207 Squadron (Bomber Command Squadron Profiles)

The Second World War was a year old by the time that 207 Squadron came into existence for the third time, having been disbanded in January 1920, before being reformed within two weeks and remaining in existence until April 1940. Despite operating Fairey Battles in a training role at the outbreak of war, the squadron was not sent to France, and was employed as a Group Pool training unit until being absorbed into 12 Operational Training Unit in April 1940. It remained on the shelf until its resurrection on the 1st of November 1940, as the 5 Group squadron selected to introduce the new Avro Manchester twin-engine heavy bomber into operational service. It was intended to replace the Hampden medium bomber, with which the group had been equipped since 1938, but problems with the Rolls-Royce Vulture engines soon became manifest, and this would lead to a delay in beginning operations and frequent groundings during its short service life. During this period, 207 Squadron became the destination for many of the finest pilots and crews in 5 Group, some of whom moved on to 97 Squadron to assist in its reformation as the second Manchester Unit. 207 Squadron soldiered on with the type until early 1942, when the four-engine Lancaster, born out of the failure of the Manchester, and destined to become the finest bomber in the European theatre, began to re-equip 5 Group. From that point on, 207 Squadron took its place at the forefront of the Command’s major campaigns, contributing to those, in particular in 1943 against the Ruhr, Hamburg and Berlin, and, in 1944, against Berlin, pre-invasion railway and coastal battery targets, flying bomb sites, canals, oil and tactical support for the ground forces. It ended the war with a fine record of service, of which those associated with it can be justly proud.