No. 218 (Gold Coast) Squadron RAF

Armolurer checking a 1,000lb bomb before winching into bom bay of a Stirling. IWM photo D8977

Brief History

This squadron's name honours thje African Gold Coast (Ghana). The squadron was first formed at Dover on 24 April 1918, but was disbanded in 1919. Reformed on 16 Mar 1936 at RAF Upper Heyford. With the outbreak of ww2, on 2 Sep 1939, the squadron moved back to France, where it began dropping leaflets and flying reconnaissance missions. By June 1940, it had suffered many losses while bombing advancing German troops and the squadron was evacuated to England, where it converted to the Bristol Blenheim. In November 1940, it was rearmed with Vickers Wellingtons and began bombing a wide variety of targets with the new longer-range aeroplanes. In December 1941, the squadron began changing to Short Stirlings and continued its bombing raids in occupied Europe against everything from infantry to V-weapon sites.

In July 1942, the unit moved to RAF Downham Market and in March 1944 to RAF Woolfox Lodge in Rutland. In August 1944, it moved once more, this time to RAF Methwold with the Avro Lancaster. It played a major diversionary role in the lead up to D Day. In December 1944 it moved to Chedburgh as a transport unit. It ceased wartime operations in May 1945, just before the German surrender. Afterwards, it performed a number of relief flight in Europe, ranging from rescuing POWs to transporting food and other supplies.

Crew Members

• † Thomas Douglas (Dougie) Ellis 28 Aug - 23 Sep 1943 KIA Dusseldorf