550 Squadron and RAF North Killingholme Association

Squadron Operations: Summary Information

Overview

There follows below a list of the all of the operations flown by 550 Squadron and the aircraft involved on each. The information used to build this page was taken in the first instance from the lists provided on the original Squadron Association web-site, but has been augmented by new information gathered since that time (squadron operations logs, individual aircrew log books, and other sources).

This information is not yet complete: it has been build from the a number of sources (documentary and people) and compilation of complete lists is an ongoing task that is expected to take quite some time to complete. So please don't shout just yet if you spot an omission - work continues to build a more complete, and accurate, list.
Do however shout if you spot an error! Please email any corrections or information to the contact details in the link at the bottom of the page.

Operation Summary: The column headers should be fairly self-explanatory. The term "aborted" as used here covers a number of possibilities:

the operation was cancelled before crews were briefed
the crews have been briefed as to the target, and in some cases the planes may even have been bombed up and the crews on-board at their stations awaiting take-off, before the op has been stood-down
finally a number of cases where the op was already under way and the planes en-route but for whatever reason the operation was aborted (e.g. the master bomber orders the attack cancelled due to weather conditions at target adversely affecting targeting).

Aircraft Deployed: When a link to a particular aircraft is given, this indicates aircraft known to have taken part in this raid (in the records currently available to the web-site author). A record of whether the aircraft returned or failed to return (FTR) is also logged.

Servicemen Deployed: Names of the crew in the operation.

Station Summary: This section is the information from the RAF North Killingholme Station Record Book for the operational date (if available).

Definitions of the abbreviations used are available: here.

Manageable Lists

The amount of data in the database is growing and this is resulting in the "all operations/targets" list getting rapidly bigger and thus slower to generate. There are options to display shorter, more quickly generated, reports if you want to home in on something specific. For example, there are options to generate reports on operations to a single target, or by single aircraft (to all targets) or by single aircraft to a single target. There is, on the database-reports summary page, a short user guide (PDF format) on how to do this.

Operation/Target: Stuttgart (01 Mar 1944 - 02 Mar 1944)

Operation Summary
Target	Out	Back	Aborted (Y / N)	Comments
Stuttgart	01 Mar 1944	02 Mar 1944	N	Thirteen aircraft with crews were offered for operations and briefed to attach targets in STUTTGART. One aircraft did not take off owing to insufficient brake pressures. Twelve aircraft successfully bombed their targets and returned safely to base. One aircraft landed at RAF Station, Manston and a second at RAF Station Grimsby. One aircraft and crew completed a night cross country.

Station Summary
OPERATIONS 13 aircraft of 550 Squadron were detailed for a large-scale attack on STUTTGART. 1 machine was cancelled prior to take-off due to lack of brake pressure. ORGANIZATION The recently completed Education Block on he Communal Site has now been brought into use. Provisional arrangements have been made to allow the Base Education Officer to pay two vistis weekly, on Wednesdays and Fridays. Snow Clearance continues in less important areas of the camp. A "Snowgo" plough with crew has arrived from Group HQ for this purpose. Tonight before return from the operation the runways were sanded and salted.

Station Summary

OPERATIONS
13 aircraft of 550 Squadron were detailed for a large-scale attack on STUTTGART. 1 machine was cancelled prior to take-off due to lack of brake pressure. ORGANIZATION
The recently completed Education Block on he Communal Site has now been brought into use. Provisional arrangements have been made to allow the Base Education Officer to pay two vistis weekly, on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Snow Clearance continues in less important areas of the camp. A "Snowgo" plough with crew has arrived from Group HQ for this purpose. Tonight before return from the operation the runways were sanded and salted.

Aircraft Deployed			Servicemen Deployed
Aircraft Service Number	Returned or FTR	Comments	Crew Details
LL882	Returned	Primary 21,000 ft at 03.07 hrs. Bombed green and red R/P flares. [Squadron CO W/Cdr Bennett pilot]	W/Cdr J J Bennett (P) P/O V J Bouchard (P) W/O D H Knight (Nav) Sgt J H Knox (A/B) Sgt R Binney (F/Eng) Sgt E J Baker (W/Op) Sgt C A Rann (MU/AG) Sgt J J M Calvin (R/AG)

Operation/Target: Stuttgart (15 Mar 1944 - 16 Mar 1944)

Operation Summary
Target	Out	Back	Aborted (Y / N)	Comments
Stuttgart	15 Mar 1944	16 Mar 1944	N	Seventeen aircraft with crew were offered for operations and briefed to attach targets in STUTTGART. One aircraft did not take off owing to unserviceability. Two aircraft (Captains F/Lt S G Crawford LM392 "J" and F/Lt J F Craig LL852 "X") failed to return to base (no news since take off) and are with the crews posted as "missing". Fourteen aircraft successfully the target and returned safely to Base.

