No. 170 Squadron

Motto: "Videre non videri" ("To see (and) not be seen").
Badge: Issuant from a helmet affrontée, the vizor closed, a plume of three ostrich feathers. The helmet with its vizor closed suggests seeing without being seen. The facing position indicates the fact that the squadron "Is always ready to face the enemy". The plume of ostrich feathers of the Guards' colours commemorates the fact that the unit was formed to co-operate with the Guards Armoured Division.
Authority: King George VI, January 1944.

No 170 Squadron was formed at Weston Zoyland, Somerset, on 15th June 1942, as an army co-operation squadron equipped with Mustangs. On 15th January 1944, it was disbanded, but exactly nine months later, on 15th October 1944, was re-formed at Kelstern, Lincolnshire, as a heavy-bomber squadron equipped with Lancasters and subsequently took part in many major raids. During the period 19/20th October 1944 to 25th April 1945, it flew 980 operational sorties on 63 days; 13 aircraft were reported missing and 62 aircrew members were lost.

Following its final bombing operation No 170 took part in Operation Manna (the dropping of food supplies to the starving Dutch), Operation Exodus (the repatriation of British ex-POWs from the Continent), and Operation Dodge (the ferrying home of British troops from Italy).

Bomber Command WWII Bases: Re-formed 15.10.44 as No 170(B) Sqn from "C" Flt of No. 625(B) Sqn

• Kelstern : Oct 1944
• Dunholme Lodge : Oct 1944-Nov 1944
• Hemswell : Nov 1944 onwards

Bomber Command WWII Aircraft:

• Avro Lancaster B.I and B.III : Oct 1944 onwards

Code Letters:

• "TC"

First Bombing Mission in WWII:

• 19/20th October 1944 : 12 Lancasters bombed Stuttgart.

Last Operational Mission in WWII:

• 25th April 1945 : 16 Lancasters bombed Berchtesgaden.

Last Mission before VE Day:

• 7th May 1945 : 20 Lancasters dropped supplies to Dutch at Rotterdam.

 

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