No. 218 Squadron — Gold Coast

Group
No. 3 Group
Command
Bomber Command
Home station
RAF Methwold

In the database: 10 aircraft · 1 service member.

History

No. 218 Squadron took the name “Gold Coast” after the West African colony (now Ghana) whose people adopted it. It went to war flying the Fairey Battle and was savaged in the fighting in France in 1940; after re-forming at home it flew the Bristol Blenheim, then the Vickers Wellington, and from the end of 1941 the Short Stirling, before finally taking the Avro Lancaster at RAF Methwold in 1944. It served in No. 3 Group, with a long spell at RAF Downham Market.

The squadron’s name is forever linked with Flight Sergeant Arthur Aaron, who on the night of 12/13 August 1943 — though his Stirling was wrecked and he was mortally wounded — helped bring the aircraft down at Bone in North Africa to save his crew, and was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross.

Photographs

Royal Air Force- France, 1939-1940. The crew of [Fairey Battle](/aircraft/10/), K9273 'HA-R', of [No. 218 Squadron](/squadrons/19/) RAF, walk from their aircraft at [Auberive-sur-Suippes](/airfields/8573/) on returning from a sortie.
ⓘ licence & creditStanley Devon / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Royal_Air_Force-_France,_1939-1940._C1081.jpgView source & full licence →
Royal Air Force- France, 1939-1940. Armourers of [No. 218 Squadron](/squadrons/19/) RAF loading ammunition drums for .303 Vickers K-type gas-operated machine guns, an example of which is held by the corporal (centre), in their tent at [Auberives-sur-Suippes](/airfields/8591/).
ⓘ licence & creditDaventry B J H (Mr), Royal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Royal_Air_Force-_France,_1939-1940._C1065.jpgView source & full licence →
The Royal Air Force in France 1939 - 1940: Three [Fairey Battle](/aircraft/10/) fighter bombers of [No 218 Squadron](/squadrons/19/) over France.
ⓘ licence & creditDevon S A (F/O), Royal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fairey_Battles_in_formation.jpgView source & full licence →
The Strategic Air Offensive Against Germany 1939-1945 [Fairey Battles](/aircraft/10/) of [No 218 Squadron](/squadrons/19/), Royal Air Force on patrol in France. These aircraft were regarded as being advanced when they first went into service in 1937, but in May 1940 they were too slow and lightly armoured and consequently suffered heavy losses in the Battle for France.
ⓘ licence & creditDevon S, Royal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fairey_Battle_-_The_Strategic_Air_Offensive_Against_Germany_1939-1945_C454crop.jpgView source & full licence →
The Strategic Air Offensive Against Germany 1939-1945 [Fairey Battles](/aircraft/10/) of [No 218 Squadron](/squadrons/19/), Royal Air Force on patrol in France. These aircraft were regarded as being advanced when they first went into service in 1937, but in May 1940 they were too slow and lightly armoured and consequently suffered heavy losses in the Battle for France.
ⓘ licence & creditDevon S, Royal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fairey_Battle_-_The_Strategic_Air_Offensive_Against_Germany_1939-1945_C454.jpgView source & full licence →
Royal Air Force- France, 1939-1940. Ground crew working on a [Fairey Battle](/aircraft/10/) of [No. 218 Squadron](/squadrons/19/) at [Auberive-sur-Suippes](/airfields/8573/). Note the attempt to camouflage the site with cut fir saplings
ⓘ licence & creditDaventry B J (Mr), Royal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fairey_Battle_-_Auberive_-_Royal_Air_Force-_France,_1939-1940._C1058.jpgView source & full licence →
A sergeant armourer checks the fuze of a 1,000-lb GP bomb before it is winched by hand into the bomb bay of a [Short Stirling](/aircraft/3/) of [No. 218 Squadron](/squadrons/19/) RAF at [Downham Market](/airfields/30/), Norfolk.
ⓘ licence & creditMinistry of Information Photo Division Photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bombing_up_218_Squadron_Stirling_WWII_IWM_D_8977.jpgView source & full licence →
Royal Air Force Bomber Command, 1942-1945. Armourers loading 1,000-lb GP bombs into a [Short Stirling](/aircraft/3/) of [No. 218 Squadron](/squadrons/19/) RAF at [Downham Market](/airfields/30/), Norfolk, prior to an operation. Note the use of the hand winch to hoist the ordnance into the bomb bay.
ⓘ licence & creditMinistry of Information Photo Division Photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Royal_Air_Force_Bomber_Command,_1942-1945._D8973.jpgView source & full licence →
