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RAF 205 Group Mediterranean Theater Night Bombers 1944/45
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Geoffrey Sinclair
Nov 25, 2014, 11:47:55 AM11/25/14
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For comparison purposes a USAAF bomber group
normally controlled 4 squadrons but it looks like the RAF
bomber squadrons in 205 Group normally had a larger
number of aircraft assigned than a heavy bomber squadron
in the 15th Air Force. In early 1944 both Air Forces seem
to have had a similar ratio of aircraft to assigned crews
but late in 1944 and in 1945 with the decline in losses the
USAAF seems to have ended up with a higher number of
crews per aircraft.
Also the USAAF had squadrons formed into groups which
were formed into wings, the RAF had squadrons formed
into wings which were formed into groups.
Number 205 group was formed in Egypt, at Shallufa near
Suez in October 1941 by renaming number 257 wing, it
was meant as a heavy/strategic bomber unit. It seems
clear at least in early/mid 1944 the group controlled units
being trained in North Africa despite being based in Italy.
As of end October 1943 the group controlled 6 operational
Wellington squadrons, numbers 37, 40, 70, 104, 142 and
150. Mostly with mark X but some mark III and even a couple
of mark Ic, the latter presumably for training. All squadrons
were based in Tunisia. The 6 squadrons held 117 aircraft
versus 192 in the four B-17 groups (16 squadrons) of the
15th Air Force.
205 group began moving to Italy firstly by sending
detachments and it looks like the squadrons officially
moved in the late December 1943 to mid January 1944
period while by the end of the month it had almost all
Wellington mark X with a few mark III. It had 3 wings,
number 231 controlling 37 and 70 squadrons, 236 wing
controlling 40 and 104 squadrons and 330 wing
controlling 142 and 150 squadrons, but strength was
down to 73 aircraft as of 3 February, then 88 by the end
of the month, versus 181 aircraft in the four B-17 groups.
Number 178 squadron was one of the original RAF
Liberator squadrons, forming in Egypt in January 1943
from Middle East detachments and aircrews of 147, 159
and 160 squadrons, with Liberator II (B-24C), it gained
some Halifax II in May 1943, then received Liberator III
(B-24D) in September 1943 which replaced the Halifaxes.
It was still based in in North Africa, it then gained some mark
VI (B-24J) in January 1944 while giving up its remaining
mark III and then moved to Italy on 1 March 1944.
Number 614 squadron was created by renumbering number
462 squadron, again based in North Africa, on 15 February,
it arrived in Italy on 28 February with Halifax II.
462 squadron had been formed in September 1942 by
merging elements of 10, 76, 227 squadrons and a
detachment meant to become 462 squadron. It was one
of those nominally Australian squadrons in the RAF that
actually often had fewer Australians than the regular RAF
units around it. 462 squadron would be reformed in August
1944 in England as part of Bomber Command.
The complicated formation of 178 and 462 squadrons
were the result of the major problems the allies had in
the first half of 1942, with the RAF ending up having
several squadrons with air elements in one or more
locations and similar for their ground elements.
The two new squadrons formed number 240 wing, and so
205 group had 6 Wellington, 1 Liberator and 1 Halifax
squadrons, with 156 aircraft, the now 6 B-17 groups in
the 15th Air Force (all under 5th Wing) had 313 aircraft.
By the end of May all the Wellington in the squadrons were
mark X, while 178 squadron had 2 Liberator III and the rest
were mark VI.
Number 31 squadron South African Air Force was formed
in South Africa in January 1944, moved to North Africa
in March where it received Liberator VI and came under
command of number 2 South Africa wing and 205 group.
It moved to Italy on 16 June.
Number 34 squadron South African Air Force was formed
in the Middle East in April 1944, received Liberator VI in
May and moved to Italy in July, along with number 2 South
Africa wing to control the two South African Squadrons. Also
in July number 178 squadron became an all Liberator VI unit.
So now 205 group had 6 Wellington X, 3 Liberator VI and 1
Halifax II squadrons with 185 aircraft, the USAAF 5th Wing
had 277 B-17s.
Number 614 squadron received its first Liberators in
August, having 1 VI and 3 VIII (B-24J) at the end of the
month, then 2 VI and 3 VIII by the end of September.
On 5 October numbers 142 and 150 squadrons were
disbanded, followed by 330 wing on the 26th. So on 19
October 205 group had 8 squadrons, 3 with Liberator
VI, 4 with Wellington X (but 37 squadron had 2 Liberator
VI on strength) and 614 squadron with 15 Halifaxes and
6 Liberators, all up 167 aircraft versus 375 B-17s in the
USAAF 5th Wing.
