Wartime Squadrons Operating The Stirling

Below is a list of the wartime squadrons that operated the Stirling, the RAF's first four engined "heavy" bomber. Although removed from front line bombing operations before the war ended, it is a little known fact that they remained in service with the RAF until the Summer of 1947, when the last one was struck from the charge of the Signal Flying Unit. For squadrons and units that only operated the Stirling in post war years, please see the post war Stirlings page.

SQN NO.

SQN CODES

OPERATIONAL DATES

BASES

MARKS OPERATED & NOTES

7

MG

8.40 to 8.43

Leeming; Oakington 10.40;

I, III

Converted to Lancasters 5.43

15

LS, DJ

3.41 to 12.43

Wyton; Bourn 8.42; Mildenhall 4.43;

I, III

Converted to Lancasters 12.43

46

XK

1.45 to 4.46

Stoney Cross

IV,V

75

AA, JN

10.42 to 4.44

Mildenhall; Newmarket 11.42; Mepal 6.43

I, III

Converted to Lancasters 3.44

90

WP, XY

12.42 to 6.44

Bottesford; Ridgewell 12.42; Wratting Common 5.43; Tuddenham 10.43

I, III

Converted to Lancasters 5.44

138

NF

6.44 to 3.45

Tempsford

IV

Converted to Lancasters 3.45

148

FS

early 1944

Brindisi (Italy)

IV

149

OJ, TK

11.41 to 9.44

Mildenhall; Lakenheath 4.42; Methwold 5.44;

I, III

Converted to Lancasters 8.44

161

MA, JR

9.44 to 7.45

Tempsford

IV

171

6Y

9.44 to 3.45

North Creake

III

190

G5, L9

1.44 to 5.45

Leicester East; Fairford 3.44; Great Dunmow 10.44

IV

196

ZO, 7T

7.43 to 3.46

Witchford; Leicester East 11.43; Tarrant Rushton 1.44; Keevil 3.44; Wethersfield 10.44; Sheperds Grove 1.45

III, IV, V

199

EX

7.43 to 3.45

Lakenheath; North Creake 5.44

III

Converted to Halifaxes 2.45

214

BU

4.42 to 7.44

Stradishall; Chedburgh 10.42; Downham Market 12.43

I, III

218

HA

12.41 to 8.44

Marham; Downham Market 7.42; Methwold 8.44

I, III

Converted to Lancasters 8.44

242

KY

2.45 to 5.46

Stoney Cross; Merryfield 12.45

IV, V

295

8Z, 8E

6.44 to 1.46

Harwell; Rivenhall 10.44; Tarrant Rushton 12.45

IV

299

5G, X9

1.44 to 3.46

Stoney Cross; Keevil 2.44; Wethersfield 10.44; Sheperds Grove 1.45

IV, V

513

CS

10.43 to 12.43

Witchford

III

525

not known

5.44 to 7.44

Lynham

IV

570

V8, E7

6.44 to 1.46

Harwell; Rivenhall 10.44;

IV

620

QS, D4

6.43 to 6.45

Chedburgh; Leicster East 11.43; Fairford 3.44; Great Dunmow 10.44

I, III, IV

622

GI

8.43 to 1.44

Mildenhall

III

Converted to Lancasters 12.43

623

IC

8.43 to 2.44

Downham Market

III

624

not known

6.44 to 9.44

Blida (North Africa)

IV

Below is a list of all the non-operational Conversion Flights and various other units that operated the Stirling during the Second World War. It should be borne in mind that some of the units may well have only used a small number of Stirlings, sometimes just one. If anyone requires any further information or clarification on any of the Stirlings that served with any of the units below, please do not hesitate to email me (please replace the "AT" with an "@" before sending your email).  The column headed "Unit Details" uses the following abbreviations:-

SCF - Squadron Conversion Flight

HCU - Heavy Conversion Unit

HTCU - Heavy Transport Conversion Unit

ORTU - Operational and Refresher Training Unit

CNS - Central Navigation School

BDU - Bombing Development Unit

PFNTU - Pathfinder Force Navigation Training Unit

RAE - Royal Aircraft Establishment

SFU - Signal Flying Unit

AAEE - Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment

AFEE - Airborne Forces Experimental Establishment

UNIT DETAILS

UNIT CODES

OPERATIONAL DATES

BASES

MARKS OPERATED

7 SCF

MG

1.42 to 10.42

Absorbed into 1657 HCU 10.42

Oakington

I

15 SCF

LS

1.42 to 10.42

Alconbury

I

101 SCF

SR

4.42 to 10.42

Absorbed into 1657 HCU 10.42

Oakington

I

115 SCF

KO

12.42 only

Absorbed into 1657 HCU 23.42

Oakington

I

149 SCF

OJ

1.42 to 10.42

Lakenheath

I

214 SCF

BU

4.42 to 8.42

Absorbed into 1651 HCU 8.42

Waterbeach; Stradishall 5.42; Waterbeach 8.42

I

218 SCF

HA

2.42 to 10.42

Absorbed into 1657 HCU 10.42

Marham 2.42; Lakenheath 3.42; Marham 3.42; Stradishall 10.42

I

1651 HCU

BS, GG, QQ, YZ

1.42 to 1.45

Waterbeach; Wratting Common 11.43; Woolfox Lodge 11.44

I, III

1652 HCU

GV, JA

12.43 to 2.45

Marston Moor

III

1653 HCU

A3, H4

11.43 to 12.44

Chedburgh; North Luffenham 12.44

I, III

1654 HCU

JF, UG

11.43 to 3.45

Wigsley

I, III

1657 HCU

AK, XT

10.42 to 2.45

Oakington; Stradishall 10.42

I, III

1659 HCU

FD, RV

6.43 to 12.43

Topcliffe

I

1660 HCU

TV, YW

11.43 to 3.45

Swinderby

III

1661 HCU

GP, KB

11.43 to 2.45

Winthorpe

III

1662 HCU

KF, PE

8.43 only, then 2.45 to 3.45

Blyton

III

1663 HCU

OO, SV

6.43 to 11.43

Rufforth

I

1665 HCU

FO, OG, NY

5.43 to 3.46

Waterbeach; Woolfox Lodge 6.43; Tilstock (Glider tug training?) 1.44

I, III, IV

1332 HTCU

YY, OG

9.44 to ?

Longtown; Nutts Corner 10.44; Riccall 4.45

IV

ORTU

No unit codes used, only individual a/c letters.

3.45 to 4.46

Matching; Wethersfield 10.45;

IV

CNS

none used

5.44 to 5.45

Shawbury

IV

1427 Flight

none used?

12.41 to 10.43

Absorbed into 1657 HCU

Thruxton; Hullavington 5.42; Marham 8.42; Stradishall 10.43

I?

BDU

No unit codes used, only individual a/c letters.

10.42 to 2.44

Gransden Lodge; Feltwell 4.43; Newmarket 9.43

I, III

PFNTU

No unit codes used, only individual a/c letters.

4.43 to 12.43

Gransden Lodge; Upwwod/Warboys 6.43; Warboys 3.44

I, III

RAE

None used

10.41 to 4.44

Farnborough

L7605 (2nd Prototype), I, III

SFU

None used

11.44 to 1.45

Honiley

IV

AAEE

None Used

4.40 to 12.44

Boscombe Down

I, II (N3657), III

AFEE

None Used

3.42 to 2.44

Sherburn-in-Elmet and Beaulieu

I, III, IV

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