any squadron within Bomber Command and were indeed, the only squadron to lose more than 200 aircraft in the war.
Airfields No. 115 Squadron flew from.
- Marham to September 1942.
- (Detachment) Kinloss 5th - 26th April 1940.
- (Detachment) Luqa, Malta 30th October - 14th December 1940 (then amalgamated with others to form 148 Squadron)
- Mildenhall September to November 1942
- East Wretham November 1942 to August 1943
- Little Snoring August to November 1943
- Witchford from November 1943.
8th October 1939 No ships sighted
3rd Dec 1939 Ops
24th Feb 1940 Aircraft Lost
19th Mar 1940 Aircraft Lost
23rd Mar 1940 Aircraft Lost
5th April 1940 Detachment to Scotland
7th Apr 1940 Two Aircraft Lost
12th April 1940 Shot down
1st May 1940 Aircraft lost over Yorkshire
10th May 1940 War over Holland
21st May 1940 Shot down over Belgium
22nd May 1940 Two Wellingtons lost
19th July 1940 Ditched off the Netherlands
3rd August 1940 Wellington shot down at sea
28th August 1940 Berlin bombed
30th Oct 1940 Detachment to Malta
31st October 1940 Sunderland attacked on search mission
31st October 1940 Wellington Squadron on Malta goes into action
1st November 1940 Attacks on Italy and Sicily
3rd November 1940 Two George Crosses awarded
8th November 1940 Attack on Italy
13th November 1940 Reinforcements
24th November 1940 Three Wellingtons destroyed on transit flights
7th December 1940 Libyan Airfields attacked
14th December 1940 New Squadron formed on Malta
January 1941 New navigation aid tested
22nd Apr 1941 Aircraft Lost
3rd May 1941 Aircraft Lost
5th May 1941 Postings
10th May 1941 Aircraft Lost
11th May 1941 Aircraft Lost
15th May 1941 Gee Navigation system tested
12th Jun 1941 Aircraft Lost
16th Jun 1941 Aircraft Lost
17th Jun 1941 Aircraft Lost
23rd Jun 1941 Aircraft Lost
26th June 1941 Aircraft Lost
6th Jul 1941 Aircraft Lost
13th Jul 1941 Aircraft Lost
15th Jul 1941 Aircraft Lost
21st Jul 1941 Aircraft Lost
5th August 1941 Aircraft Lost
11th Aug 1941 Tea, Bombs and Experiments
12th Aug 1941 Aircraft Lost
14th Aug 1941 Aircraft Lost
18th August 1941 Testing programme complete
27th Aug 1941 Aircraft Lost
29th Aug 1941 Aircraft Lost
3rd Sep 1941 Aircraft Lost
7th September 1941 Aircraft Lost
26th Sep 1941 Aircraft Lost
29th Sep 1941 Aircraft Lost
15 October 1941 Wellington shot down
31st Oct 1941 Aircraft Lost
11th November 1941 Crashed on exercise
15th Nov 1941 Aircraft Lost
24th November 1941 Nine killed on test flight
15th Jan 1942 Aircraft Lost
9th March 1942 Gee system used on ops
14th March 1942 Gee attack successful
29th March 1942 Raid on Lubeck
13th April 1942 Raid on Essen
27th April 1942 Aircraft lost over Denmark
28th April 1942 Shot down over Cologne
30th April 1942 Mid-air collision
6th May 1942 Shot down over France
7th May 1942 Raid on Stuttgart
11th May 1942 Flying accident
18th May 1942 Lost on minlaying sortie
30th May 1942 1000 Bomber Raid
31st May 1942 1000 bomber raid
2nd June 1942 Wellington lost
4th June 1942 Two Wellingtons lost
12th June 1942 Airmen killed by a bomb
26th June 1942 1000 bomber raid on Bremen
28th June 1942 Gunner killed
30th June 1942 Wireless Operator drowned
14th July 1942 Crashed in the Netherlands
22nd Jul 1942 Aircraft lost
26th July 1942 Wellington lost
27th July 1942 Four aircraft lost
29th July 1942 Two bombers lost
20th August 1942 Lost on minelaying sortie
28th August 1942 Wellington bomber lost
29th August 1942 Four Wellingtons lost
2nd September 1942 Wrong target bombed
5th September 1942 New target marking technique
7th September 1942 All Canadian crew
15th September 1942 Lost at sea
19th September 1942 Lost on minelaying ops
22nd September 1942 Lost on minelaying mission
24th September 1942 Relocated
28th September 1942 Daylight bombing
3rd October 1942 Wellington lost
7th October 1942 Fighter attack