Within about 3 weeks both 142 and 150 squadrons would
be reformed in England as part of Bomber Command.
By mid November 614 squadron was up to 8 Liberators
versus 15 Halifaxes.
Number 37 squadron converted to Liberator VI in the
second half of December 1944 while by 11 January 1945
number 614 squadron had 12 Liberators to 10 Halifaxes.
Number 70 squadron converted to Liberator VI in the
second half of January 1945 and by 8 February both 40
and 104 squadrons had their first Liberators, while 614
squadron had 7 Halifax II, 2 Liberator VI and 14 VIII.
As of 8 March number 104 squadron was all Liberator VI,
and 614 squadron was 1 Liberator VI and 13 VIII, so 205
group had 7 Liberator and 1 Wellington squadrons
with 133 aircraft versus 375 B-17s in the 6 groups/24
squadrons in the USAAF 5th Wing. So squadron sizes
had become more equal.
As of 29 March number 205 group was all Liberator,
7 squadrons with mark VI and 1 with mark VIII (plus 1
remnant mark VI) with 140 aircraft, the USAAF 5th wing
had 384 B-17s.
A more complicated Order of Battle than the 15th Air
Force.
The 15th Air Force reports give monthly totals
for the RAF effort for a time in 1944, the table is month,
RAF sorties as a percentage of 15th Air Force heavy
bomber sorties, RAF bomb tonnage as a percentage
of 15th Air Force heavy bomber bomb tonnage.
Feb \\ 14.69 \\ 17.91
Mar \\ 13.88 \\ 15.03
Apr \\ 11.22 \\ 9.24
May \\ 9.88 \\ 13.51
Jun \\ 12.30 \\ 11.33
Jul \\ 10.55 \\ 7.77
Aug \\ 10.85 \\ 9.28
Sep \\ 15.13 \\ 19.18
Total \\ 11.84 \\ 11.77
Total is for the 8 months.
A note on squadrons reforming in England, the new
142 squadron flew Mosquitoes, the new 150 squadron
was formed from C flight of 550 squadron flying
Lancasters and the new 462 squadron flew Halifax III.
It does not look like many, or in fact any, of the personnel
in the Mediterranean squadrons went to England to be
founding personnel of the Bomber Command units.
Though that needs to be checked via any squadron
histories.
Geoffrey Sinclair
Remove the nb for email.
normally controlled 4 squadrons but it looks like the RAF
bomber squadrons in 205 Group normally had a larger
number of aircraft assigned than a heavy bomber squadron
in the 15th Air Force. In early 1944 both Air Forces seem
to have had a similar ratio of aircraft to assigned crews
but late in 1944 and in 1945 with the decline in losses the
USAAF seems to have ended up with a higher number of
crews per aircraft.
Also the USAAF had squadrons formed into groups which
were formed into wings, the RAF had squadrons formed
into wings which were formed into groups.
Number 205 group was formed in Egypt, at Shallufa near
Suez in October 1941 by renaming number 257 wing, it
was meant as a heavy/strategic bomber unit. It seems
clear at least in early/mid 1944 the group controlled units
being trained in North Africa despite being based in Italy.
As of end October 1943 the group controlled 6 operational
Wellington squadrons, numbers 37, 40, 70, 104, 142 and
150. Mostly with mark X but some mark III and even a couple
of mark Ic, the latter presumably for training. All squadrons
were based in Tunisia. The 6 squadrons held 117 aircraft
versus 192 in the four B-17 groups (16 squadrons) of the
15th Air Force.
205 group began moving to Italy firstly by sending
detachments and it looks like the squadrons officially
moved in the late December 1943 to mid January 1944
period while by the end of the month it had almost all
Wellington mark X with a few mark III. It had 3 wings,
number 231 controlling 37 and 70 squadrons, 236 wing
controlling 40 and 104 squadrons and 330 wing
controlling 142 and 150 squadrons, but strength was
down to 73 aircraft as of 3 February, then 88 by the end
of the month, versus 181 aircraft in the four B-17 groups.
Number 178 squadron was one of the original RAF
Liberator squadrons, forming in Egypt in January 1943
from Middle East detachments and aircrews of 147, 159
and 160 squadrons, with Liberator II (B-24C), it gained
some Halifax II in May 1943, then received Liberator III
(B-24D) in September 1943 which replaced the Halifaxes.
It was still based in in North Africa, it then gained some mark
VI (B-24J) in January 1944 while giving up its remaining
mark III and then moved to Italy on 1 March 1944.
