No. 3 Group & No.8 Group P.F.F. Squadrons at RAF D/MKT.

No.3 Group Stirlings at RAF Downham Market, July 1942 - February 1944

The 3 Group Squadrons stationed at RAF Downham Market involved No. 218 Gold Coast Squadron from July 1942 to March 1944. During that period, in August 1943, one flight of the 218 Gold Coast Squadron formed No. 623 Squadron with Mk. III Stirlings, which would be disbanded in December 1943. From Mid December 1943 to Mid January 1944, No 214 Federated State Squadron had a month's lodging at RAF Downham Market, before being transferred from No. 3 Group to 100 Group, setting up at RAF Sculthorpe and was subsequently re-equipped with American Flying Fortress aircraft until May 1945. 218 (Gold Coast ) Squadron would transfer to Woolfox Lodge, Rutlands.  20 March 1944,  8 Group Path Finder Force took over the administration duties of RAF Downham Market. 21 March 1944, No.635 Squadron Pathfinders with Avro Lancasters was formed at RAF Downham Market, transferring aircrews from Pathfinder No. 97 (Straits Settlements) Squadron and Pathfinders No. 35 (Madras Presidency) Squadron. 635 Squadron would remain there until September 1945. The squadron flew 2,225 Pathfinder sorties, with 34 lost aircraft in 189 raids. A further 7 aircraft were destroyed in crashes. On 7 April 1944, No 571 Squadron was formed with Mosquito Bombers at RAF Downham Market as part of the Light Night Striking Force. By mid-April, 571 Squadron was transferred to RAF Graveley and then to a permanent base at RAF Oakington, where it stayed until the end of the war. No.608 (North Riding) Squadron, originally a pre-war Auxiliary Air Force squadron, had flown maritime operations from England and in the Middle East from 1939 until disbanded in Italy on 31 July 1944. Re-formed the following day as a Mosquito Squadron No. 8 Group's Light Night Striking Force and flew from RAF Downham Market until August 1945. The squadron flew 1,726 sorties, losing 9 aircraft in 246 bombing raids.

A trio of Stirling's roar over RAF Downham Market at low level. The aircraft on the left is N3721 HA-P PETER, flown by Sergeant Ted Gough and crew.  This aircraft went on to complete 62 operations, all with 218 (Gold Coast) Squadron.  This aircraft went on to do 62 operations, all with 218 (Gold Coast) Squadron—photo taken by Photographic Section Sergeant Jack Walmsley, RAF Downham Market. 

Five Stirling Bombers of No. 218 (Gold Coast) Squadron lined up along the Oakwood/Lough Cover sector perimeter track at RAF Downham Market, 1943. The track is now part of the New Road, which cuts through the airfield site very close to the Downham Market Airfield memorial. Photo taken by Photographic Section Sergeant Jack Walmsley, RAF Downham Market. Short Stirling BF450 HA X sits first in line, with five other Stirlings from the squadron behind it; these are the Stirlings before take-off. BF450 failed to return from the attack on Nuremberg, 24 February 1943, piloted by Sergeant Raymond William White, RAFVR Service No.1331366. Their service reminds us of the courage and sacrifice of those who served. (See the Remember Them Timeline sector for more details)

 RAF Downham Market 1943, No.218 (Gold Coast) Squadron Ground Crew/ Armourers  Loading Parachute Mines into the Stirling Bomb bay. The tall man in short sleeves is Leading Aircraftman Cartwright. Photo taken by Photographic Section Sergeant Jack Walmsley, RAF Downham Market. 

218 (Gold Coast) Squadron, close-up of Ground Crew/ Armourers loading  Parachute Mines (Leading Aircraftman Charles  Henry Cartwright RAFVR seen here steadying a parachute mine as it is winched up into the Stirling bomb bay. 

Stirling EF353. HA -C Charlie of 2118 (Gold Coast ) Squadron is being loaded with Parachute sea mines, highlighting the crucial role of these missions. Both 218 & 623 Stirling squadrons at Downham Market carried out vital mining operations during late 1943 and early 1944 for Bomber Command, underscoring their importance in the war effort, even as the  Battle of Berlin was fought by Lancaster and Halifax squadrons. Mining operations were essential to the war effort and have historically been underrecognized, underscoring their contribution.

The photo above, taken at Oakwoods Dispersals in October 1943, shows 8 parachute sea mines being towed, each weighing 1,500lb and measuring 9 ft long; a Stirling could carry 6 Parachute sea mines. The Stirling, a large four-engine bomber, was capable of carrying a maximum bomb load of 14,000 lbs, making it suitable for heavy minelaying missions. The Stirling was frequently used for "Gardening" (Minelaying) Operations after being removed from front-line bombing duties over Germany in late 1943.

The aerial photo above was taken in early August 1942. It shows the dispersal area known as Oak Woods Dispersal. Throughout 1943, construction at the site included the installation of two T2 aircraft maintenance hangars. The concrete floors for both hangars were being installed and can be seen to the left or behind the wooded dispersal area.

Above,  218 Squadron Australian Pilot Flying Officer John Frankcomb & crew in flying gear sitting on the bomb trolley in front of their Stirling bomber N3725 - HA 'D' Dog giving the V salute, they all seem in a good upbeat mood for the next operation, which will be to Wilhelmshaven, Germany, 14 /15 September 1942. Air Gunner New Zealander Sidney Ives, second from left, just 22 years old, who would not return from the operation, was killed in action along with   5 other airmen from the crew. Second pilot,  Flight Sergeant Don Pearce, RAFVR, a Conversion Flight Pilot,  took the photo and was also killed in action.  Two of the eight-man crew survived Air Gunner Sgt. Nathan Pell, RAF, age 20, and Wireless Operator Johnny Marshall, RNZAF. The Flight Engineer, Sgt. Valentine Picken, RAF, also from the Conversion Flight, was just 19 years old and was killed in action.     

A well-known photo of  218 (Gold Coast) Squadron Stirling Bomber DJ976 HA-'A. Apple, which has been skillfully colourised. 

Photo of 218 (Gold Coast) Squadron Stirling BK688 HA 'A' Apple May 1943 at RAF Downham Market. To the right of the aircraft is the framework of one of two T2 hangars being constructed at the Oakwood dispersals. Photo  Steve Smith  

Above photo:  A nice close-up of a Stirling Mk. I Bomber flying low over the Norfolk Fens in 1943.

Austin Motors Built Short Stirling Mk. III BK727 IC-S. This aircraft, allocated to 623 Squadron, arrived at the squadron on 13 August 1943, and completed six operations with the squadron before ending her days at No.6 Maintenance Unit in November 1944. In the photo, the proud ground crews are in a rare photo.