Twenty three squadrons operated the Lancaster only once the conflict in Europe had stopped, although a good number of those that had operated the type during the war continued to do so in the years immediately afterwards. Below is a list of those squadrons which only operated the Lancaster once the war was over, generally in the Photo Reconnaissance or Air Sea Rescue role. For details of those squadrons which operated the type during the war years, please click here.
|
SQN NO. |
SQN CODES |
OPERATIONAL DATES |
BASES |
NOTES |
MARKS OPERATED |
|
18 |
No Code |
9.46 only |
Ein Shemer, Palestine |
Renumbered from 621 Sqn in September 1946, and disbanded two weeks later. |
GR III |
|
37 |
No Code |
4.46 to 4.47 9.47 to 8.53 |
Fayid; Kabrit 8.46; Shallufa (Egypt) 9.46 to 4.47; Ein Shemer 9.47; Luqa (Malta) 4.48 |
Part of 205 Group. Replaced by Shackleton MR I's in August 1953. |
ASR III, VII, GR III |
|
38 |
RL |
7.46 to 12.53 |
Luqa (Malta); Ein Shamer (Palestine) 12.46; Luqa 4.48 |
Part of 205 Group. Replaced by Shackleton MR I's in late 1953. |
GR III, ASR III |
|
40 |
BL |
1.46 to 4.47 |
Abu Sueir (Egypt); Shallufa (Egypt) 9.46 |
Part of 205 Group. Lancasters replaced Liberators. |
VII |
|
70 |
No Code |
4.46 to 4.47 |
Fayid (Egypt); Kabrit (Egypt) 8.46; Shallufa (Egypt) 9.46 |
70 Sqn reformed at Fayid April 1946 with Lancasters from 40 and 104 Sqns. |
I |
|
82 |
No Code |
10.46 to 12.53 |
Benson; Leuchars 6.47; Benson 10.47; thence various detachments in the Middle East twixt 11.47 and 10.52; Benson 10.52; Wyton 12.53 |
Squadron reformed October 1946 from disbanded 541 Squadron. Lancasters replaced with Canberra PR3's late 1953. |
PR I |
|
104 |
EP |
11.45 to 4.47 |
Abu Sueir (Egypt); Shallufa (Egypt) 7.46 |
Sqn converted to Lancasters from Liberators late 1945. |
VII |
|
120 |
BS |
11.46 to 4.52 |
Leuchars; Kinloss 12.50 |
Sqn converted to Lancasters from Liberators in November 1946. Lancasters themselves replaced by Shackletons April/May 1951. |
GR III, ASR III |
|
148 |
AU |
11.46 to 1.50 |
Upwood |
Lincolns started to replace Lancasters when the first one arrived on the squadron on June 19th 1950. |
I |
|
160 |
BS |
8.46 to 10.46 |
Leuchars |
GR III |
|
|
178 |
No Code |
11.45 to 4.46 |
Fayid (Egypt) |
Part of 205 Group. Lancasters operated for the short period between ousting Liberators in late 1945 and the squadrons disbandment in April 1946. |
III |
|
179 |
OZ |
2.46 to 9.46 |
St. Eval |
Conveted from Warwicks in February 1946. |
ASR III |
|
203 |
CJ |
8.46 to 6.53 |
Leuchars; St. Eval 1.47; St. Mawgan 4.52; St. Eval 5.52; Topcliffe 8.52 |
Lancasters replaced Liberators August 1946. lancasters replaced by Neptunes mid 1953. |
ASR III, GR III |
|
210 |
OZ |
6.46 to 1.53 |
St. Eval; St. Mawgan 4.52; St. Eval 5.52; Topcliffe 9.52 |
Neptunes replaced Lancasters late in 1952. |
ASR III, GR III |
|
214 |
QN |
11.45 to 4.46 11.46 to 2.50 |
Fayid (Egypt) (11.45 to 4.46) Upwood (11.46 to 2.50) |
Lancasters replaced the squadrons Liberators in March 1946, until themselves were replaced by Lincolns in March 1950. |
I |
|
224 |
XB |
10.46 to 11.47 |
St. Eval |
Lancasters replaced Liberators in October 1946. The squadron was disbanded in November 1947, but was later reformed with Halifaxes at Gibraltor. |
GR III |
|
231 |
Not Known |
12.45 to 1.46 |
Full Sutton |
III |
|
|
279 |
RL |
9.45 to 3.46 |
Beccles; Burma 12.45 |
ASR III |
|
|
404 |
AF |
4.51 to 9.55 |
Greenwood (Novia Scotia) |
MR X |
|
|
407 |
RX |
7.52 to 5.59 |
Comox (British Columbia) |
MR X, MP X |
|
|
541 |
No Code |
6.46 to 9.46 |
Benson |
PR I |
|
|
621 |
No Code |
4.46 to 9.46 |
Aqir (Egypt); Ein Shemer (Palestine) 6.46 |
ASR III |
|
|
683 |
No Code |
11.50 to 11.53 |
Fayid (Egypt); Kabrit (Egypt) 2.51; Eastleigh (Kenya) 4.51; Kabrit 9.51; Khormaksar (Aden) 12.51; Habbaniya (Iraq) 5.52 |
PR I |