No. 102 Squadron — Ceylon

Group
No. 4 Group
Command
Bomber Command
Home station
RAF Pocklington

In the database: 12 aircraft.

History

No. 102 Squadron was a heavy-bomber unit of No. 4 Group that flew through most of the war, first on the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley and then on the Handley Page Halifax. In February 1942 it was adopted by Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), whose people paid for aircraft for the squadron, and it carried the name “Ceylon” thereafter.

Like the rest of Bomber Command its early Whitleys were at first restricted to dropping leaflets over Germany, and only after the German invasion of Norway in April 1940 did it begin true bombing operations. The squadron flew from Yorkshire, with long spells at RAF Topcliffe and then RAF Pocklington, and over the course of the war dropped more than 14,000 tons of bombs and laid nearly 2,000 sea mines.

Photographs

[Armstrong Whitworth Whitley](/aircraft/7/) N1386 of [No. 102 Squadron](/squadrons/26/) RAF.
ⓘ licence & creditRoyal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Air_Ministry_Second_World_War_Official_Collection_C919.jpgView source & full licence →
Royal Air Force Bomber Command, 1939-1941. Ground crewmen hand propaganda leaflets to a crew member of [Armstrong Whitworth Whitley](/aircraft/7/) Mark V, N1386 'DY-P', of [No. 102 Squadron](/squadrons/26/) RAF at [Driffield](/airfields/6125/), Yorkshire, prior to a leaflet-dropping ("Nickelling") sortie over Germany.
ⓘ licence & creditDaventry B J (Mr), Royal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Royal_Air_Force_Bomber_Command,_1939-1941._C917.jpgView source & full licence →
Royal Air Force Bomber Command, 1939-1941. An [Armstrong Whitworth Whitley](/aircraft/7/) Mark V, N1386 'DY-P', of [No. 102 Squadron](/squadrons/26/) RAF takes off on a leaflet-dropping ("Nickelling") sortie from [Driffield](/airfields/6125/), Yorkshire.
ⓘ licence & creditDaventry B J (Mr), Royal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Royal_Air_Force_Bomber_Command,_1939-1941._C916.jpgView source & full licence →
Royal Air Force Bomber Command, 1939-1941. An [Armstrong Whitworth Whitley](/aircraft/7/) Mark V, N1371, of [No. 102 Squadron](/squadrons/26/) RAF, landing at [Driffield](/airfields/6125/), Yorkshire, after a leaflet dropping ("Nickelling") sortie over Germany.
ⓘ licence & creditDaventry B J (Mr), Royal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Royal_Air_Force_Bomber_Command,_1939-1941._C914.jpgView source & full licence →
Royal Air Force Bomber Command, 1939-1940. Three [Armstrong Whitworth Whitley](/aircraft/7/) Mark Vs take off on a leaflet-dropping ("Nickelling") sortie from [Driffield](/airfields/6125/), Yorkshire. In the foreground is Whitley V, N1380 'DY-R', of [No. 102 Squadron](/squadrons/26/) RAF, surrounded by service personnel and visiting journalists. This aircraft may have been the first aircraft to deliberately drop bombs on Germany when it took part in the important raid on Hornum on the night of 19/20 March 1940.
ⓘ licence & creditDaventry B J (Mr), Royal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Royal_Air_Force_Bomber_Command,_1939-1940._C927.jpgView source & full licence →
[Armstrong Whitworth Whitley](/aircraft/7/) Mk Vs of [No. 102 Squadron](/squadrons/26/) RAF being prepared for a leaflet-dropping sortie at [Driffield](/airfields/6125/), Yorkshire, 7 March 1940. Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Mark Vs of No. 102 Squadron RAF being prepared for a leaflet-dropping ("Nickelling") sortie at Driffield, Yorkshire. The nearest aircraft, N1421 'DY-C', was shot down over Norway on the night of 29/30 April 1940, while N1382 'DY-A' was lost during a raid on Augsburg on 16/17 August 1940.
ⓘ licence & creditDaventry B J (Flying Officer), Royal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Armstrong_Whitworth_Whitley_Mk_Vs_of_No._102_Squadron_RAF_being_prepared_for_a_leaflet-dropping_sortie_at_Driffield,_Yorkshire,_7_March_1940._C921.jpgView source & full licence →
A Royal Air Force [Armstrong Whitworth Whitley](/aircraft/7/) Mark V (s/n N1371) of [No. 102 Squadron](/squadrons/26/) RAF, landing at [Driffield](/airfields/6125/), Yorkshire (UK), after a leaflet dropping ("Nickelling") sortie over Germany.
ⓘ licence & creditB.J. Daventry, Royal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Armstrong_Whitworth_Whitley_ExCC.jpgView source & full licence →
Royal Air Force 1939-1945- Bomber Command Ground staff load propaganda leaflets into [Whitley](/aircraft/7/) N1386/DY-P of [No 102 Squadron](/squadrons/26/), 8 March 1940, in preparation for another raid over Germany. Though leaflet dropping was viewed of dubious value as a propaganda weapon, it provided useful experience of night flying over enemy territory.
