Remembering the Crew of Lancaster ND474
49 Squadron
49 Squadron
• Formed in Dover 1916
• Reformed in 1936
• Squadron was mainly used as recon at the start of the Second World War
• 11th May 1940 Bombing raids began on Germany
• 1941 raids on ports, industry, airfields continued
• 1943 attacks on rocket research labs and Berlin begin.
• D-Day, bomber command was used to support D-D-Day landings with attacks on beach fronts the night before.
• 1945 operation EXODUS – 49 Squadron was used to help ferry Prisoner of War’s back to the United Kingdom.
• Later life:
• 49 Squadron was used for British Nuclear testing in May 1957. Codename Operation GRAPPLE.
• 49 Squadron was disbanded in 1965.