No. 44 Squadron RAF

No. 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron RAF
File:44 Squadron RAF.jpg
Active	24 July 1917 to 21 December 1982
Role	Bomber
Garrison/HQ	RAF Waddington
Motto(s)	Motto: "Fulmina regis iusta" ("The King's thunderbolts are righteous")
Battle honours	.
Insignia
Identification symbol	An African Elephant

No. 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron of the Royal Air Force is no longer operational. For most of its history it served as a heavy bomber squadron.

History

44 Squadron was formed on 24 July 1917 as a Home Defence Corps. The squadron pioneered the use of the Sopwith Camel in night fighter operations. By the end of the the First World War it was commanded by Arthur Harris, later known as Bomber Harris.

Disbanded in 1919, the squadron was reformed as a bomber squadron in March 1937 and equipped with Hawker Hinds Moving to RAF Waddington. Later that year it was equipped with Bristol Blenheims then Handley Page Hampdens. During the war the squadron was subsequently based at RAF Dunholme Lodge[1] then RAF Spilsby [2].

At the outbreak of the Second World War the squadron was commanded by John Nelson Boothman, winner of the Schneider Trophy in September 1931. It was one of only two squadrons to operate continuously throughout the war. There were two squadron commanders who held the Victoria Cross - Wing Commanders Learoyd and J.D. Nettleton.

In 1941 the squadron was renamed No. 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron in honour of the Rhodesian contribution to Britain's war effort, and also to recognise that up to 25% of the ground and air crew were Rhodesian. The badge is based upon the seal of Lo Bengula (Lobengula), the chief of the Matabele on conquest. The seal shows an elephant which, in the case of this unit, is intended to indicate heavy attacks.

In early in 1942 No. 44 became the first squadron to convert completely to Lancasters. Total sorties and losses for the war were:

• Hampdens - 2043 sorties (43 lost)
• Lancasters - 4362 sorties (149 lost, plus 22 destroyed in crashes)

The squadron suffered the third highest overall casualties of RAF Bomber Command.

After the war (from 1946-7) the squadron was requipped with Lincolns, converting to Boeing Washingtons (the RAF name for the B-29 Superfortress in British service, 1951) then Canberras during the Suez Crisis disbanding on 16 July 1957.

Reformed yet again during 1960, the squadron was equipped with Vulcans and saw action during the Falklands War. It was then disbanded on 21 December 1982.

See also

• List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons
• Royal Rhodesian Air Force
• 44 Squadron SAAF 44 Squadron South African Air Force

External Links

• Sopwith Camel pilot of No. 44 Squadron, Lieutenant George Robert Craig M.C. Family website.
• RAF Spilsby and its Squadrons Includes brief history, and comprehensive list of No. 44 Squadron casualties.
• Air of Authority No. 44 Squadron history, and No. 44 Squadron Aircraft & Markings

References

• Royal Air Force History No. 44 (Rhoedesia) Squadron
• A Bundu Boy In Bomber Command by William Dives DFC. Trafford. ISBN 155395879-9. These are the memoirs of a Rhodesian pilot from No. 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron.