No. 635 Squadron RAF
Military unit
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
No. 635 Squadron RAF was a heavy bomber squadron of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.
| No. 635 Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
| Active | 20 March 1944 – 1 September 1945 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Air Force |
| Type | Inactive |
| Role | Bomber Squadron |
| Part of | No. 8 Group RAF Bomber Command[1] |
| Base | RAF Downham Market, Norfolk |
| Mottos | Latin: Nos Ducimus Ceteri Secunter (Translation: "We lead, others follow")[2][3] |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge heraldry | In front of a roundel nebuly, a dexter gauntlet holding three flashes of lightning[2][3] |
| Squadron Codes | F2 (Mar 1944 – Sep 1945)[4][5] |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Bomber | Avro Lancaster Four-engined heavy bomber |
History
635 squadron was formed at RAF Downham Market in Norfolk on 20 March 1944 from two flights drawn from No. 35 Squadron and No. 97 Squadron, equipped with Lancaster Mk.I bombers, as part of No. 8 Group RAF in Bomber Command. It re-equipped with Lancaster Mk.III bombers the same month, then Lancaster Mk.VI bombers in July. After the end of its bombing operations in April 1945 it was used for transport and food relief until disbanded at Downham Market on 1 September 1945.[3][6]
Notable squadron members
One member of the squadron, S/Ldr. I.W. Bazalgette, was awarded a posthumous VC following the raid against Trossy-St Maximin on 4 August 1944.[7][8]
Aircraft operated
| From | To | Aircraft | Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 1944 | March 1944 | Avro Lancaster | Mk.I |
| March 1944 | August 1945 | Avro Lancaster | Mk.III |
| July 1944 | November 1944 | Avro Lancaster | Mk.VI |
Squadron bases
| From | To | Base |
|---|---|---|
| 20 March 1944 | 1 September 1945 | RAF Downham Market, Norfolk |