8th November 1942 Moved again
16th October 1942 Two Wellingtons lost
22nd October 1942 Wireless Operator killed
25th October 1942 Lost in a storm
29th October 1942 Wellingtons lost on daylight raid
17th November 1942 Lost whilst minelaying
23rd November 1942 Two aircraft lost
3rd December 1942 Crashed at Frankfurt
7th December 1942 Two aircraft lost
10th Dec 1942 Aircraft lost
18 December 1942 Two Wellingtons lost
31st December 1942 Crash landing in Bay of Biscay
4th February 1943 Lost at sea
14th February 1943 Attack on Lorient
1st March 1943 Converion to Lancasters begins
3rd March 1943 Wellington lost on minelaying ops
4th March 1943 Wrong Target
13 March 1943 Last Wellington loss for 115 Squadron
30th March 1943 First Lancaster MkII lost
11th April 1943 Shot down over France
27 April 1943 Lancaster lost
28th May 1943 One survivor
30th May 1943 Three aircraft destroyed
12th June 1943 Squadron Leader shot down over the Netherlands
13th June 1943 Lost over the Netherlands
20th June 1943 Escape from France
26th June 1943 Two Lancasters lost
29th June 1943 Conspicuous Gallantry
4th July 1943 Lancaster shot down
14 July 1943 Two bomber lost
3rd August 1943 Three Lancasters lost
6th August 1943 New airfield brought into use
11th August 1943 Broke up in mid-air
17 August 1943 Last raid from England to Italy
18 August 1943 Peenemunde Raid
24th August 1943 Raid on Berlin
28th August 1943 Lancaster shot down
14th September 1943 Crashed on air-test
22nd September 1943 Two escape burning aircraft
4th October 1943 Lost on Air-sea Rescue op
9th Oct 1943 Lancaster lost
18th October 1943 Raid on Hanover
21st October 1943 Lancaster lost
18th November 1943 Shot down over Belgium
22nd November 1943 Two Lancasters lost
26 November 1943 Moved air base.
27 November 1943 Raid on Berlin
4th December 1943 Bomber lost
17 December 1943 Crashed over Netherlands
24th December 1943 Bomber lost over Berlin
29th Dec 1943 Aircraft Lost
3rd January 1944 Crash over Berlin
14th January 1944 Two Lancasters lost
20th January 1944 Raid a failure
22nd January 1944 'Tame Boar'
28th January 1944 Two Lancasters lost
29th January 1944 Two Lancasters lost
31st January 1944 Target Berlin again
5th February 1944 Killed on training exercise
16 February 1944 Lancasters lost over Berlin
21 February 1944 Crashed on return flight
25 February 1944 Two Lancasters lost
16th March 1944 Target Stuttgart
19th March 1944 Lancaster lost
23rd March 1944 Crashed on home soil
24th Mar 1944 Four Lancasters Lost
25th March 1944 New aircraft delivered
30th Mar 1944 Aircraft Lost
31st March 1944 Lancasters shot down
19th April 1944 MBE awarded postumously
22nd April 1944 Lancaster shot down over Cologne
25th April 1944 German night-fighter claims two Lancasters
28th April 1944 Tank factories targeted
12th May 1944 Shot down over Belgium
16th June 1944 11 Squadron Lancaster shot down
20th May 1944 Crashed at Le Mans
22nd May 1944 Crashed at Duisburg
23rd May 1944 Crashed near Antwerp
1st June 1944 Railway yards bombed
7th June 1944 Lost without trace
8th June 1944 six Lancasters of 115 Squadron shot down
13 June 1944 Oil refinery targeted
18th June 1944 Lancaster lost
11th July 1944 Drowned on exercise
18th July 1944 Crashed on farmhouse
19th July 1944 Crashed in Belgium
21st July 1944 Two Lancasters lost
30th July 1944 Dawn attack
9th August 1944 Evasion
13th August 1944 Experimental raid judged a failure
27th August 1944 Three aircraft missing
30 August 1944 Two aircraft lost
8th September 1944 Shot down over Le Havre
17th September 1944 Mid-air collision and explosion
27th September 1944 Crashed at Calais
6th October 1944 Mid-air collision
7th October 1944 Attack on the Ruhr
14th Oct 1944 115 Squadron Lancasters lost
14th October 1944 Flight of 115 Squadron transfers to 195.
