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No. 620 Squadron Royal Air Force
No 619 Squadron was formed at Chedburgh from C Flight of No 214 Squadron, on 17 June 1943. It was a heavy bomber squadron with 3 Group Bomber Command, equipped with the Short Stirling, and carrying out night bombing missions until 19th November 1943. It moved to Leicester East to become an airborne forces squadron, training in glider-towing and supply drops, including operations over France dropping supplies to resistance forces from February 1944. Early on D-Day, the squadron dropped paratroops near Caen. No 619 resupplied ground forces, towed gliders and dropped paratroops from 1st Airborne. In January 1945 tactical bombing operations were flown against major German target, and troops were flown to Norway in May to disarm German occupational forces.
On 1st September 1946 the squadron moved to Palestine and was re-numbered No 113 Squadron.
Airfields
No. 620 Squadron
flew from:
- RAF Chedburgh, Suffolk from 17th June 1943 (formed. Stirling I, Stirling III)
- RAF Leicester East, Leicestershire from 23rd November 1943 (Bomber Command)
- RAF Leicester East from 22nd November 1943 (Fighter Command)
- RAF Fairford, Gloscestershire from 18th March 1944
- RAF Great Dunmow, Essex from 18th August 1944 (Stirling IV, Halifax VII)
26th Jul 1943 Night Operations
January 1944 Increase in Special Duties squadrons
1st May 1944 Planning
6th June 1944 Pathfinders
6th June 1944 Landings
If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.
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Logbooks
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Those known to have served with No. 620 Squadron Royal Air Force during the Second World War 1939-1945. - Allen George Wycliffe .
- Andrews Frank.
- Finn Michael Joseph Thomas. Flt.Sgt. (d.6th Sep 1943)
- Giles Bernard Robert. Sgt. (d.6th Sep 1943)
- Jones Frederick Arthur. Sgt. (d.6th Sep 1943)
- Kerslake Herbert William Ralph. Sgt. (d.27th Sep 1943)
- Leyden Thomas. F/Sgt. (d.31st Dec 1944)
- Quayle Peter Geoffrey. P/O (d.6th Sep 1943)
- Smith Cecil Henry. LAC
- White Norman Arthur. Flt.Sgt. (d.31st Dec 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. 620 Squadron Royal Air Force from other sources.
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Want to know more about No. 620 Squadron Royal Air Force? There are:2004 items tagged No. 620 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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George Wycliffe Allen 620 Squadron George Allen who was my grandfather was born in 1922 and died in 2014. Shortly before he died he told us the story that none of us ever knew about, how he left Jamaica. As a young man he didn't want to marry my paternal grandmother so took refuge in the RAF, who were recruiting in Jamaica as one of England's then colonies in 1943.
He told us he was based at a place called Fairford as a part of 620 Squadron.
Sadly we were not very close and this was the first and last time that we heard him speak about his journey to the UK and his time in the war.
We did receive a picture of him in his uniform when he died.
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F/Sgt. Thomas Leyden 620 Squadron (d.31st Dec 1944) Thomas Leyden was distant relative of mine, he was apparently lost, along with the rest of his crew mates, whilst flying on a mission to Norway. Other accounts suggest that they were hit by flak from flak ships along the Norwegian coast, and subsequently crashed into the sea. They were flying Short Stirling LJ914 on an unspecified mission.
He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial in Surrey.
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Sgt. Herbert William Ralph Kerslake 620 Squadron (d.27th Sep 1943) Herbert Kerslake was a rear gunner in Bomber Command unit and was shot down over Germany with 6 other men, some of whom survived. Herbert was 19 years old and a volunteer reserve for 620 Squadron based at Chedburgh. He is buried at Hanover War Cemetery.
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Flt.Sgt. Norman Arthur White 620 Squadron. (d.31st Dec 1944) I was named after my uncle Norman White shortly after he was shot down near Lister, Norway at the mouth of Skaggerak while on a Special Duty Operation. He was the rear gunner in a Short Stirling Mk IV LJ914.
There were no survivors.
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P/O Peter Geoffrey Quayle 620 Squadron (d.6th Sep 1943) Pilot Officer (Pilot) Peter Quayle was the son of Herbert Ernest and Myra May Quayle of Cleveleys, Lancashire.
He was aged 20 when he died and is buried in the Protestant Cemetery in Germany.
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Sgt. Frederick Arthur Jones 620 Squadron (d.6th Sep 1943) Sergeant (Flight Engineer) Frederick Jones was the son of Walter Stamford Jones and Emily Jones. He is buried in the Altdorf Protestant Cemetery in Germany.
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Sgt. Bernard Robert Giles 620 Squadron (d.6th Sep 1943) Sergeant (Air Gunner) Bernard Giles was the Son of Charles Bernard and Alice Giles, husband of Margery Lillian Rose Giles of Catford, London.
He was 31 years old when he died and is buried in the Altdorf Protestant Cemetery in Germany.
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Flt.Sgt. Michael Joseph Thomas Finn 620 Squadron (d.6th Sep 1943) Flight Sergeant (Wireless Operator)Michael Finn was the Son of Patrick and Anne Finn of Holme-next-the Sea, Norfolk.
He was aged 21 when he died and is buried in the Altdorf Protestant Cemetery in Germany.
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Frank "Andy" Andrews 620 Squadron Frank Andrews served as a wireless op/air gunner.
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LAC Cecil Henry "Charlie" Smith 620 Squadron Leading Aircraftsman Cecil Henry Smith, known as Charlie enlisted in 1940 and trained at RAF Padgate. He served in various bomber squadrons as an engine fitter and from June 1943 served in 620 Squadron as an engine fitter, being part of the ground crew for Stirling marks I to IV, notably Stirling S for Sugar. He was demobbed in September 1945
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