No. 105 Squadron

No. 105 Squadron badge
ⓘ licence & creditRoyal Air Force (Public domain), via Wikimedia Commons
Group
No. 8 Group (Pathfinder Force)
Command
Bomber Command
Home station
RAF Bourn

In the database: 51 aircraft · 82 service members · 46 sorties.

History

No. 105 Squadron began the war flying the Bristol Blenheim against German-held ports and airfields, and served for a time on Malta striking at Axis shipping in the Mediterranean. On its return it made history as the first RAF squadron to operate the de Havilland Mosquito, taking the unarmed bomber version of the “Wooden Wonder”.

From May 1942 it pioneered the fast, low-level and shallow-dive daylight attacks that made the Mosquito famous, including the precision raid on the Gestapo headquarters in Oslo in September 1942 and the first daylight attack on Berlin in January 1943. In June 1943 the squadron joined No. 8 (Pathfinder) Group and switched to night work, using Mosquitoes fitted with the Oboe blind-bombing system to guide the main bomber stream to its targets. It flew from RAF Marham and later RAF Bourn.

Photographs

Wing Commander H I Edwards VC of [No. 105 Squadron](/squadrons/60/) speaks with the Technical Officer under foggy, hazy skies at [RAF Marham](/airfields/23/) a few minutes before take-off for [Operation Oyster](/operations/521/), the raid against the Philips works in Eindhoven.
ⓘ licence & creditRoyal Air Force Film Production Unit / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Operation_OYSTER,_the_daylight_attack_on_the_Philips.jpgView source & full licence →
[Operation OYSTER](/operations/521/), the daylight attack on the Philips radio and valve works at Eindhoven, Holland, by No. 2 Group. A [De Havilland Mosquito](/aircraft/9/) B Mark IV of [No. 105 Squadron](/squadrons/60/) RAF taking off for Eindhoven from [Marham](/airfields/23/), Norfolk
ⓘ licence & creditRAF FPU / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MossyTakeoff42.jpgView source & full licence →
[Operation OYSTER](/operations/521/), the daylight attack on the Philips radio and valve works at Eindhoven, Holland, by No. 2 Group. [De Havilland Mosquito](/aircraft/9/) B Mark IV, DK336, of [No. 105 Squadron](/squadrons/60/) RAF is prepared for the raid at [Marham](/airfields/23/), Norfolk.
ⓘ licence & creditRAF FPU / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MossyPrepare42beautypic.jpgView source & full licence →
[Mosquito](/aircraft/9/) B Mark IV Series 2, DK338, in flight after completion, banking away from the camera to show the camera ports in the forward section. DK338 served with [No. 105 Squadron](/squadrons/60/) RAF as 'GB-O', and took part in the successful low-level raid on the Phillips radio factory at Eindhoven, Holland, ([Operation OYSTER](/operations/521/)) on 6 December 1942, led by the Squadron Commander, Wing Commander H.I.Edwards VC.
ⓘ licence & creditDe Havilland photographer for Ministry of Aircraft Production / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MossyBank42.jpgView source & full licence →
AWM Caption: PORTRAIT OF WING COMMANDER HUGHIE IDWAL EDWARDS VC DFC, RAAF. WING COMMANDER EDWARDS OF NO 105 SQUADRON, 2 GROUP, BOMBER COMMAND, RAF, WAS AWARDED THE VICTORIA CROSS FOR THE DISPLAY OF THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE STANDARD OF GALLANTRY AND DETERMINATION DURING A DAYLIGHT AIR ATTACK ON THE PORT OF BREMEN, ONE OF THE MOST HEAVILY DEFENDED TOWNS IN GERMANY.
ⓘ licence & creditphotographer not identified / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HughieEdwards.jpgView source & full licence →
[De Havilland Mosquito](/aircraft/9/) B Mark IV Series 2, DK338, in flight after completion. DK338 served with [No. 105 Squadron](/squadrons/60/) RAF as 'GB-O', and took part in the successful low-level raid on the Phillips radio factory at Eindhoven, Holland, ([Operation OYSTER](/operations/521/)) on 6 December 1942, led by the Squadron Commander, Wing Commander H.I.Edwards VC.
ⓘ licence & creditPhotographer: De Havilland photographer for Ministry of Aircraft Production / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:De_Havilland_Mosquito-DK338-1942.jpgView source & full licence →
Low-level oblique aerial taken during a dusk attack on the railway workshops at Namur, Belgium, by [de Havilland Mosquito](/aircraft/9/) B Mark IVs of [No. 105 Squadron](/squadrons/60/) RAF. DZ519 'GB-U', flown by Pilot Officer R Massie (pilot) and Sergeant G Lister (navigator), flys over the target with bomb doors open and bombs falling, just after successfully striking the roof of the carriage and wagon repair shops (top right).
ⓘ licence & credit105 Sqn Leader R W Reynolds (pilot) and Pilot Officer E B Sismore (navigator) / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:De_Havilland_Mosquito_bombing_railway_workshops.jpgView source & full licence →
Air-to-air photograph of a De Havilland DH.98 [Mosquito](/aircraft/9/) B Mk IV Series 2 bomber with [No. 105 Squadron](/squadrons/60/) of the Royal Air Force in flight.