15th October 1944 New Flight Commander missing
16th October 1944 Missing in Action
18th October 1944 Successful navigation system used
21st October 1944 Operations
25th October 1944 Steelworks damaged
28th October 1944 Aircrew attacked by townspeople
15th November 1944 Mid-air collision claims 16 lives
25th Nov 1944 115 Squadron lost on test flight
27th November 1944 115 Squadron Lancaster lost
30th November 1944 115 Squadron Lancaster crashed
7th December 1944 Killed in training
9th Dec 1944 Bomber Command
16th December 1944 Lancaster lost
1st January 1945 Shot down by friendly fire
14th February 1945 Dresden destroyed
15th February 1945 Crashed in France
4th April 1945 Mid-air collision
If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.
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Those known to have served with No. 115 Squadron Royal Air Force during the Second World War 1939-1945. - Abrahams J. W.. Sgt.
- Baird Robert Alexander G.. Sqd.Ldr. (d.14th Jul 1943)
- Baker Charles Henry. Sgt. (d.16th Mar 1944)
- Baker Edward Gordon. Sgt. (d.26th Jun 1943)
- Barber Frederick Edward. P/O. (d.12th Apr 1940)
- Batchelor Christopher Richard. Sgt. (d.21st Feb 1944)
- Bate Gordon Harrison. F/O.
- Bazalgette VC, DFC. Ian Willoughby. Sqd.Ldr. (d.4th August 1944)
- Bell Keith Selwyn. Flt.Sgt. (d.30th December 1943)
- Bickfort P. W.. F/Lt. (d.17th Sep 1944)
- Bradbury Robert Thomas.
- Bradley Wilbert Alymer. Flt.Sgt.
- Brown DFM David. Flt. Sgt.
- Bruce Don. Sgt.
- Bull Peter Edward Tucker. P/O. (d.12th Apr 1940)
- Bullock Donald. Sgt. (d.30th Aug 1944)
- Cameron Peter Talmage. Flt.Sgt. (d.22nd May 1944)
- Capstick Nicholas Jackson. Sgt. (d.16th Mar 1944)
- Carr Wilfred Gordon. Flt.Sgt (d.4th April 1945)
- Casey Lawrence Joseph. Sgt
- Chatterton Edward. F/Lt. (d.30th Aug 1944)
- Chaulk Artillus. P/O. (d.29th January 1944)
- Clerides MID Glafcos. Sgt.
- Cope DFM Jack Edward. Flt.Lt.
- Cunningham DFC. John. Flt.Lt.
- D'ath-Weston Ernest Henry.
- Davidson A. G.. W/O
- Deaville Aurther Kenneth. Flt.Sgt.
- Dodwell Ken James. Sqd.Ldr.
- Downer DFC. George Lionel. F/O. (d.14th January 1944)
- Eades John Henry. Sgt. (d.22nd Feb 1941)
- Farndale Bernard. Sgt. (d.30th Aug 1944)
- Favager Reginald. Sgt.
- Foster DFC Jack. Sqn. Ldr.
- Francis Sydney Frederick. P/O. (d.8th June 1944)
- Fullum Walter Joseph. Flt.Sgt. (d.23rd May 1944)
- Gibson DFC. Eric William. F/O.
- Gill Thomas. Sgt. (d.16th Nov 1942)
- Goddard Gordon Frank. F/Lt.
- Gooch Ernest. WO
- Grogan Kevin Francis. P/O. (d.13th August 1944)
- Hamilton Robert. Sgt. (d.14th Oct 1944)
- Harris Keith. Pilot Officer (d.19th January 1943)
- Hicks Harold George. F/Lt. (d.30th Dec 1943)
- Holder Donald Fraser. F/O. (d.22nd Aug 1944)
- Holder Donald Fraser. F/O. (d.27th Aug 1944)
- Holdsworth Eric. Sgt. (d.3rd March 1943)
- Hulley George. Sgt. (d.21st February 1944)
- Johns DFC. Stephen Joshua. F/Lt.
- Johnston DFC. Bruce. Flt.Lt.
- Jory Anthony. Sgt. (d.16th Mar 1944)
- Juby Geoffrey William James. Sgt. (d.12th Apr 1940)
- Keith G A. Sgt.
- Kovacich Anthony Michael. F/O. (d.30th Aug 1944)
- Larson Rodney Boyd. F/O.
- Larue Angus George. F/Sgt.
- Law DFM. Norman. Sgt. (d.27th Apr 1943)
- Lloyd Malcolm Francis. Sgt. (d.24th Feb 1941)
- Miller Donald Stewart.
- Morson DFM Harry Jensen. Sgt
- Moulden William Robert. P/O. (d.22nd May 1944)
- Nelson George. (d.2nd Oct 1942)
- Parkin DFM. William Hugh. Flt.Sgt.
