104th RAF Squadron
No. 104 Squadron RAF
period of existence
104th RFC Squadron [1917-1918]
104th RAF Squadron [1918-1919]
104th RAF Squadron [1936-1940]
104th RAF Squadron [1941-1947]
104th RAF Squadron [1955-1956]
104th RAF Squadron [1959-1963]
motto
Strike Hard
history
The squadron is formed on September 4, 1917 at Wyton as a bomber base. After completing training, it moves to France in May 1918, where it fights until the end of World War I. In February 1919 she returns to Great Britain, where she is disbanded on 30 June of that year.
On 7 January 1936 it is re-established as a bomber squadron by the addition and renaming of 'C' Squadron 40 Squadron RAF at Abingdon. It is gradually converted into a training squadron of 6 RAF Group and on 8 April 1940 it ceases to exist, being absorbed into the newly formed 13th Operational Training Unit (No. 13 OTU).
As early as 1 April (some sources say 7 March) the following year, it is re-established as a bomber as part of 4th RAF Group at Driffield and undertakes raids on targets in Germany and occupied Europe. In October 1942 part of the unit is transferred to Malta and in January 1943 to Egypt. This detachment becomes the 104th Squadron in January/February 1943 and the detachment in the UK is transformed into 158 Squadron on 14 February 1943. From bases in North Africa and later Italy, it fights over the Mediterranean, Italy, the Balkans and Central Europe until the end of the war. With the end of the war it is withdrawn to Egypt, where it is disbanded on 1 April 1947.
It is briefly revived twice more, between 15 February 1955 and 1 August 1956 as a bomber unit at Gütersloh in Germany and between 22 July 1959 and 24 May 1963 as a missile unit at Ludford Magna.
sources
Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal & Commonwealth Air Force 1918-1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd, 1988. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
Jefford, Wing Commander C.G., MBE, BA, RAF(Retd.). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1988 (second edition 2001). ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._104_Squadron_RAF
http://www.rafweb.org/Squadrons/Sqn101-105.htm
http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/104squadron.cfm
www.raf.mod.uk
www.historyofwar.org
http://www.epibreren.com/ww2/raf/104_squadron.html
http://www.lancaster-archive.com/bc_sqn-104.htm
www.rafb24.com
No. 104 Squadron RAF
period of existence
104th RFC Squadron [1917-1918]
104th RAF Squadron [1918-1919]
104th RAF Squadron [1936-1940]
104th RAF Squadron [1941-1947]
104th RAF Squadron [1955-1956]
104th RAF Squadron [1959-1963]
motto
Strike Hard
history
The squadron is formed on September 4, 1917 at Wyton as a bomber base. After completing training, it moves to France in May 1918, where it fights until the end of World War I. In February 1919 she returns to Great Britain, where she is disbanded on 30 June of that year.
On 7 January 1936 it is re-established as a bomber squadron by the addition and renaming of 'C' Squadron 40 Squadron RAF at Abingdon. It is gradually converted into a training squadron of 6 RAF Group and on 8 April 1940 it ceases to exist, being absorbed into the newly formed 13th Operational Training Unit (No. 13 OTU).
As early as 1 April (some sources say 7 March) the following year, it is re-established as a bomber as part of 4th RAF Group at Driffield and undertakes raids on targets in Germany and occupied Europe. In October 1942 part of the unit is transferred to Malta and in January 1943 to Egypt. This detachment becomes the 104th Squadron in January/February 1943 and the detachment in the UK is transformed into 158 Squadron on 14 February 1943. From bases in North Africa and later Italy, it fights over the Mediterranean, Italy, the Balkans and Central Europe until the end of the war. With the end of the war it is withdrawn to Egypt, where it is disbanded on 1 April 1947.
It is briefly revived twice more, between 15 February 1955 and 1 August 1956 as a bomber unit at Gütersloh in Germany and between 22 July 1959 and 24 May 1963 as a missile unit at Ludford Magna.
sources
Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal & Commonwealth Air Force 1918-1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd, 1988. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
Jefford, Wing Commander C.G., MBE, BA, RAF(Retd.). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1988 (second edition 2001). ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._104_Squadron_RAF
http://www.rafweb.org/Squadrons/Sqn101-105.htm
http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/104squadron.cfm
www.raf.mod.uk
www.historyofwar.org
http://www.epibreren.com/ww2/raf/104_squadron.html
http://www.lancaster-archive.com/bc_sqn-104.htm
www.rafb24.com
