619 Squadron

Flying Officer P Ingleby, the navigator of a Lancaster of 619 Squadron based at RAF Coningsby, seated at his table in the aircraft

Lancaster LM446 of no. 619 Squadron, coded PG-H

The Squadron was formed out of elements of 97 Squadron at RAF Woodhall Spa on 18 April 1943 before moving onto nearby RAF Coningsby in January 1944, equipped with Lancaster Mk.III bombers, as part of 5 Group in Bomber Command. It also briefly flew Lancaster Mk.I bombers in the first month of operation. Their first mission was flown on the night of 11 June 1943, when 12 Lancasters were sent to bomb targets in Düsseldorf, and the last bombing mission was flown on 25 April 1945, when 6 Lancasters tried to bomb SS barracks at Berchtesgaden. The last operational mission was flown a day later, when 2 Lancasters laid mines in the Oslo Fjordnear Horten. After that mission the squadron ferried ex-prisoners of war back to the United Kingdom from Belgium (Operation Exodus). The squadron operated out of various Lincolnshire stations, before being disbanded at RAF Skellingthorpe on 18 July 1945.
Members of the squadron were awarded 1 DSO, 76 DFCs and 37 DFMs. The squadron was mentioned 10 times in despatches.

On Friday 15th April 2011 the 619 Squadron Association, including family and friends, had their yearly reunion at the Thorpe Camp Visitor Centre, Tattershall Thorpe. Members of the 619 Sqn their families and friends in front of the War Memorial. L.- R.- Sqn Ldr Joe Dutton and Friends of the 619 Sqn. Mr and Mrs A “Sandy” Sandison (Sqn Ldr) Photos by Thorpe Camp Preservation Group.

Air Commodore Charles Clarke OBE

619 Squadron Lancasters bomb aimer. Shot down on the night of 24/25 February 1944 on a raid to Schweinfurt (FTR 24 Feb 944 - POW).

On Friday the 20th April 2012

Wreath Laying at the Memorial Garden