No. 207 Squadron

Group
No. 5 Group
Command
Bomber Command
Home station
RAF Spilsby

In the database: 7 aircraft.

History

No. 207 Squadron reformed in November 1940 in No. 5 Group and has the distinction of having brought the four-engined Avro Manchester into squadron service, working up the troublesome new bomber at RAF Waddington. When the Manchester was abandoned the squadron re-equipped with its far more successful descendant, the Avro Lancaster, in the spring of 1942.

Flying from a series of Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire stations, the squadron became the first occupant of the new airfield at RAF Spilsby in October 1943. It took part in the great battles of the main offensive — the Ruhr, the firestorm raids on Hamburg and the long campaign against Berlin. Its badge, authorised before the war, carried the motto “Always prepared”.

Photographs

[Avro Manchester](/aircraft/5/) Mk I of [No. 207 Squadron](/squadrons/35/) RAF at [Waddington](/airfields/2/), Lincolnshire, 12 September 1941. The forward section of an Avro Manchester Mark I of No. 207 Squadron RAF, while running up the port Rolls-Royce Vulture II engine at Waddington, Lincolnshire, showing the nose with the bomb-aimer's window, the forward gun-turret and the pilot's cockpit.
ⓘ licence & creditDaventry B J (Mr), Royal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Avro_Manchester_Mk_I_of_No._207_Squadron_RAF_at_Waddington,_Lincolnshire,_12_September_1941._CH3879.jpgView source & full licence →
The [Avro Manchester](/aircraft/5/) Mark IA, L7486, on an air test shortly after delivery to [No 207 Squadron](/squadrons/35/) RAF at [Waddington](/airfields/2/), Lincolnshire. It carried the code letters 'EM-P' and 'EM-Z' during its service with the Squadron.
ⓘ licence & creditB.J. Daventry, Royal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Avro_679_Manchester_B_Mk._IA_CCCR.jpgView source & full licence →
{{En-gb|Armourers checking the bomb load of an [Avro Lancaster](/aircraft/1/) of [No. 207 Squadron](/squadrons/35/) RAF at [Syerston](/airfields/21/), Nottinghamshire, before a night bombing operation to Bremen, 13 September 1942. (RAF) armourers make final checks on the bomb load of an Avro Lancaster B Mark I of at in , before a night bombing operation to , Germany. The mixed load ( executive codeword 'Usual'), consists of a HC bomb ('cookie') and small bomb containers (SBCs) filled with incendiaries, with the addition of four target indicators (TI).}}
ⓘ licence & creditRoyal Air Force (RAF) official photographer, Daventry B J (Flying Officer) / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Armourers_checking_the_bomb_load_of_an_Avro_Lancaster_of_No._207_Squadron_RAF_at_Syerston,_Nottinghamshire,_before_a_night_bombing_operation_to_View source & full licence →
All Saints, Great Steeping The brick church of All Saints was built in 1891. Note the war memorial. There are also memorials inside to [No. 207 Squadron](/squadrons/35/) of the Royal Air Force based at [Spilsby](/airfields/9/) and to [44 (Rhodesia) Squadron](/squadrons/29/) of the Royal Air Force also based at Spilsby.
ⓘ licence & creditDave Hitchborne / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:All_Saints,_Great_Steeping_-_geograph.org.uk_-_436591.jpgView source & full licence →
All Saints, Great Steeping The brick church of All Saints was built in 1891. Note the war memorial. There are also memorials inside to [No. 207 Squadron](/squadrons/35/) of the Royal Air Force based at [Spilsby](/airfields/9/) and to [44 (Rhodesia) Squadron](/squadrons/29/) of the Royal Air Force also based at Spilsby.
ⓘ licence & creditDave Hitchborne / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:All_Saints,_Great_Steeping_-_geograph.org.uk_-_436588.jpgView source & full licence →
"wings For Victory Week" in London, Britain, March 1943. [Avro Lancaster](/aircraft/1/) B Mark I, 'O for Orange' (L7580 'EM-O') of [No 207 Squadron](/squadrons/35/), Royal Air Force, attracts the attention of crowds while on display in Trafalgar Square.
ⓘ licence & creditBridge (P/O), Royal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%27Wings_For_Victory_Week%27_in_London,_Britain,_March_1943._CH9105.jpgView source & full licence →
Royal Air Force Bomber Command, 1942-1945. A dragon emblem on the nose of [Avro Lancaster](/aircraft/1/) B Mark I, R5908 'EM-B', of [No. 207 Squadron](/squadrons/35/) RAF at [Syerston](/airfields/21/), Nottinghamshire.
ⓘ licence & creditRoyal Air Force official photographer, Daventry B J (F/O) / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Royal_Air_Force_Bomber_Command,_1942-1945._CH7135.jpgView source & full licence →
Royal Air Force Bomber Command, 1939-1941. Interior view of the cockpit of an [Avro Manchester](/aircraft/5/) Mark I, L7288 'EM-H', of [No. 207 Squadron](/squadrons/35/) RAF at [Waddington](/airfields/2/), Lincolnshire, showing the captain, Flying Officer P Burton-Giles seated at the controls, and the bomb aimer leaving his seat in the nose section.
ⓘ licence & creditRoyal Air Force official photographer, Daventry B J (Mr) / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Royal_Air_Force_Bomber_Command,_1939-1941._CH3880.jpgView source & full licence →
Royal Air Force Bomber Command, 1942-1945. The Squadron Commander of [No. 207 Squadron](/squadrons/35/) RAF, Wing Commander F R Jeffs, wishes his aircrews good luck at [Syerston](/airfields/21/), Nottinghamshire before they board their aircraft for a night raid on Bremen, Germany. 207 Squadron were detached from their base at [Bottesford](/airfields/6062/), Leicestershire, to Syerston in August 1942 and moved from Bottesford/Syerston to [Langar](/airfields/6227/), Nottinghamshire, the following month.
ⓘ 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_Bomber_Command,_1942-1945._CH7127.jpgView source & full licence →
Royal Air Force Bomber Command, 1939-1941. [Avro Manchester](/aircraft/5/) Mark I, L7284 ‘EM-D’, of [No. 207 Squadron](/squadrons/35/) RAF based at [Waddington](/airfields/2/), Lincolnshire, in flight.
ⓘ 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._CH17290.jpgView source & full licence →
Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1939-1945- Avro 679 Manchester. Manchester Mark IA, L7486, on an air test shortly after delivery to [No 207 Squadron](/squadrons/35/) RAF at [Waddington](/airfields/2/), Lincolnshire. It carried the code letters 'EM-P' and 'EM-Z' during its service with the Squadron.
ⓘ licence & creditDaventry B J (Mr), Royal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aircraft_of_the_Royal_Air_Force_1939-1945-_Avro_679_Manchester._CH3888.jpgView source & full licence →