No. 623 Squadron RAF was a heavy bomber squadron of the Royal Air Force for several months in 1943 during the Second World War.

History The squadron was formed on 10 August 1943 at RAF Downham Market in Norfolk from 'C' Flight of 218 Squadron, as well as receiving crews from No.3 L.F.S. and No.1653 Conversion Unit. It was equipped with Stirling Mk.III bombers, as part of No. 3 Group RAF in Bomber Command. The squadron carried out night raids against Germany, but was short-lived and was disbanded on 6 December 1943 at Downham Market. The aircraft went mostly to conversion units of No. 5 Group RAF.

Commanding officers +Officers commanding No. 623 Squadron RAF, data fromDateNameComments 18 August 1943 W/Cdr. E.J. Little, DFC Killed in action, 31-08-1943 6 September 1943 W/Cdr. G.T. Wynne-Powell Moved to 90 Sqn, 29-11-1943 29 November 1943 W/Cdr. F.M. Milligan, AFC

Notable personnel Flt Lt John Henry Smythe, a black navigator from Sierra Leone, who was shot down and captured, and later became a Queen's Counsel barrister and the attorney general of Sierra Leone.

Aircraft operated +Aircraft operated by no. 623 Squadron RAF, data fromFromToAircraftVariant August 1943 December 1943 Short Stirling Mk.III

Some examples: BF568: IC-B ex No. 218 Squadron RAF, later to No. 214 Squadron RAF and 1651 Heavy Conversion Unit (HCU). Struck off charge 24.4.45 BK727: IC-A ex No. 218 Squadron, later to No. 214 Squadron and 1651 HCU. Struck off charge 24.4.45 BK803: IC-S and IC-D ex No. 218 Squadron, later to 1654 HCU. Crashed 30.6.44 EE876: IC-T ex No. 218 Squadron, later to 1654 HCU. Struck off charge 25.4.46 EE966: IC-E ex No. 218 Squadron, later transferred to No. 299 Squadron RAF. Crashed 11.5.45 at Gardermoen, Norway EF199: IC-I to No. 214 Squadron RAF and later to 1651 HCU. Struck off charge 24.4.45 EF204: IC-E to 1654 Conversion Unit after its service life with No. 623 Squadron, crashed 14.1.45 EH878: IC-I Failed to return from a bombing mission to Mannheim, 6.9.43 EH925: IC-C Failed to return from bombing mission to Berlin, 23/24.08.43. Aircraft crashed 10 km south of Zossen, crew killed. Crash site has now been discovered in local area. EJ121: IC-Q to 1654 Conversion Unit after its service life with No. 623 Squadron. Struck off charge 28.2.45 LJ454: IC-E Failed to return from a bombing mission to Mannheim, 19.11.43 LK387: IC-P Failed to return on 5.12.43 on a mine laying operation at the Friesian Islands

Operations Despatched – number of aircraft taking off DCO – Duty Carried Out Alt – Alternative target attacked DNCO – Duty Not Carried Out (sortie aborted) Gardening – laying anti-shipping mines in coastal waters Comments – code names for area where mines dropped and identity of losses.

Date Type Target Despatched DCO Alt DNCO Recalled Lost Comments 10/11-Aug-43 Stirling Nürnberg 4 4 0 0 0 0 12/13-Aug-43 Stirling Turin 4 4 0 0 0 0 16/17-Aug-43 Stirling Turin 5 5 0 0 0 0 23/24-Aug-43 Stirling Berlin 6 5 0 0 0 1 EH925 24/25-Aug-43 Stirling Gardening 2 2 0 0 0 0 Nectarines 25/26-Aug-43 Stirling Gardening 1 1 0 0 0 0 Deodars 26/27-Aug-43 Stirling Gardening 2 2 0 0 0 0 Deodars 27/28-Aug-43 Stirling Nürnberg 5 3 0 1 0 1 EE909 30/31-Aug-43 Stirling Mönchengladbach 5 4 0 1 0 0 31/01-Aug-43 Stirling Berlin 4 2 0 1 0 1 EE949 02/03-Sep-43 Stirling Gardening 1 0 0 1 0 0 Nectarines 05/06-Sep-43 Stirling Mannheim 3 2 0 0 0 1 EH878 08/09-Sep-43 Stirling Boulogne 3 3 0 0 0 0 15/16-Sep-43 Stirling Montluçon 3 3 0 0 0 0 16/17-Sep-43 Stirling Modane 4 4 0 0 0 0 22/23-Sep-43 Stirling Hannover 4 4 0 0 0 0 23/24-Sep-43 Stirling Mannheim 3 3 0 0 0 0 24/25-Sep-43 Stirling Gardening 3 3 0 0 0 0 Nectarines 25/26-Sep-43 Stirling Gardening 2 1 0 0 0 1 Nectarines EF499 27/28-Sep-43 Stirling Hannover 2 2 0 0 0 0 27/28-Sep-43 Stirling Gardening 1 1 0 0 0 0 Nectarines 02/03-Oct-43 Stirling Gardening 2 2 0 0 0 0 Silverthorne 03/04-Oct-43 Stirling Kassel 5 2 0 1 0 2 EF158 and EH994 04/05-Oct-43 Stirling Frankfurt am Main 3 2 0 1 0 0 04/05-Oct-43 Stirling Gardening 2 2 0 0 0 0 Deodars 07/08-Oct-43 Stirling Gardening 3 3 0 0 0 0 Nectarines 1, Silverthorne 2 08/09-Oct-43 Stirling Bremen 4 4 0 0 0 0 08/09-Oct-43 Stirling Gardening 1 1 0 0 0 0 Deodars 17/18-Oct-43 Stirling Gardening 5 5 0 0 0 0 Nectarines 20/21-Oct-43 Stirling Gardening 2 2 0 0 0 0 Nectarines 22/23-Oct-43 Stirling Gardening 3 2 0 1 0 0 Nectarines 24/25-Oct-43 Stirling Gardening 2 2 0 0 0 0 Nectarines 25/26-Oct-43 Stirling Gardening 2 2 0 0 0 0 03/04-Nov-43 Stirling Gardening 4 4 0 0 0 0 04/05-Nov-43 Stirling Gardening 2 2 0 0 0 0 07/08-Nov-43 Stirling Gardening 5 4 0 0 0 1 Deodars, Furze EF156 10/11-Nov-43 Stirling Gardening 2 2 0 0 0 0 La Rochelle 18/19-Nov-43 Stirling Mannheim 7 3 0 2 0 2 EF155 and LJ454 19/20-Nov-43 Stirling Leverkusen 2 2 0 0 0 0 19/20-Nov-43 Stirling Gardening 5 5 0 0 0 0 Nectarines/Cinnamon 22/23-Nov-43 Stirling Berlin 3 2 1 0 0 0 25/26-Nov-43 Stirling Gardening 3 1 0 2 0 0 04/05-Dec-43 Stirling Gardening 2 1 0 0 0 1 Nectarines LK387 Totals 138 115 1 11 0 11

See also List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons List of Royal Air Force heavy conversion units

References

Notes

Bibliography

No. 623 Squadron Operational Record Book (Forms 540/541), National Archives, Kew (AIR 27/2141).

External links Squadron history on RAF website No. 623 Squadron RAF movement and equipment history No 621 - 650 Squadron Histories