No. 149 Squadron RAF facts for kids

Quick facts for kids No. 149 (East India) Squadron RAF
Squadron badge
Active	3 March 1918 – 1 August 1919 12 April 1937 – 1 March 1950 14 August 1950 – 31 August 1956
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Air Force
Type	Bomber
Role	Night bombing
Part of	RAF Bomber Command
Nickname(s)	East India
Motto(s)	Latin: Fortis Nocte ("Strong by Night")
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldry	A horseshoe and a flash of lightning interlaced
Squadron Codes	LY (Oct 1938 – Sep 1939) OJ (Sep 1939 – Nov 1949) TK (for 'C' flight) (Feb 1943 – Jun 1945)

No. 149 Squadron RAF was a special unit of the Royal Air Force (RAF). It flew powerful bomber planes. The squadron existed in three different periods between 1918 and 1956. Its main job was to fly bombing missions at night.

History of the Squadron

World War I Missions

No. 149 Squadron started on March 3, 1918. It was formed at Royal Flying Corps Station Ford in England. Soon after, the squadron moved to France. There, it flew night bombing missions over areas controlled by the enemy. They used Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2 planes. After the war, the squadron stayed in Germany for three months. It was part of the forces occupying the country. Then, it moved to Ireland in March 1919. The squadron was officially closed down on August 1, 1919.

World War II Operations

Flying the Vickers Wellington

The squadron was started again on April 12, 1937. This happened at RAF Mildenhall in England. At first, they flew Handley Page Heyford biplane bombers. But in January 1939, they switched to Vickers Wellington planes. On September 4, 1939, just after Britain declared war on Germany, one of their planes flew its first mission.

Target for Tonight Film

In early 1941, the squadron's Wellington planes and crews helped make a movie. The film was called Target for Tonight. It was filmed at RAF Mildenhall. To keep secrets from the enemy, the base was called 'Millerton Aerodrome' in the film. The movie showed how an air raid on Germany was planned and carried out. It followed the crew of a Wellington plane named 'F for Freddie'.

Switching to Short Stirling and Avro Lancaster

In November 1941, the squadron got new planes. These were the Short Stirling bombers. The squadron then took part in the first "1,000 bomber raid." This was a huge attack with many planes. No. 149 Squadron also helped train new Stirling crews.

In August 1944, the Stirlings were replaced by Avro Lancaster planes. These powerful bombers served the squadron until 1949. At the end of the war, the squadron helped with two important missions. They took part in Operation Manna, dropping food to people in the Netherlands who were starving. They also helped with Operation Exodus, bringing former prisoners of war back to the UK.

After the War

After World War II, No. 149 Squadron continued to fly for RAF Bomber Command. They moved to different bases, including RAF Tuddenham and RAF Stradishall. In February 1949, they returned to RAF Mildenhall. There, their Lancasters were replaced with Avro Lincoln planes. The squadron was closed down again on March 1, 1950.

But the break was short! On August 14, 1950, the squadron was reformed. It became the first RAF unit to fly Boeing Washington bombers. These planes were borrowed from the USAF. They were used until the RAF got its own jet bombers, the English Electric Canberra. The squadron got Canberra jets in March 1953. In August 1954, they moved to West Germany. The squadron was finally closed down for good on August 31, 1956.

Aircraft Operated

Images for kids

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  149 Squadron aircrew getting ready for a mission at RAF Mildenhall during World War II.

See also

• List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons