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627 Squadron

627 big.png

Official Squadron badge of No. 627 Squadron RAF

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heraldry

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Bomber

12 November 1943 – 1 October 1945
United Kingdom
Royal Air Force
At First Sight

 

 

A hawk diving, holding in the beak a firebrand

The badge symbolises two of the unit's wartime functions - high-level bombing and target marking for the main heavy bomber force
AZ (November 1943 – October 1945

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de Havilland Mosquito
Twin-engined light fighter-bomber

Insignia 

Aircraft flown

No. 627 Squadron RAF

No. 627 Squadron was a Royal Air Force Mosquito aircraft pathfinder bomber squadron that operated during the Second World War
Low level target marking, developed by 617 Squadron, was so successful that 627 Squadron, a Mosquito unit in No 8 (PFF) Group, was "loaned" to 5 Group to operate in this role. The squadron arrived at Woodhall Spa on 14 April 1944 and stayed until the end of the war.

History
The squadron was formed on 12 November 1943 at RAF Oakington from part of 139 Squadron. It was equipped with the de Havilland Mosquito twin-engined fighter-bomber it flew operations as part of No. 8 Group's light bomber force. As well as normal bombing missions it also carried out Pathfinder duties and was involved in attacks on Berlin in early 1944. In April 1944 it was transferred to No. 5 Group as a specialised target marking squadron, although it also carried out armed reconnaissance and normal bombing duties. It was disbanded on 1 October 1945 at RAF Woodhall Spa when it was re-numbered 109 Squadron.

Peter Mallender, Thorpe Camp, 1998

627 Remembered

Ken Oatley  year 2011

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          627 Squadron Flying Officer Eric Arthur - Pathfinder Navigator
 
Men and machines poured into Woodhall with other Mossie squadrons being disbanded and sent to Woodhall to join 627. By July there over six thousand people on the base and it was packed with aircraft, with the new boys learning the 627 techniques.


March 1st 2016      Eric Arthur - Knight of the Order Legion of Honour
Eric Arthur was awarded the Legion of Honour with the rank of Chevalier (Knight) by the French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, at a ceremony at the Adelaide Town Hall on 1st March. Six other South Australian veterans of WW2 were also presented with the award at this ceremony.

Flying Officer Eric Arthur
Pathfinder Navigator

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