199 Squadron Badge

 

No. 199 Squadron

Motto: "Let tyrants tremble".
Badge: In front of a fountain, two swords palewise, one point upwards and one point downwards. The swords, one pointing up and one down, symbolise the unit's functions of minelaying and bombing.
Authority: King George VI, July 1944.

No 199 Squadron had a brief existence from November 1917 to June 1919 as a night-training squadron. It was formed at East Retford and disbanded at Harpswell, Lincolnshire.

The squadron was re-formed in November 1942, at Blyton, as a bomber squadron in No. 3Group and its subsequent activities can be summarised as follows. Between December 1942 and April 1944 - flying Wellingtons and (from 30th/3lst July 1943 onwards) Stirlings - undertook regular bombing and minelaying missions; in addition, from February 1944, onwards dropped arms and other supplies to French Maquis. On 1st May 1944, moved to North Creake in No. 100 Group and became No 199 Bomber Support Squadron. Between 5th/6th June 1944, and 2nd/3rd May 1945 - flying Stirlings (until mid-March) and Halifaxes (from mid-February onwards) - employed on radio counter-measures operations comprising Window and Mandrel patrols, these being frequently combined with standard bombing sorties.

Bomber Command WWII Bases:
Re-formed 7.11.42 as No 199 (Bomber) Squadron at:

  • Blyton : Nov 1942-Feb 1943
  • Ingham : Feb 1943-Jun 1943
  • Lakenheath : Jun 1943-May 1944
On 1.5.44 transferred from 3 Group to 100 Group, moved to North Creake, & re-designated No 199 (Bomber Support) Squadron. Role henceforth primarily radio counter-measures (RCM).
  • North Creake : May 1944 onwards.

Bomber Command WWII Aircraft:

  • Vickers Wellington III and X : Nov 1942-Jun 1943
  • Short Stirling III : Jul 1943-Mar 1945
  • Handley Page Halifax B.III : Feb 1945 onwards

199 Squadron Stirling B Mk III

Code Letters:

  • "EX".

First Operational Mission in WWII:

  • 6th/7th December 1942 - 5 Wellingtons bombed Mannheim.

Last Bombing Mission in WWII:
  • 22nd/23rd April 1944 - 1 Stirling Nickelled Toulouse.

Last Operational Mission in WWII:
  • 2nd/3rd May 1945 - 17 successful bomber support sorties by Halifaxes in connection with main force attack against Kiel.

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Date Last Updated : Wednesday, April 6, 2005 2:40 AM

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