Bomber Command strength [Archive]

Geoffrey Sinclair

July 22nd 04, 05:42 AM

Drazen Kramaric wrote in message ...
>How many bombers (Lancasters, Halifaxes, Stirlings, Mosquitoes) Bomber
>Command had in say, January 1945?

That would require the more detailed Orders of Battle.

Harris' despatch on war operations gives a table of the average
for the month from February 1942 to April 1945 of aircraft in
squadrons available with crews, by the categories of light,
medium and heavy bombers.

In January 1945 the numbers were 147 light, probably all
Mosquitoes, and 1,287 heavy bombers, mostly Lancasters.

In March 1945 the numbers were 192 light and 1,262 heavies.

The Bomber Command Order of Battle for 1800 hours 22 March
1945 has 291 Mosquito bombers, 1,696 heavy bombers made
up of 459 Halifaxes and 1,237 Lancasters. There was also a
further 267 aircraft in the Bomber Support squadrons, including
18 B-17, 14 B-24, 2 Stirling, 58 Halifaxes, 146 Mosquito night
fighters and fighter bombers, plus 1 squadron with 29 aircraft
being a mixture of Halifaxes and Mosquitoes. All up some 2,254
aircraft.

The above includes 3.5 non operational squadrons with 107
aircraft, and the 2 Stirlings were officially non operational as
well.

Simply to know the numbers by type you will need to look up
the relevant daily report for the given date. Most of these have
not been published.

Beware the special duties squadrons were officially part of Bomber
Command, with a sometimes eclectic mix of aircraft on strength.

Geoffrey Sinclair
Remove the nb for email.

Ed Majden

July 22nd 04, 07:09 AM

in article ,
Geoffrey Sinclair at wrote on 7/21/04 21:42:

> Drazen Kramaric wrote in message ...
>> How many bombers (Lancasters, Halifaxes, Stirlings, Mosquitoes) Bomber
>> Command had in say, January 1945?
>
> That would require the more detailed Orders of Battle.
>
What was the makeup of RCAF No.6 Group, aircraft type, squadrons, bases
etc? When did it start operations?