No. 6 Group RCAF

No. 6 Group RCAF was an organization of Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) bomber squadrons which operated from 11 airfields in Yorkshire, England during World War II. Although 6 Group was RCAF, it was controlled by (RAF) Bomber Command.

Canadian bomber squadrons began participating in the war effort in 1941 and were initially part of No. 4 Group RAF. Canada, however, wanted its own identifiable presence in Allied air operations overseas. It did not want its air force to be merely a source of manpower for the Royal Air Force. To this end, 6 Group was formed January 1, 1943 with eight squadrons. Eventually 6 Group would consist of fourteen squadrons. The Canadian squadrons reported directly to Bomber Command headquarters in High Wycombe rather than to an RAF group. Headquarters for 6 Group was at Allerton Park near Knaresborough. The Canadian government took over the financing of aircraft maintenance, the payment of salaries and benefits and other administrative matters.

Significant operations involving 6 Group include raids on U-boat bases in Lorient and Saint-Nazaire, France and night bombing raids on industrial complexes and urban centres in Germany.

No. 6 Group flew 40,822 operational sorties. 814 aircrews (approximately 5700 airmen) did not return from operations, and of those, 4,272 airmen lost their lives.

References

Dunmore, Spencer (1991). Reap the Whirlwind - The Untold Story of 6 Group, Canada's Bomber Force of World War II. Toronto: McLelland and Stewart Inc. ISBN 0-7710-2924-1 (bd.) ISBN 0-7710-2926-8 (pa.). {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)