No. 109 Squadron (RAF): Second World War

Aircraft - Locations - Group and Duty - Books

No. 109 Squadron was formed from the Wireless Intelligence Development Unit at Boscombe Down on 11 December 1940. That unit had been engaged in research into radar and radio navigation aids, both German and and British, and No. 109 continued to perform that role until it was dispersed in January 1942. For the next year the squadron was split into three flights - the Wireless Development Flight, the Wireless Reconnaissance Flight and the Wireless investigation Flight.

The squadron reformed as Boscombe Down in April 1942. Its new role was to aid in the development of the Oboe navigation aid, and then when Oboe was ready to introduce it to service. In August 1943 the squadron moved to Wyton, and became part of the No.8 Group, the Pathfinder Force. After years of experimental work, on 20 December 1943 No. 109 Squadron carried out its first bombing mission, while on 31 December 1943 it led the first raid to use Oboe, an attack on Dusseldorf. The squadron remained part of No.8 Group for the rest of the war, leading the main bomber force over Germany.

Aircraft
December 1940-January 1941: Armstrong Whitworth Whitley V
December 1940-August 1942: Avro Anson I
January 1941-August 1942: Vickers Wellington IC
March 1942-July 1942: Vickers Wellington VI
August-October 1942: Avro Lancaster I
August 1942-June 1944: De Havilland Mosquito B.IV
June 1943-September 1945: De Havilland Mosquito B.IX
March 1944-September 1945: De Havilland Mosquito B.XVI

Location
10 December 1940-19 January 1942: Boscombe Down
19 January-6 April 1942: Tempsford
6 April-6 August 1942: Stradishall
6 August 1942-4 July 1943: Wyton
4 July-1943-2 April 1944: Marham
2 April 1944-30 September 1945: Little Staughton

Squadron Codes:

Group and Duty
26 September 1939: Bomber squadron with No.2 Group, 83 Wing Force

Books

 Mosquito Bomber/ Fighter-Bomber Units of World War 2, Martin Bowman. The first of three books looking at the RAF career of this most versatile of British aircraft of the Second World War, this volume looks at the squadrons that used the Mosquito as a daylight bomber, over occupied Europe and Germany, against shipping and over Burma. [see more]  
cover cover cover

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How to cite this article: Rickard, J (15 April 2008), No. 109 Squadron (RAF): Second World War, http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/RAF/109_wwII.html

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