103 squadron."A" Flight taken in April 1944.

The Squadron was formed during the First World War at Beaulieu in Hampshire under the command of Major T Maxwell-Scott and was equipped with the DH9 single engined biplane. In May 1918 103 was transferred to France and for the rest of the war flew reconnaissance and day bombing operations on the Western Front. The Squadron was disbanded after the war in March 1919.

For a detailed history on this period, click here.

With increasingly uncertain political climate in Europe in the mid thirties 103 Squadron was reformed in 1936 at Andover in Hampshire as part of the expansion of the RAF. Under the command of Squadron Leader D H Carey the Squadron was equipped with the Hawker Hind single engined biplane bomber. The Squadron moved to Usworth in the North of England and in 1937 were re-equipped with the more modern Fairey Battle single engined monoplane Bomber.

At the outbreak of Second World War 103 Squadron flew to France as part of the Advanced Air Strike Force.

The winter of 1939/40 was relatively quiet on this front but this was all to change on the 10th May 1940 when the German forces made an all out attack on France, Belgium and Holland. The Squadron flew into action immediately in a series of desperate attacks against a far stronger, more experienced and better equipped enemy and suffered very heavy losses. As the situation worsened and France was near to collapse what was left of the squadron was withdrawn back to Abingdon in England in June 1940.

For a detailed history on this period, please click here.

The Squadron was transferred to Newton near Nottingham in July 1940 and returned to the control of 1 Group Bomber Command. In October 1940 103 was re-equipped with the Vickers Wellington, a twin engined bomber and quite a capable machine. Operations were started with the new aircraft in December 1940 and for the next 3 months many night raids were flown on Germany and targets in occupied Europe. In the spring and summer of 1941 much of the Squadron effort was concentrated on the U Boat bases along the coast of France and German capital ships in Brest. German targets were raided again in force throughout the winter of 1941/42 and in May 1942 the Squadron participated in the series of

The Avro Lancaster Heavy Bomber

"Thousand Bomber Raids". In July 1941 the Squadron moved to its new base at Elsham Wolds in Lincolnshire.

The Squadron was re-equipped with the new four engined Handley Page Halifax bomber in August 1942. Losses with this aircraft were heavy and the Squadron was again re-equipped, this time with the Avro Lancaster 4 engined heavy bomber.

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