ⓘ licence & creditFotoafdrukken Koninklijke Luchtmacht / Photo Prints, Royal Netherlands Air Force; restored by Chris Woodrich / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:De_Havilland_DH.98_Mosquito_B_Mk_IV_Series_2_(restoration).jpgView source & full licence →
Corporal J Patterson records the 203rd sortie on the operations tally of [De Havilland Mosquito](/aircraft/9/) B Mark IX, LR503 'GB-F', of 'C' Flight, [No. 105 Squadron](/squadrons/60/) RAF at [Bourn](/airfields/26/), Cambridgeshire, watched by its crew, Flight Lieutenant T P Lawrenson (pilot, far left) and Flight Lieutenant D W Allen RNZAF (navigator, right). "F-Bar for Freddie" went on to complete 213 sorties, a Bomber Command record.
ⓘ licence & creditRoyal Canadian Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aircraft_nose_art_detail,_105_Squadron_Mosquito_and_crew_WWII_IWM_CH_15100_(cropped).jpgView source & full licence →
Royal Air Force Bomber Command, 1942-1945. Armourers prepare to load 500-lb MC bombs into [De Havilland Mosquito](/aircraft/9/) B Mark IV, DZ483 'GB-R', of [No. 105 Squadron](/squadrons/60/) RAF at [Marham](/airfields/23/), Norfolk, in preparation for a night raid on Berlin, Germany by aircraft of No. 2 Group. Two weeks later, DZ483 crashed at Marham while attempting to land on one engine, on returning from the low-level raid on Jena. Its crew, Flying Officer A J Rae and Flying Officer K S Bush, were both killed.
ⓘ 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._CH18009.jpgView source & full licence →
Royal Air Force Bomber Command, 1939-1941. German 2,500-ton motor vessel under attack by four [Bristol Blenheim](/aircraft/8/) Mark IVs of [No. 105 Squadron](/squadrons/60/) Detachment from [Lossiemouth](/airfields/6246/), Moray, off the coast of Norway.
ⓘ licence & creditRoyal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Royal_Air_Force_Bomber_Command,_1939-1941._C1897.jpgView source & full licence →
Royal Air Force Bomber Command, 1942-1945. [De Havilland Mosquito](/aircraft/9/) B Mark IVs of [No. 105 Squadron](/squadrons/60/) RAF taxy to the main runway at [Marham](/airfields/23/), Norfolk, for a night raid on Berlin, Germany.
ⓘ 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._CH18013.jpgView source & full licence →
Royal Air Force Bomber Command, 1942-1945. Flying Officer R G Hayes (left) and Flight Lieutenant J Gordon, navigator and pilot respectively of a [De Havilland Mosquito](/aircraft/9/) B Mark IV of [No. 105 Squadron](/squadrons/60/) RAF, listen intently during the briefing for a night raid on Berlin, Germany in the Operations Room at [Marham](/airfields/23/), Norfolk. Both men were killed on 5 November 1943 when their Mosquito, DZ587 'GB-B', crashed at Hempnall, Norfolk, while returning from an evening raid on Bochum.
ⓘ 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._CH18010.jpgView source & full licence →
Royal Air Force Bomber Command, 1939-1941. [Bristol Blenheim](/aircraft/8/) Mark IV, 'GB-S', of [No. 105 Squadron](/squadrons/60/) RAF Detachment based at [Lossiemouth](/airfields/6246/), Moray, flying in at 50 feet above sea level to attack a 2,500-ton motor vessel off the coast of Norway.
ⓘ licence & creditRoyal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bristol_Blenheim_-_North_Sea_-_Royal_Air_Force_Bomber_Command,_1939-1941._C1894.jpgView source & full licence →
Royal Air Force Bomber Command, 1939-1941. [Bristol Blenheim](/aircraft/8/) Mark IV, Z5899 'GB-J', of [No. 105 Squadron](/squadrons/60/) RAF based at [Watton](/airfields/6384/), Norfolk, about to touch down on the main runway at [Attlebridge](/airfields/6029/), Norfolk, during an Army Co-operation exercise.
ⓘ licence & creditDaventry B J H (Mr), Royal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bristol_Blenheim_-_Attlebridge_-_Royal_Air_Force_Bomber_Command,_1939-1941._CH17171.jpgView source & full licence →
Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1939-1945- De Havilland Dh.98 [Mosquito](/aircraft/9/). Mosquito B Mark IX, ML914 “Nigeria”, on the ground, 1943. Bought with donations from Nigeria, ML914 became a veteran of several important operations with [No.105 Squadron](/squadrons/60/) RAF between September 1943 and April 1945.
ⓘ licence & creditRoyal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aircraft_of_the_Royal_Air_Force_1939-1945-_De_Havilland_Dh.98_Mosquito._E(MOS)1305.jpgView source & full licence →
Corporal J Patterson records the 203rd sortie on the operations tally of [De Havilland Mosquito](/aircraft/9/) B Mark IX, LR503 'GB-F', of 'C' Flight, [No. 105 Squadron](/squadrons/60/) RAF at [Bourn](/airfields/26/), Cambridgeshire, watched by its crew, Flight Lieutenant T P Lawrenson (pilot, far left) and Flight Lieutenant D W Allen RNZAF (navigator, right). "F-Bar for Freddie" went on to complete 213 sorties, a Bomber Command record.
ⓘ licence & creditRoyal Canadian Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:105_Squadron_Mosquito_and_crew_WWII_IWM_CH_15100.jpgView source & full licence →