After consultation of historical resources, I have set out below a history of 466
Squadron RAAF. This is now in an easier format and tells the story of 466 Squadron. At the
end of this article, I have acknowledged the works which have helped in this history. If
you have any queries or suggestions about this article, please do not hesitate to contact
me.
A HISTORY OF 466 SQUADRON RAAF
Chronology
10 October 1942 - formed at Driffield
27 December 1942 - moved to Leconfield
3 June 1944 - returned to Driffield
26 October 1945 - Squadron disbanded
Narrative
466 Squadron RAAF was formed on October 10th, 1942 at Driffield, England. The
squadron was equipped with Vickers Wellington Mk III bombers and was under the command of
Wing Commander R.E. Bailey. The squadron had 'HD' as its code. In November 1942 the
squadron moved to Leconfield where they flew their first operation; a mine laying mission,
on January 13th, 1943. This operation was the first in a long series of minelaying ops
which paralleled an increasing night bombing commitment.
On the 14th January during another minelaing operation, 466 squadron sustained its first
combat loss when Sergeant R.V. Babbington and his crew failed to return. The following day
four crews joined a force which attacked the Lorrient docks in the squadron's first
bombing attack. On the 30th January 466 squadron made the first of many attack's against a
German target. This was made when 8 Wellington's attacked Emden. This attack was made
during daylight with the bombers being protected by thick cloud. The crews were not used
to this natural protection and two aircraft were lost.
466 squadron's first aerial victory won on the night of February 19/20th when Sergeant R.
Rosser's tail gunner, Sergeant H. Wilcock downed a Bf 110. Return fire from the German
aircraft wounded two crew members and set the bomber alight. Presuming the worst the bomb
aimer baled out, however the fire was bought under control and the aircraft safely
returned to England.
Unfortunately aerial victories were not a common site and with increasing night-fighter
attacks and an improving anti-aircraft defence system, more and more Wellington's were
failing to return. Other hazards included bad weather, the risk of mid-air collisions and
stray bombs from other aircraft caused many aircraft to go down. One such incident occured
on April 14th when a Wellington captained by Sergeant G.F. Hicks was attacked by a
night-fighter and severly damaged. During the battle the tail-gunner, R.F. Field, was
killed and three others wounded. Despite suffering serious wounds and having a seriously
damaged aircraft the crew elected to press on and bomb the target, Stuttgart. After the
drop they made the long return flight to England, making a safe landing at one of the
emergency fields.
The tenacity of this crew was rewarded with Sergeant Hicks was awarded the Conspicuous
Gallantry Medal for his determination and three of the four surviving crew being all
awarded the DSO, DFC and DFM. This event was unusual considering the numbers of one crew
being all decorated. Their rewards represented the first to members of 466 squadron.
The Wellington operations continued at a hectic pace until when in late August 1943 the
unit converted to the Handley Page Halifax Mk II. Once the squadron had
been re-equipped and retrained, it was fully operational by the November and flew its
first Halifax mission on December 1st when twelve aircraft laid mines off Terschelling
Island. The new Halifaxes were fitted with H2S which helped in location and the attack of
targets. 466 squadron was the first non-Pathfinder Force squadron to receive H2S.
The real test came on the night of December 20th/21st when the squadron's Halifaxes made
their first attack on a German target. Sixteen Halifaxes joined 634 other bombers in an
attack on Frankfurt. The attack was unsuccessful with two of 466 squadron's aircraft being
lost and another returning to England badly damaged.
From January to April 1944 bombing of German targets continued along with minelaying
operations. From May 1944 some of the squadron's bombing was directed against marshalling
yards, coastal batteries and military bases in France. These new targets were a welcome
relief to crews as the targets were not as heavily defended as Germany. The result was
fewer losses.
In June '44 the squadron moved to their original base of Driffield. The move sent
operations against German targets back to full swing. This supported the allied landings
in France. After an attack on coastal batteries in France crews witnessed the invasion
armada as it approached the French coast, on the night of June 5/6th. During a daylight
attack on June 22nd, 466 squadron struck a V-1 site at Siracourt. Anti-aircraft defences
were extremely active and as a result one Halifax was shot down with another 6 being
damaged. More daylight missions were mounted as it became apparent that the Luftwaffe was
unable to operate at full strength.
On the night attack of August 12/13th, 466 participated in an unsuccessful attack on
Brunswick due to poor weather. Night-fighters were active on that night and many bombers
were lost. 466 squadron could boast suffering no losses despite being attacked. The 466
gunners claimed three night-fighter kills.
On November 2nd/3rd the squadron attacked Dusseldorf. It was during this attack that
Flying Officer's A. Kopp's crew were hit from above by a load of incendiaries. Although
the Halifax was badly damaged it returned to England. The following day and unignited
incendiary was discovered in one of the fuel tanks.
By far one of the luckiest escapes of the war occured on the night of 4/5th November when
a 466 Halifax piloted by Pilot Officer J. Herman was hit by anti-aircraft fire. After
ordering his crew to bale out, the captain was about to attach his 'silken thread' when
the crippled aircraft exploded. F/O Herman was blown clean out of the aircraft minus his
parachute. As he headed for the ground he bumped into 'something' and instinctively
grabbed on. Remarkably, the 'something' was his mid-upper gunners legs. The two descended
to earth and survived the war as prisoners.
With Europe's worst winter in 50 years on their doorstep, operations continued into 1945.
One unfortunate incident occured on the night of March 3rd when Halifaxes from 466
squadron were returning from an attack on Kamen. German night-fighters were operatin over
the United Kingdom and shot down two of 466 squadron's Halifaxes. This shocking incident
proved to crews that they were never really safe until they landed back at base.
466 Squadron flew its last operational mission on Anzac Day (25th April), 1945. They
attacked defences on Wangerooge Island. On 7 May 1945, 466 Squadron was transferred to
Transport Command, receiving 20 Halifax VI's from 640 Squadron RAF. Whilst in Transport
Command, it operated as a combined unit with crews from 10 Squadron. Few transport
missions were flown by the Squadron. 466 Squadron moved to Bassingbourn, Hertfordshire on
8 September 1945, re-equipping with Liberator VIII's in October. The Squadron was involved
in its Liberator conversions when it was disbanded on 26 October 1945.
When 466 Squadron disbanded, it consisted of 200 RAAF
aircrew, 156 officers and only 46 RAF aircrew, of which 18 were officers. The
transformation to an RAAF personnel only squadron, was almost complete, after just two and
a half years. The Squadron flew 3328 sorties accumulating 16 924 hours flying time,
dropping 8 804 tons of bombs and 442 tons of mines in three different aircraft types. Nine
enemy aircraft were claimed destroyed, two probables, and 15 damaged. 466 Squadron was
highly decorated throughout the course of the war, with members receiving one Conspicuous
Gallantry Medal, two Distinguished Service Orders, 104 Distinguished Flying Crosses, three
bars to the Distinguished Flying Cross and four Distinguished Flying Medals.
Commanding Officers
10 October 1942 - Wing Commander R. E. Bailey
29 September 1943 - Wing Commander D. T. Forsyth
23 May 1944 - Wing Commander H. W. Connolly
20 October 1944 - Wing Commander A. Wharton
3 April 1945 - Wing Commander A. Hollings
Acknowledgement of this information goes to the following sources:
Steve Eather, from his book "Flying Squadrons of the Australian Defence
Force". Published by Aerospace Publications, Australia, 1995.
"Units of the Royal Australian Air Force", Volume 3, Bomber Units,
Compiled by the RAAF Historical Section. Published by AGPS Press Publication, Australia,
1995.
Email: troycosgrove@halifaxbomber.com