207 SQUADRON ROYAL AIR FORCE HISTORY

ALWAYS PREPARED

The History of No.207 Squadron Royal Air Force
by John Hamlin, published by Air Britain (ISBN 0 85130 285 8)

John Hamlin, who among his many other books had written several squadron histories, was commissioned by the Squadron Association to write the history of No.207 Squadron RAF and its fore-runner, No.7 Squadron RNAS. It was published in 1999. The publisher's description is: "No.207 Squadron owed its origins to No.7 Squadron Royal Naval Air Service, which operated from German East Africa during 1916 with an assortment of aircraft. The number was reallocated early in 1917 to a new No.7 Sqdn RNAS operating day bombers in Flanders. These gave way to Handley Page O/100 then O/400 heavy bombers, and in April 1918 it became No.207 Squadron RAF, disbanding in January 1920. The following month it was resurrected at Bircham Newton with DH9As day bombers, and in September 1922 went to Turkey during the Chanak crisis, returning a year later. Fairey IIIFs were received in 1927, replaced in turn by Gordons in 1932, these being based in the Sudan in 1935/6 during the Abyssinian crisis.

Wellesley monoplanes arrived in 1937, to be superseded by Battles in April 1938. These were supplemented by Ansons on becoming a Group training squadron in July 1939, but in April 1940 No.207 became part of No. 12 OTU.

Reformed on 1 November 1940 at Waddington as a night bomber squadron with twin-Vulture powered Manchesters, these suffered from engine problems, being replaced in March 1942 by their four-Merlin engined development, the reliable Lancaster, to engage in bombing raids over Germany for the remainder of the war.

Converted to Lincolns in July 1949, the squadron disbanded in March 1950. Again reformed at Marham with Washingtons in May 1951, these gave way to Canberras in 1954, until disbandment in March 1956.

Reformed a few days later at Marham with Valiants, these went to Malta in October 1956 during the Suez Crisis. Disbanded again in May 1965, it reformed for the last time in February 1969 at Northolt as a communications unit, finally disbanding in June 1984."

Comprehensive indexes of names and places. 240 pages (8 colour). 300 photographs.

Originally published at £27.50 this book is now out of print.

It was written before the creation and later disbandment of No.207 (Reserve) Squadron.

It may be found on various second-hand book websites, for example www.abebooks.com

Air Britain website www.air-britain.com/

page last updated 22 Dec 13