No. 227 Squadron RAF

No. 227 Squadron RAF
Active	1 April 1918 – 9 December 1918 1 July 1942 – 7 September 1942 20 August 1942 – 5 September 1945
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Air Force
Motto(s)	None
Insignia
Squadron Badge	None
Squadron Codes	9J (Oct 1944 - Sep 1945)

No. 227 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron that formed as bomber unit in World War I and World War II.

History

Formation and World War I

No. 227 Squadron was formed on 1 April 1918 as a day bomber unit and operated former RNAS Capronis from Pizzone, Italy, but it did not become operational and it disbanded on 9 December 1918.

Reformation in World War II

On 1 July 1942 the squadron reformed, serviced and operated Handley Page Halifax Bombers of 10 Squadron pending the arrival of Bristol Beaufighters. The squadron merged with 76 Squadron and 462 Squadron. On 20 August 1942, Beaufighters at Luqa, Malta were named 227 Squadron and the unit then moved to Egypt, Libya and Italy. On 12 August 1944, it was renumbered 19 Squadron, South African Air Force. It reformed again at RAF Bardney on 7 October 1944 and flew Lancasters against Germany. At the end of September 1944 and the re-formed No. 227 Squadron RAF was based at RAF Balderton RAF Balderton with Avro Lancasters and flew its first mission from the airfield on 10/11 October 1944 - 3 Lancasters bombed gun positions at Flushing.

Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated by No. 227 Squadron RAF^[1]

From	To	Aircraft	Variant
Apr 1918	Apr 1918	Caproni Ca 42
Apr 1918	Dec 1918	Airco DH.4
Jun 1918	Dec 1918	Airco DH.9
Aug 1942	Feb 1943	Bristol Beaufighter	IC
Aug 1942	Aug 1944	Bristol Beaufighter	VIC
Sep 1943	Aug 1944	Bristol Beaufighter	XI
Oct 1943	Dec 1943	Bristol Beaufighter	X
Oct 1944	Sep 1945	Avro Lancaster	I & III

References

1. C.G.Jefford (1988). RAF Squadrons. UK Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.

External links

• History of No.'s 226–230 Squadrons at RAF Web
• 227 Squadron history on the official RAF website