No. 458 Squadron

Motto: None
Badge: None authorised
Authority: -

No. 458 Squadron first came into existence at Williamtown, New South Wales, on 8th July 1941, and began to establish itself in Britain on 25th August 1941 at Holme-on-Spalding Moor, Yorkshire as a medium-bomber unit in No. 1 Group. Equipped with Wellington Mk. IV aircraft, it began operations on 20th/21st October, and is reputed to have been "congratulated almost continuously" for the highest serviceability in any bomber group in the United Kingdom.

At the end of January 1942, No. 458 was withdrawn from all Bomber Command duties to prepare for transfer to the Middle East and its aircrews subsequently ferried 36 out of 37 Wellington ICs safely to Egypt.

Bomber Command WWII Bases: First came into existence 8.7.41 at Williamtown, New South Wales & officially established in the UK at Holme-on-Spalding Moor on 25.8.41

  • Holme-on-Spalding Moor : Aug 1941-Mar 1942
At end of Jan 1942 sqdn was withdrawn from ops in preparation for transfer to Middle East. In Feb first batch of a/c (Wellington IC's) were flown to the Middle East and in Mar ground crew embarked.

Bomber Command WWII Aircraft:

  • Vickers Wellington IV : Aug 1941-Jan 1942

Code Letters:

  • "FU"

First Operational Mission in WWII:

  • 2Oth/2Ist October 1941 : 10 Wellingtons despatched-2 to Emden and 8 to Antwerp.

Last Operational Mission with Bomber Command in WWII:

  • 28/29th January 1942 : 2 Wellingtons bombed Boulogne docks.

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

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