Intended as a night fighter unit, Squadron 153 was formed at Hainault Farm, Essex, on 1 November 1918. The war ended as the squadron was beginning to assemble: it did not become operational, probably did not receive any aircraft, and was disbanded on 13 June 1919.
The Squadron was re-formed 14 October 1941, at Ballyhalbert, Northern Ireland, for night fighting with Defiants. In 1942 it was re-equipped with Beaufighters, and went to North Africa in December of that year. It was disbanded at Reghaia, Algeria, on 5 September 1944.
On 14 October 1941 a flight of 256 Squadron arrived at Ballyhalbert to form 153 Squadron and began flying the next day. On the official formation of 153 Squadron on 24 October 1941, the Squadron was operational with Defiants on night patrols. The arrival of a training Blenheim on 10 December 1941, heralded re-equipment and the first Beaufighter arrived on 29 January 1942. 'A' Flight retained its Defiants until the Beaufighters became operational in May 1942. The squadron flew out to Algeria via Gibraltar in December for night patrols and convoy protection. In July 1944, a detachment was sent to Sardinia for intruder missions over southern France. In August 1944 a a flight of Spitfires and Hurricanes was added for dawn patrols but the Squadron disbanded on 4 September 1944.
The Squadron was re-formed 14 October 1941, at Ballyhalbert, Northern Ireland, for night fighting with Defiants. In 1942 it was re-equipped with Beaufighters, and went to North Africa in December of that year. It was disbanded at Reghaia, Algeria, on 5 September 1944.
On 14 October 1941 a flight of 256 Squadron arrived at Ballyhalbert to form 153 Squadron and began flying the next day. On the official formation of 153 Squadron on 24 October 1941, the Squadron was operational with Defiants on night patrols. The arrival of a training Blenheim on 10 December 1941, heralded re-equipment and the first Beaufighter arrived on 29 January 1942. 'A' Flight retained its Defiants until the Beaufighters became operational in May 1942. The squadron flew out to Algeria via Gibraltar in December for night patrols and convoy protection. In July 1944, a detachment was sent to Sardinia for intruder missions over southern France. In August 1944 a a flight of Spitfires and Hurricanes was added for dawn patrols but the Squadron disbanded on 4 September 1944.
On 7 October 1944, the squadron re-formed at Kirmington, Lincolnshire, beginning operations that same night. For the remaining months of the war, it carried out raids on enemy targets as part of the main force of Bomber Command and was disbanded on 28 September 1945. As a Lancaster heavy-bomber squadron in No 1 Group it flew its first operational mission the same day when 11 aircraft, escorted by Spitfires, bombed Emmerich. It continued to operate against the enemy until 25 April 1945 - about two weeks before VE Day - and in all flew 1041 operational sorties. Following its final offensive mission it dropped food to the starving Dutch and - after VE Day - ferried British ex-POW's home from Belgium, and British troops home from Italy.
Bomber Command WWII Bases:
Re-formed on 7 October 1944 as No 153(B) Squadron from a nucleus of 27 crews from No 166(B) Squadron at:
Re-formed on 7 October 1944 as No 153(B) Squadron from a nucleus of 27 crews from No 166(B) Squadron at:
- Kirmington: Oct 1944
- Scampton: Oct 1944 onwards
- Avro Lancaster BI and BIII: Oct 1944 onwards
- "P4"
- 7 October 1944: 11 Lancasters bombed Emmerich.
- 25 April 1945: 12 Lancasters bombed Berchtesgaden & another Lancaster aborted.
- 7 May 1945: 17 Lancasters dropped supplies to Dutch at Rotterdam.
During the second World War, Royal Air Force Bomber Command eventually comprised of seven groups in the United Kingdom, strategically stationed near the east coast of England. On its creation as a bomber squadron, 153 Squadron became the 13th squadron in No 1 Group.
The Squadron's official code-letter appearing on all aircraft was P4. An individual aircraft letter - the entire alphabet being used except letter 'Z' (although following its early loss, the letter 'M' was never reactivated). 'A' flight operated letters A to L and 'B' flight letters N to Y.
The Squadron's official code-letter appearing on all aircraft was P4. An individual aircraft letter - the entire alphabet being used except letter 'Z' (although following its early loss, the letter 'M' was never reactivated). 'A' flight operated letters A to L and 'B' flight letters N to Y.
In the meantime, detailed plans had been published (Movement Order 1/44) to transfer to Scampton on 14 October 1944, but once more the war intervened. On 13 October 1944, when the movement order required aircrew to have their kitbags packed and put in the gymnasium, together with their private bicycles (all properly labelled and secured), the Squadron was required to prepare 13 aircraft for a raid on Duisburg which was then postponed following briefing. The postponement was only temporary and 13 aircraft took off at 0630hrs to rendezvous with fighter escort which protected them to and from the target area. Visibility was restricted, so area bombing was adopted. Some moderate flak was reported and it was rather upsetting when two aircraft of 'B' flight failed to return: the veteran JB297(P4-B) which had entered operational service in September 1943 with 405 Squadron, flown by P/O Draper and his all RAFVR crew, and NG190(P4-T) flown by F/O Brouilette and his four fellow Canadian and two RAFVR crew members. Post-war research showed that there were no survivors. The Squadron had only been in existence for eight days.
On 15 October 1944, 153 Squadron moved to Scampton.
Following its final offensive mission 153 Squadron dropped food to the starving Dutch (operation code name Manna) and after VE Day, 153 Squadron ferried British ex-POW's home from Belgium, and British troops home from Italy
On 28 Febuary 1955, 153 Squadron re-formed again at West Mailing as a night fighter Squadron and in September 1955. received Meteor night fighters. On 1 July 1958 the Squadron disbanded.history_153_sqn__oct_44-sept_45__1___2_.pdf
On 28 Febuary 1955, 153 Squadron re-formed again at West Mailing as a night fighter Squadron and in September 1955. received Meteor night fighters. On 1 July 1958 the Squadron disbanded.history_153_sqn__oct_44-sept_45__1___2_.pdf