ⓘ licence & creditDaventry B J (F/O), Royal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Armstrong_Whitworth_Whitley_-_Royal_Air_Force_1939-1945-_Bomber_Command_C922.jpgView source & full licence →
Royal Air Force Bomber Command, 1939-1941. The damaged port-side fuselage of [Armstrong Whitworth Whitley](/aircraft/7/) Mark V, P5005 'DY-N', of [No. 102 Squadron](/squadrons/26/) RAF, after returning from a bombing raid to the Ruhr on the night of 12/13 November 1940. While trying to locate Cologne marshalling yards, the aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire, detonating a flare which, in turn, blew open a 15-foot section of the fuselage. Despite this damage, the pilot, Flying Officer G L Cheshire, managed to fly the aircraft and crew safely back to base at [Linton-on-Ouse](/airfields/46/), Yorkshire. for which he was awarded the DSO.
ⓘ licence & creditRoyal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Royal_Air_Force_Bomber_Command,_1939-1941._CH1764.jpgView source & full licence →
Royal Air Force Bomber Command, 1939-1940. [Armstrong Whitworth Whitley](/aircraft/7/) Mark Vs of [No. 102 Squadron](/squadrons/26/) RAF being prepared for a leaflet-dropping ("Nickelling") sortie at [Driffield](/airfields/6125/), Yorkshire.
ⓘ licence & creditDaventry B J (Mr), Royal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Royal_Air_Force_Bomber_Command,_1939-1940._C923.jpgView source & full licence →
Royal Air Force Bomber Command, 1939-1941. [Armstrong Whitworth Whitley](/aircraft/7/) Mark V, N1377 'DY-P', of [No. 102 Squadron](/squadrons/26/) RAF based at [Driffield](/airfields/6125/), Yorkshire, on the ground at [Bircham Newton](/airfields/6050/), Norfolk, with badly damaged wings sustained in a severe electrical storm during a Nickelling/reconnaissance mission over Wilhelmshaven, Germany. Despite the loss of much of the upper wing fabric, and a jammed flap, the aircraft was flown 342 miles safely back to the United Kingdom by its crew.
ⓘ licence & creditRoyal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Royal_Air_Force_Bomber_Command,_1939-1941._C48.jpgView source & full licence →
Royal Air Force Bomber Command, 1942-1945. Half length portrait of Wing Commander G W Holden, Officer Commanding [No. 102 Squadron](/squadrons/26/) RAF, taken at [Pocklington](/airfields/41/), Yorkshire.
ⓘ licence & creditRoyal Air Force official photographer, Trievnor J (Fg Off) / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Royal_Air_Force_Bomber_Command,_1942-1945._CH9321.jpgView source & full licence →
Royal Air Force Bomber Command, 1939-1940. The crew of an [Armstrong Whitworth Whitley](/aircraft/7/) Mark V of [No. 102 Squadron](/squadrons/26/) RAF study their route at [Driffield](/airfields/6125/), Yorkshire, prior to taking off on a leaflet-dropping ("Nickelling") sortie over Germany.
ⓘ licence & creditDaventry B J (Mr), Royal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Royal_Air_Force_Bomber_Command,_1939-1940._C925.jpgView source & full licence →
Royal Air Force 1939-1945- Bomber Command [Whitley](/aircraft/7/) N1375/DY-N of [No 102 Squadron](/squadrons/26/) being dismantled in preparation for transport by road to a maintenance unit, following flak damage to its hydraulic system incurred over Ludwigshafen, 20-21 June 1940.
ⓘ licence & creditDaventry B J (F/O), Royal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Royal_Air_Force_1939-1945-_Bomber_Command_CH407.jpgView source & full licence →
[Whitley](/aircraft/7/) Mark V, T4162 'DY-S' "Ceylon", of [No. 102 Squadron](/squadrons/26/) RAF, on the ground at [Topcliffe](/airfields/6374/), Yorkshire. It failed to return from a bombing raid on Cologne on the night of 1/2 March 1941.
ⓘ licence & creditRoyal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:102_Squadron_Whitley_at_RAF_Topcliffe_WWII_IWM_CH_2052.jpgView source & full licence →
Non-commissioned aircrew of [No. 102 Squadron](/squadrons/26/) RAF Detachment walk from their [Armstrong Whitworth Whitley](/aircraft/7/) Mark V at [Villeneuve/Vertus](/airfields/8587/) France, after completing a nine-hour leaflet-dropping ("Nickelling") sortie over [Prague](/airfields/9117/).
ⓘ licence & creditHensser H (Mr), Royal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:102_Squadron_Whitley_aircrew_in_France_WWII_IWM_C_837.jpgView source & full licence →
[Handley Page Halifax](/aircraft/2/) Mark II Series 1A, JD206 'DY-T' of [No. 102 Squadron](/squadrons/26/) RAF, about to be towed from its dispersal by a David Brown tractor at [RAF Pocklington](/airfields/41/), Yorkshire. This aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire on 22 June 1943, and ditched off Overflakkee Island, Holland.
ⓘ licence & creditClark N S (P/O), Royal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:102_Squadron_Halifax_at_RAF_Pocklington_WWII_IWM_CH_10776.jpgView source & full licence →