Sharoe, Peter Death by Night

No 630 Squadron. An Operational History

RAF Squadron 630 was a Lancaster night bomber squadron that served within the 5th Group of RAF Bomber Command. It was formed during a crucial phase of Bomber Command's operations, when the offensive against Berlin was about to begin and preparations for the liberation of Europe were gathering momentum. The 630 was based at RAF East Kirkby in Lincolnshire, where the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre is located today. Its Lancasters flew 2,515 missions to attack enemy targets. The stark figures show that of the 162 crew members who flew in action, 64 were killed in service with the squadron and 10 were later lost on flights with other squadrons. The loss of 40% of the squadron's 162 crew members was the reason why the veterans of the 630 Squadron spoke of a high casualty rate. A total of 1,199 pilots, mostly aged between 18 and 24, flew in action for the 630th Squadron. Ninety-nine of them were decorated for their bravery and service during their time with the squadron. Of these operational aircraft crews, 436 were killed or are missing in action, 69 were taken prisoner of war, and 29 escaped capture in occupied Europe. Two of the pilots who escaped capture later returned to action to complete their service, while six aircraft crew members were interned in neutral Sweden. Another 15 airmen were killed in flying accidents before their missions began. These young men came from Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, Zimbabwe, the United States, and one man was of Basque origin. Due to the losses suffered by 630 Squadron, none of the Lancasters assigned to it flew 100 missions; the ME739 came closest, completing 90 missions before it was lost. This book is a tribute to the brave crew members of the 630th who flew the Lancasters, to the hard-working ground crews who kept their bombers operational, and to the staff of RAF East Kirkby who ran the bases of Nos. 57 and 630 Squadrons. Peter Sharpe's narrative history of 630 Squadron is the most comprehensive account of the unit and the men who served in it.