No. 301 (Polish) Squadron

Motto: None
Badge: None authorised
Authority: -

No. 301 Squadron was formed at Bramcote, Warwickshire, on 22nd July 1940, as a bomber squadron, and was mostly manned by the same type of personnel as its predecessor, No. 300 Squadron, though some of the airmen had arrived in Britain barely two or three weeks before. It was originally in No. 6 (Training) Group, but at the end of August transferred to No. 1 (Bomber) Group and RAF Swinderby, Lincolnshire. It remained based at Swinderby until mid-July 1941, and was then re-located at Hemswell.

Beginning operations in mid-September 1940, with Battle aircraft, No. 301 later converted to Wellington ICs and then to Wellington IVs, which had American Pratt and Whitney Twin Wasp engines. It continued its offensive until the end of March 1943, and on 7th April disbanded, the personnel being posted away to No. 138 (Special Duties) Squadron or Nos. 300 and 305 (Polish) Squadrons.

In its operations with Bomber Command No. 301 Squadron flew 7,367 operational hours in 1,260 sorties against enemy targets on which the crews dropped 1,428 tons of bombs and laid 222 tons of mines. Casualties totalled 203 killed, missing and taken prisoner.

No. 301 was later revived as a Special Duties squadron.

Bomber Command WWII Bases:

• Bramcote : Jul 1940-Aug 1940
• Swinderby : Aug 1940-Jul 1941
• Hemswell : Jul 1941-Apr 1943

Bomber Command WWII Aircraft:

• Fairey Battle : Jul 1940-Nov 1940
• Vickers Wellington IC and IV : Oct 1940-Apr 1943

Code Letters:

• "GR"

First Operational Mission in WWII:

• 14/15th September 1940 : 3 Battles bombed barges & shipping in Boulogne harbour.

Last Operational Mission in WWII:

• 29/30th March 1943 : 3 Wellingtons bombed Bochum & 2 other Wellingtons aborted.

 

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