- Pearce Alan Sydney. Sgt. (d.12th Apr 1940)
- Potter Jack Harold. Sgt. (d.16th Nov 1940)
- Rankin David Alexander. P/O. (d.12th Apr 1940)
- Reeb John Couzens. P/O (d.30th Aug 1944)
- Reed Douglas. WO.
- Reid Hawthorn Dalrymple.
- Reid Robert Ryland. F/O. (d.28th May 1943)
- Rodger James Menzies. P/O (d.16th Mar 1944)
- Rossiter Henry Charles. WO
- Russell DFC. George Oliver. F/Lt.
- Sankey William George. P/O (d.30th Aug 1944)
- Shea Lenny. P/O.
- Sheeran DFC Edward Joughin. Wg Cdr
- Spalton R. Sgt.
- Stace John Alan. Flt.Sgt.
- Stepanian Philip James. Flt/Sgt.
- Stephenson Wilfred Eric Arthur.
- Stevenson A. Flt.Sgt.
- Stewart William Albert. WO.
- Strickland J. W..
- Sutton Austin Borden Rex. WO.
- Taylor Leslie. Sgt. (d.30th Aug 1944)
- Thomas Ronald. Flt/Sgt. (d.31st March 1944)
- Trott Charles Frank. Flt.Sgt.
- Vipond Thomas Eliott. P/O. (d.25th March 1944)
- Werrett Ronald Arthur. Flt Sgt. (d.16th Mar 1944)
- Westcott Lionel Allen. LAC. (d.12th Apr 1940)
- Williams David Stuart. F/O (d.28th May 1943)
- Wilson John Aubrey.
- Winton A. G.. Sgt.
- Winton Graham. W/O
- Wood William Kenneth. Flt.Sgt. (d.21st February 1944)
The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed,
please Add a Name to this List
Records of No. 115 Squadron Royal Air Force from other sources.
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Want to know more about No. 115 Squadron Royal Air Force? There are:2214 items tagged No. 115 Squadron Royal Air Force available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War. |
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Robert Thomas Bradbury 115 Squadron My Dad, Robert Thomas Bradbury, served as an engineer with Bomber Command in 115 Squadron. He did his initial training at Cardington. He is second left on this picture which was taken at Marham in 1940. He transferred to Honeybourne at the end of 1941 and to Honley in 1943. The second picture was taken there and Dad is in the centre of the back row. It is labelled MU Honley 1944/45
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P/O. Lenny Shea 115 Squadron Lenny Shea was the pilot on the Lancaster with my Father John Wilson, who was the mid upper gunner.
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Flt.Lt. John Cunningham DFC. 115 Squadron John Cunningham DFC was my uncle and I am in possession of all his flying history, uniform and medals.
During WW2 John joined the Royal Air Force flying with 115 Squadron.
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Flt.Sgt. Wilbert Alymer Bradley 115 Squadron My father Al Bradley trained in Canada and was chosen to be tail gunner in the R.A.F. He served with 115 Squadron at Witchford.
He was wounded over Germany.
While in One Wing Hospital he was told his old crew were all killed on their next mission.
I have letters from the pilots' father informing my father of their deaths.
I also have several photos.
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F/O. Rodney Boyd Larson 115 Squadron My grandfather Rodney Larson, known as Boyd was a POW in Oflag 3 as PoW no, 1778 after being shot down on 14th of July 1943.
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Wg Cdr Edward Joughin Sheeran DFC 115 Squadron Edward Sheeran served in the Royal Air Force in WW2 flying with 115 Squadron
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P/O. Sydney Frederick Francis 115 Squadron (d.8th June 1944) Sydney Francis and crew mates of ND790 flying with 115 Squadron were killed on the 8th of June 1944 and are buried at Houdan.
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Flt.Sgt Wilfred Gordon Carr 115 Squadron (d.4th April 1945) On 4th of April 1945, Lancaster HK555 of 115 Squadron, was on a mission to bomb synthetic fuel plant near Luneberg. The Lancaster collided with NA533 near Griefenthal, Germany. All eight crew of HK555, including Wilfred Carr died.
After the war their remains were reburied in Rheinberg War Cemetary.
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P/O. Thomas Eliott Vipond 115 Squadron (d.25th March 1944) Thomas Vipond trained with 1678 Conversion Flight and served in 115 Squadron. He was killed in action over Netherlands. His aircraft was one of four from the squadron lost that night. One of which had Nicholas Alkemade onboard who survived without a parachute when abandoning his aircraft at 18000 feet.
Thomas is buried with his crew in Gorssel, Netherlands.
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WO. Douglas Reed 115 Squadron Dougie Reed was a Navigator on 115 Squadron, RAF, flying on Lancasters from late 1944.
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