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No. 462 Squadron was a R.A.A.F Squadron operating under R.A.F. command, indicated by the squadron number in the 400s.
No. 462 Squadron had an unusual birth. In June 1942 two British based Halifax squadrons (Nos. 10 and 76) had dispatched detachments of 16 aircraft each to Aqir, in Palestine. There they formed No. 249 Wing of No. 205 Group. Finally, on 6 September 1942 the two detachments were merged to form No. 462 Squadron R.A.A.F. As one would expect, the original No. 462 Squadron never had a particularly Australian feel.
The squadron was involved in attacks on Tobruk and Crete, and in preparations for the Battle of El Alamein. In February 1944 the squadron moved to Celone, Italy, where it was renumbered as No. 614 Squadron.
A new No. 462 Squadron was then formed back in Britain, in August 1944, as part of the main bomber force. In December 1944 that squadron was transferred to No. 100 Group, the Electronic Counter Measures group.
Location
7 September 1942 to 13 November 1942: Fayid
13 November to 29 November 1942: Landing Ground 237
29 November to 14 December 1942: Landing Ground 167
14 December 1942 to 18 January 1942: Landing Ground 237
18 January 1942 to 18 January 1943: Landing Ground 167
18 January to 14 February 1943: Solluch
I
14 February to 22 May 1943: Gardabia Main
22 May to 1 October 1943: Hosc Raui
1 October 1943 to 1 January 1943: Terria
1 January 1944 to 1 March 1944: El Adem
1-3 March 1944: Celone, where renumbered as 614 Squadron
12 August 1944 to 29 December 1944: Reformed at Driffield
29 December 1944 to 24 September 1945: Moved to Foulsham
Aircraft
September 1942 to February 1944: Handley Page Halifax B.Mk II
August 1944 to September 1945: Handley Page Halifax B.Mk III
Squadron Codes: Z5
Group and Duty I
Formed September 1942 from Wing No. 249
September 1942 to February 1944: Bomber squadron with Middle East Command
February 1944: Renumbered as No. 614 Squadron
Group and Duty II
Reformed August 1944: Bomber squadron with No. 4 Group
August 1944 to December 1944: Bomber squadron with No. 4 Group
December 1944: Transferred to No. 100 Group as ABC jamming squadron
September 1945: Disbanded
Known Raids/ Significant Dates
7 September 1942: Formed as squadron, already operational
1 January 1945: First operation within No. 100 Group
Halifax Squadrons of World War II , Jon Lake. This is a very good book on the combat record of the Handley Page Halifax. It covers much more than just its role as a front line bomber, with chapters on the Halifax with Coastal Command, the Pathfinders and SOE, amongst others. [see more]
