Global InformationRAF Bomber Command aircrew of World War II information
| RAF Bomber Command Aircrew of World War II | |
|---|---|
 The crew of "G" for George, a celebrated Lancaster bomber operated by No. 460 Squadron RAAF. | |
| Active | 3 September 1939–8 May 1945 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Air Force |
| Role | Strategic bombing |
| Headquarters | 1936–1940: RAF Uxbridge 1940–1968: RAF High Wycombe |
| Motto(s) | Strike Hard Strike Sure |
| Engagements | Second World War |
| Battle honours | Berlin 1940–1945 Fortress Europe 1940–1944 |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Air Marshal Charles Portal Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Harris |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Bomber | 1939–1941: Battle, Blenheim, Hampden, Wellington, Whitley. 1941 onwards: Manchester, Ventura, Stirling, Halifax, Lancaster, Mosquito. |
The aircrews of RAF Bomber Command during World War II operated a fleet of bomber aircraft carried strategic bombing operations from September 1939 to May 1945, on behalf of the Allied powers. The crews were men from the United Kingdom, other Commonwealth countries, and occupied Europe, especially Poland, France, Czechoslovakia and Norway, as well as other foreign volunteers. While the majority of Bomber Command personnel were members of the RAF, many belonged to other air forces – especially the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF). Under Article XV of the 1939 Air Training Agreement, squadrons belonging officially to the RCAF, RAAF, and RNZAF were formed, equipped and financed by the RAF, for service in Europe. While it was intended that RCAF, RAAF, and RNZAF personnel would serve only with their respective "Article XV squadrons", in practice many were posted to units of the RAF or other air forces. Likewise many RAF personnel served in Article XV squadrons.
A total of 126 squadrons served with Bomber Command. Of these, 32 were officially non-British units: 15 RCAF squadrons, eight RAAF squadrons, four Polish squadrons, two French squadrons, two RNZAF/"New Zealand" squadrons,[1] and one Czechoslovakian squadron.
Most aircrew were aged between 19 and 25, although some were as young as 16, and at least one was in his sixties. (For more details, see "Aircrew Ages" section below.)
In total 364,514 operational sorties were flown and 8,325 aircraft lost in action. Bomber Command aircrews suffered a high casualty rate: of a total of 125,000 aircrew, 57,205 were killed (a 46 percent death rate), a further 8,403 were wounded in action and 9,838 became prisoners of war. Therefore, a total of 75,446 airmen (60 percent of operational airmen) were killed, wounded or taken prisoner.[2] A memorial in Green Park in London was unveiled by Queen Elizabeth II on 28 June 2012 to highlight the heavy casualties suffered by the aircrews during the war.[3]
- ^ While No. 75 Squadron was comprised predominantly of personnel from New Zealand, it was not an Article XV squadron and it was not officially transferred to the RNZAF after the war ended.
- ^ Chorley (2007), p.484
- ^ Rayner, Gordon (9 March 2012). "Lord Ashcroft donates final £1 million for Bomber Command Memorial". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 10 May 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2012.