550 Squadron RAF
Per ignem vincimus - Through fire we conquer
"The fighters are our salvation but the bombers alone provide the means of victory"
Winston Churchill
September 1940
No. 550 Squadron RAF was formed at Waltham, near Grimsby, in November 1943, as a Lancaster heavy-bomber squadron in No. 1 Group and began operations that same month. Early in the New Year it moved to North Killingholme - also near Grimsby - and from there continued to play its part in the bomber offensive until late April 1945, when it switched to dropping food to the starving Dutch people.
Squadron History
550 Squadron Crest
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Brief history of 550 Squadron
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Squadron Memorials
550 Squadron Memorial Window
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The stained glass window dedicated to 550 Squadron in
St Denys' Church, North Killingholme.
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Squadron Association
550 Squadron Crest
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550 Squadron and North Killingholme Association
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Reunions
550 Squadron Reunions over the years
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Remembrance
Remembrance Sunday 2018
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North Killingholme
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St Denys' Church, North Killingholme
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Association Museum
550 Squadron Association Museum
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Association Newsletter
550 Squadron Association Newsletter
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St Denys' Church
St Denys' Church, North Killingholme
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Service Men and Operations
550 Squadron Information
List of detailed reports on 550 Squadron Service Personnel, operations, etc
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Lists of: Service Personnel
Operations
Roll of Honour: Simple
Detailed/extended
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Log Books
Lancaster air-crew log books and service histories
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Photos
Photos of RAF 550 Squadron 1944-1945
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Photos continue to arrive and appear online here
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Politz Raid 08/02/45
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Aschaffenburg Raid 21/11/1944
Last operation of The Phantom of the Ruhr
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Pforzheim Raid 23/02/45
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Special Order Of The Day, V E Day
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All His fault ... a log book says it all
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PoW Responsibilities
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The Phantom of the Ruhr - 2007 Unveiling
Unveiling of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Lancaster in April 2007
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The Phantom of the Ruhr - Photos
BBMF Lancaster BQ-B
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BBMF Lancaster - Photos
Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Lancaster
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550 Squadron: FTR
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550 Squadron Lancasters (that failed to return)
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request for information
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Thirty Missions by Roger Kirby
Thirty Missions by Roger Kirby
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Roger Kirby's tribute, to his father (a nav with 550) and to RAF Bomber Command
More information can be found at http://www.30missions.com/.
This Daily Telegraph review from 2008 describes some of the background to the paintings.
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Bomber Command Memorial
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Arrived Green Park: May 2012 Unveiled: June 2012
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Unveiling of Bomber Command Memorial
Poppy Salute
28th June 2012
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Bomber Command Clasp
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Recently announced by the UK Government for those who flew at least one operational mission over Germany and France
PLUS: Bomber Command Clasp Presentations by Prime Minister Cameron: 550 Squadron represented
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Books and Magazines
Books
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Searching for Information?
RAF Squadrons and Bomber Command information
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There is a large amount of information about RAF Bomber Command
available on the Web
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| Requests For Information
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Request for information on Sgts Sheridan and McVey killed 4th October 1944 in NF963 on a training flight with the F/O S H Hayter crew. Both men were from Scotland and are buried in Glasgow and Lanarkshire repectively.
For more details click here.
If you can help with information on any of the requests then do please contact the web-site.
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A mounted copy of an original Phantom of The Ruhr print has been given to the 550 Museum.
Over the years the Association has received many requests for information such as concerning the above print or about individual air-crew, aircraft, operations, etc. You can find many of these queries on the requests for information page.
If you can help with information on any of the requests then do please contact the web-site.
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| In The Media
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TV and Newspaper Items
A collection of items that have appeared on TV, on the radio or in newspapers, some specifically about 550 Squadron or North Killingholme, and others more generally about Bomber Command. Follow this link.
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Royal British Legion
Royal British Legion
Shoulder to shoulder with all who serve
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Armed Forces Day
Armed Forces Day 2020 Saturday 27th June
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The men and women of our Armed Forces, past and present, deserve our remembrance and appreciation.
The 2020 National Event to be held in Scarborough on Saturday 27th June 2020.
Local events will be taking place across the country.
Unfortunately due to the Coronavirus outbreak, this years Armed Forces Day National Event hosted by Scarborough Borough Council has been cancelled.
Other Armed Forces Day events may also be affected by COVID-19.
Please contact the individual event organisers for further information on specific events.
To get involved, visit the Armed Forces Day National Event web-page.
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Help for Heroes
A charity for the wounded in Britain's current conflicts.
It is all about the men and women of the Armed Forces.
Practical, direct support for our wounded.
See how you can help.
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| Miscellaneous
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Association Contacts
550 Squadron Association contact names/details are available here
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Web-site information
Web-site information, including the details associated with setting up the web-site, contact information and reference sites hosted on the same server(s) is available from the here.
The (technical) server details are outlined here.
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18/06/2021