Station Summary
OPERATIONS 17 a/c. from 550 Squadron were detailed to take part in a major raid on STUTTGART. 16 took off, and 2 failed to return. ORGANIZATION Loading trials with new "J" type incendiary bomb clusters were carried out today and proved satisfactory. Defence course personnel attended RAF NORTHCOATES for instruction on dome teachers. F/L HODGE, Station Signals Officer, visited 13 Radio School, BLACKPOOL, where he lectured on signals activity in an operation squadron. Flying Control Section has been endeavouring for some weeks to hasten the work of clearing contractors' obstructions from visinity of runaways and perimeter tracks. Clearance is today reported to be complete and all ditches liable to cause accidents have been filled in.

Station Summary

OPERATIONS
17 a/c. from 550 Squadron were detailed to take part in a major raid on STUTTGART. 16 took off, and 2 failed to return.
ORGANIZATION
Loading trials with new "J" type incendiary bomb clusters were carried out today and proved satisfactory. Defence course personnel attended RAF NORTHCOATES for instruction on dome teachers. F/L HODGE, Station Signals Officer, visited 13 Radio School, BLACKPOOL, where he lectured on signals activity in an operation squadron.
Flying Control Section has been endeavouring for some weeks to hasten the work of clearing contractors' obstructions from visinity of runaways and perimeter tracks. Clearance is today reported to be complete and all ditches liable to cause accidents have been filled in.

Aircraft Deployed			Servicemen Deployed
Aircraft Service Number	Returned or FTR	Comments	Crew Details
LL882	Returned	Primary 21,500 ft at 23.23 hrs. Large dull red explosion seen at 23.32hrs lasting 4-5seconds.	P/O V J Bouchard (P) W/O D H Knight (Nav) Sgt J H Knox (A/B) Sgt R Binney (F/Eng) Sgt E J Baker (W/Op) Sgt C A Rann (MU/AG) Sgt J J M Calvin (R/AG)

Operation/Target: Frankfurt (18 Mar 1944 - 19 Mar 1944)

Operation Summary
Target	Out	Back	Aborted (Y / N)	Comments
Frankfurt	18 Mar 1944	19 Mar 1944	N	Seventeen aircraft with crew were offered for operations and briefed to attack targets in FRANKFURT. All returning safely after a very successfuly attack. The speedy take-off was a very fine show indeed the seventeen aircraft all being airbourne in 16 mins. Three aircraft ("J" NB733, Captain Sgt Lloyd, "K" LL834 Captain P/O Bouchard and "X" ME687, W/O Romber) were subseuqently abortive, due to electrical failure, Gee u/a and rear and mid-upper turrets u/s respectively. Few fighters were seen and only the French coastal batteries gave any trouble. The only combat reported was a short burst from the mid-upper gunner of "F" ME556 (Captain W/O McCrae). No hits are claimed and the E/A did not return the fire. A special message of congratulations to all concerned for aircrew and ground staff was received from the Base Commander. Good show 550!

Station Summary
OPERATIONS 17 a/c. from 550 Squadron were detailed to take part in a major attack on FRANKFURT. 7 took off, 14 attacked the primary and 3 were abortive sorties. HOSTILE ACTIVITY At 2200 an air raid warning PURPLE was received, at 2205 a RED and 2225 a WHITE. No activity was seen. ORGANIZATION A twin camera test rig has today been installed in the Camera Section, which is now in full working order. GENERAL Since 16 March, 140 men of No. 416 Battery, R.A., stationed locally, have been passed through the Station Gas Chamber, together with some Station personnel. Arrangements have been made with this army unit enabling this service to be used by it when required.

Station Summary

OPERATIONS
17 a/c. from 550 Squadron were detailed to take part in a major attack on FRANKFURT. 7 took off, 14 attacked the primary and 3 were abortive sorties.
HOSTILE ACTIVITY
At 2200 an air raid warning PURPLE was received, at 2205 a RED and 2225 a WHITE. No activity was seen.
ORGANIZATION
A twin camera test rig has today been installed in the Camera Section, which is now in full working order.
GENERAL
Since 16 March, 140 men of No. 416 Battery, R.A., stationed locally, have been passed through the Station Gas Chamber, together with some Station personnel. Arrangements have been made with this army unit enabling this service to be used by it when required.

Aircraft Deployed			Servicemen Deployed
Aircraft Service Number	Returned or FTR	Comments	Crew Details
LL882	Returned	Abandoned at 20.0 hrs (20,000 ft) due to Gee being unserviceable.	F/L P J Cornwall (F/Eng) P/O V J Bouchard (P) W/O D H Knight (Nav) Sgt J H Knox (A/B) Sgt E J Baker (W/Op) Sgt C A Rann (MU/AG) Sgt J J M Calvin (R/AG)

Summary Statistics

Based on the data in the lists displayed above, and keeping in mind that data is still being updated and thus not yet complete, the following statistics are generated:

Aircraft Deployment Statistics

Aircraft deployments	3
MAX Aircraft deployed in single operation	1 (Stuttgart, 01 Mar 1944)

These details were last updated: 07 February 2025

Note

this list is still being built and will take some time to complete
what is currently displayed is believed accurate but much more is still to be added

This note describes the options currently available to produce a smaller, more manageable list and also describes planned future enhancements to the reporting facility.

Return to the top of the page.