Number 614 squadron was created by renumbering number
462 squadron, again based in North Africa, on 15 February,
it arrived in Italy on 28 February with Halifax II.
462 squadron had been formed in September 1942 by
merging elements of 10, 76, 227 squadrons and a
detachment meant to become 462 squadron. It was one
of those nominally Australian squadrons in the RAF that
actually often had fewer Australians than the regular RAF
units around it. 462 squadron would be reformed in August
1944 in England as part of Bomber Command.
The complicated formation of 178 and 462 squadrons
were the result of the major problems the allies had in
the first half of 1942, with the RAF ending up having
several squadrons with air elements in one or more
locations and similar for their ground elements.
The two new squadrons formed number 240 wing, and so
205 group had 6 Wellington, 1 Liberator and 1 Halifax
squadrons, with 156 aircraft, the now 6 B-17 groups in
the 15th Air Force (all under 5th Wing) had 313 aircraft.
By the end of May all the Wellington in the squadrons were
mark X, while 178 squadron had 2 Liberator III and the rest
were mark VI.
Number 31 squadron South African Air Force was formed
in South Africa in January 1944, moved to North Africa
in March where it received Liberator VI and came under
command of number 2 South Africa wing and 205 group.
It moved to Italy on 16 June.
Number 34 squadron South African Air Force was formed
in the Middle East in April 1944, received Liberator VI in
May and moved to Italy in July, along with number 2 South
Africa wing to control the two South African Squadrons. Also
in July number 178 squadron became an all Liberator VI unit.
So now 205 group had 6 Wellington X, 3 Liberator VI and 1
Halifax II squadrons with 185 aircraft, the USAAF 5th Wing
had 277 B-17s.
Number 614 squadron received its first Liberators in
August, having 1 VI and 3 VIII (B-24J) at the end of the
month, then 2 VI and 3 VIII by the end of September.
On 5 October numbers 142 and 150 squadrons were
disbanded, followed by 330 wing on the 26th. So on 19
October 205 group had 8 squadrons, 3 with Liberator
VI, 4 with Wellington X (but 37 squadron had 2 Liberator
VI on strength) and 614 squadron with 15 Halifaxes and
6 Liberators, all up 167 aircraft versus 375 B-17s in the
USAAF 5th Wing.
Within about 3 weeks both 142 and 150 squadrons would
be reformed in England as part of Bomber Command.
By mid November 614 squadron was up to 8 Liberators
versus 15 Halifaxes.
Number 37 squadron converted to Liberator VI in the
second half of December 1944 while by 11 January 1945
number 614 squadron had 12 Liberators to 10 Halifaxes.
Number 70 squadron converted to Liberator VI in the
second half of January 1945 and by 8 February both 40
and 104 squadrons had their first Liberators, while 614
squadron had 7 Halifax II, 2 Liberator VI and 14 VIII.
As of 8 March number 104 squadron was all Liberator VI,
and 614 squadron was 1 Liberator VI and 13 VIII, so 205
group had 7 Liberator and 1 Wellington squadrons
with 133 aircraft versus 375 B-17s in the 6 groups/24
squadrons in the USAAF 5th Wing. So squadron sizes
had become more equal.
As of 29 March number 205 group was all Liberator,
7 squadrons with mark VI and 1 with mark VIII (plus 1
remnant mark VI) with 140 aircraft, the USAAF 5th wing
had 384 B-17s.
A more complicated Order of Battle than the 15th Air
Force.
The 15th Air Force reports give monthly totals
for the RAF effort for a time in 1944, the table is month,
RAF sorties as a percentage of 15th Air Force heavy
bomber sorties, RAF bomb tonnage as a percentage
of 15th Air Force heavy bomber bomb tonnage.
Feb \\ 14.69 \\ 17.91
Mar \\ 13.88 \\ 15.03
Apr \\ 11.22 \\ 9.24
May \\ 9.88 \\ 13.51
Jun \\ 12.30 \\ 11.33
Jul \\ 10.55 \\ 7.77
Aug \\ 10.85 \\ 9.28
Sep \\ 15.13 \\ 19.18
Total \\ 11.84 \\ 11.77
Total is for the 8 months.
A note on squadrons reforming in England, the new
142 squadron flew Mosquitoes, the new 150 squadron
was formed from C flight of 550 squadron flying
Lancasters and the new 462 squadron flew Halifax III.
It does not look like many, or in fact any, of the personnel
in the Mediterranean squadrons went to England to be
founding personnel of the Bomber Command units.
Though that needs to be checked via any squadron
histories.
Geoffrey Sinclair
Remove the nb for email.
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