Difference between revisions of "No. 460 Squadron RAAF"

	460's G for George (Currently on display at the AWM, Canberra)
	v; t; e;

Latest revision as of 22:07, 24 February 2022

Brief History

No. 460 Squadron, RAAF, was formed at Molesworth in the United Kingdom on 15 Nov 1941. The squadron became part of the RAF's Bomber Command and joined the strategic bombing campaign against Germany. Equipped with Vickers Wellington bombers, it mounted its first raid, against the German city of Emden, on 12 March 1942. In the ensuing three years the squadron was heavily committed to operations over Germany, Italy and German-occupied Europe. It operated, in succession, from airfields at Molesworth (15 Nov 1941 - 3 Jan 1942), Breighton (4 Jan 1942 - 14 May 1943), and Binbrook (14 May 1943 - 27 Jul 1945).

It began operating Avro Lancasters in October 1942 and joined Bomber Command's 1 Group. The bulk of the squadron's operations formed part of the strategic bombing offensive against Germany, although prior to, and during, the D-Day landings in June 1944, it was employed in support of Allied ground operations. The squadron flew its last raid, against Berchtesgarden, on ANZAC Day 1945.

The squadron is regarded as having been the most efficient of the Australian bomber squadrons. It lost 181 aircraft on operations and suffered 1,018 fatal casualties (589 Australian) - the highest number of any of the Australian squadrons. Following the end of hostilities in Europe in April 1945, the squadron participated in Operation Manna, which involved the air-dropping of food to Dutch civilians during the first week of May 1945. The squadron relinquished its aircraft in early October 1945, and disbanded on the 25th of that month.

Flying Personnel

Clifford Stanley Douglas 11 Feb - 1 Jun 1942 WIA and POW
† Greer Winton Ottaway 14 Jul - 21 Nov 1944 KIA in flying battle over Germany

Ground Crew

Battle Honours

Fortress Europe, 1940–1944
France and Germany, 1944–1945
Ruhr, 1940–1945
Berlin, 1940–1945
German Ports, 1940–1945
Normandy, 1944
Italy, 1943–1945.

Individual Honours (Australian personnel)

5 x Distinguished Service Orders
205 x Distinguished Flying Cross & 12 bars
1 x CGM
72 x Distinguished Flying Medals
1 x Distinguished Conduct Medal

Notes

External Links

@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 ==Brief History==
-The Squadron was formed on 15 Nov 1941 at RAF Molesworth, Huntingdonshire, equipped with [[Vickers Wellington]] Mk IV aircraft. Soon after in January 1942 they relocated to RAF Breighton in Yorkshire and began their part in the offensive campaign against Germany. Losses between June and August 1942 were 20 aircraft, and the squadron converted to [[Avro Lancaster]]s in October. In May 1944 they relocated to RAF Binbrook from where it participated in the strategic bombing of Germany. In late 1943, early 1944 they played a role in the Battle of Berlin before turning their attention to supporting the Normandy landings.
+No. 460 Squadron, RAAF, was formed at Molesworth in the United Kingdom on 15 Nov 1941. The squadron became part of the RAF's Bomber Command and joined the strategic bombing campaign against Germany. Equipped with Vickers Wellington bombers, it mounted its first raid, against the German city of Emden, on 12 March 1942. In the ensuing three years the squadron was heavily committed to operations over Germany, Italy and German-occupied Europe. It operated, in succession, from airfields at Molesworth (15 Nov 1941 - 3 Jan 1942), Breighton (4 Jan 1942 - 14 May 1943), and Binbrook (14 May 1943 - 27 Jul 1945).
-The squadron's last Operational Mission in WW2 was on 25th April 1945 when 20 Lancasters were dispatched to Berchtesgaden, and their last mission before VE Day was on 7th May 1945 when 25 Lancasters dropped supplies to Dutch in Rotterdam area as part of Operations Manna / Chowhound and Faust. They then began to make ready to relocate to the Pacific theatre, but this soon became unnecessary with the capitulation of Japan, and they disbanded on 10 Oct 1945.
+It began operating Avro Lancasters in October 1942 and joined Bomber Command's 1 Group. The bulk of the squadron's operations formed part of the strategic bombing offensive against Germany, although prior to, and during, the D-Day landings in June 1944, it was employed in support of Allied ground operations. The squadron flew its last raid, against Berchtesgarden, on ANZAC Day 1945.
+The squadron is regarded as having been the most efficient of the Australian bomber squadrons. It lost 181 aircraft on operations and suffered 1,018 fatal casualties (589 Australian) - the highest number of any of the Australian squadrons. Following the end of hostilities in Europe in April 1945, the squadron participated in Operation Manna, which involved the air-dropping of food to Dutch civilians during the first week of May 1945. The squadron relinquished its aircraft in early October 1945, and disbanded on the 25th of that month.
+===Flying Personnel===
+* [[Clifford Stanley Douglas]] 11 Feb - 1 Jun 1942 WIA and POW
+* † [[Greer Winton Ottaway]] 14 Jul - 21 Nov 1944 KIA in flying battle over Germany
+===Ground Crew===
-The squadron flew the most sorties of any Australian bomber squadron and dropped more bomb tonnage than any squadron in the whole of Bomber Command—24,856 tons, which it dropped over 6,262 sorties. In doing that, it lost 188 aircraft and suffered 1,018 combat deaths (589 of whom were Australian). This was the most of any Australian squadron during the war, with No. 460 Squadron effectively wiped out five times over its existence.
 ===Battle Honours===
@@ Line 35: / Line 44: @@
 * 72 x Distinguished Flying Medals
 * 1 x Distinguished Conduct Medal
-===Squadron personnel===
-* † [[Winton Greer Ottaway]] ?? - 21 Nov 1944 KIA in flying battle over Germany
 ====Notes====