Royal Air Force Bomber Command, 1942-1945. Mechanics at work on an engine of [Avro Lancaster](/aircraft/1/) B Mark III, LM577 'HA-Q' "Edith", of No. 218 Squadron RAF on a pan hardstanding at [Chedburgh](/airfields/6088/), Suffolk. "Edith's" sortie tally shows a total of 84 bombing operations achieved with Nos. [622](/squadrons/21/) and [218](/squadrons/19/) Squadrons, in addition to which the aircraft also flew 14 food-dropping and prisoner-of-war repatriation sorties to and from Holland in May 1945. By this time relegated to a training role, LM577 completed more flying hours than any other Lancaster on the station.
ⓘ licence & creditRoyal Air Force official photographer, RAF Chedburgh / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Royal_Air_Force_Bomber_Command,_1942-1945._CH15460.jpgView source & full licence →
Royal Air Force Bomber Command, 1942-1945. Armourers attach carriers to two 1,000-lb GP bombs before manoeuvring the bomb trolley under a [Short Stirling](/aircraft/3/) Mark I of [No. 218 Squadron](/squadrons/19/) RAF at [Downham Market](/airfields/30/), Norfolk. Note the hoist cables hanging from the bomb-bay winches, and the trolley-accumulator under the aircraft, supplying power to the Stirling's electricity supply.
ⓘ licence & creditMinistry of Information Photo Division Photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Royal_Air_Force_Bomber_Command,_1942-1945._D8976.jpgView source & full licence →
Royal Air Force Bomber Command, 1942-1945. The air and ground crews responsible for the maintenance, servicing and flying of a [Short Stirling](/aircraft/3/) B Mark I of [No. 218 Squadron](/squadrons/19/) RAF at [Marham](/airfields/23/), Norfolk. Standing at the front is the aircrew; captain, second pilot, flight engineer, observer (navigator), wireless operator, air gunner/bomb aimer and two air gunners. Behind them stand the meteorological officer, a WAAF parachute packer and the Flying Control officer. In the third rank stand 12 flight maintenance crew and 18 ground servicing crew, and behind them the tractor driver with his bomb-train in front of the 11-strong 'bombing-up' team. Behind the aircraft to the left is the refuelling team of 3 airmen with their petrol bowser, and finally, to the right, the oil bowser and its driver.
ⓘ licence & creditForward (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._CH5988.jpgView source & full licence →
Royal Air Force Bomber Command, 1942-1945. A Mark I 4,000-lb HC bomb ('cookie') is prepared for loading into [Short Stirling](/aircraft/3/) Mark I, 'HA-D', of [No. 218 Squadron](/squadrons/19/) RAF at [Marham](/airfields/23/), Norfolk, before a night raid on Emden, Germany.
ⓘ licence & creditRoyal Air Force official photographer, Forward (Fg Off) / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Royal_Air_Force_Bomber_Command,_1942-1945._CH17887.jpgView source & full licence →
Royal Air Force Bomber Command, 1942-1945. A bomb train, loaded with Small Bomb Containers (SBCs) filled with 4-lb incendiaries, arrives in front of [Short Stirling](/aircraft/3/) Mark I 'HA-T' of [No. 218 Squadron](/squadrons/19/) RAF at [Marham](/airfields/23/), Norfolk, in preparation for a raid on Emden, Germany.
ⓘ licence & creditForward (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._CH6278.jpgView source & full licence →
Royal Air Force in France, 1939-1940. Three [Fairey Battle](/aircraft/10/) Mark Is, K9353 ‘HA-J’, K9324 ‘HA-B’ and K9325 ‘HA-D’, of [No. 218 Squadron](/squadrons/19/) RAF, based at [Auberives-sur-Suippes](/airfields/8591/), in flight over northern France. K9325 went missing during an attack on enemy troops near St Vith on 11 May 1940, and K9353 was shot down north of Bouillon the following day. K9324 survived the Battle of France to serve with the RAAF until 1944.
ⓘ licence & creditStanley Devon / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fairey_Battle_-_Royal_Air_Force_in_France,_1939-1940._C449.jpgView source & full licence →
Aircraft of the Royal Air Force, 1939-1945- [Fairey Battle](/aircraft/10/). Three Battle Mark Is, K9353 ‘HA-J’, K9324 ‘HA-B’ and K9325 ‘HA-D’, of [No. 218 Squadron](/squadrons/19/) RAF, based at [Auberives-sur-Suippes](/airfields/8591/), in flight over northern France. K9325 went missing during an attack on enemy troops near St Vith on 11 May 1940, and K9353 was shot down north of Bouillon the following day. K9324 survived the Battle of France to serve with the RAAF until 1944.
ⓘ 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-_Fairey_Battle._C2116.jpgView source & full licence →
Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1939-1945- [Vickers Wellington](/aircraft/4/). Wellington Mark IC, R1448 ‘HA-L’ “Akyem-Abuakwa”, of [No. 218 Squadron](/squadrons/19/) RAF, on the ground at [Marham](/airfields/23/), Norfolk. R1448 was presented to the RAF by the Gold Coast Fund.
ⓘ 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-_Vickers_Wellington._CH3477.jpgView source & full licence →
Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1939-1945- Short S.29 Stirling. Stirling Mark I, W7530 ‘HA-Q’, of [No. 218 Squadron](/squadrons/19/) RAF based at [Marham](/airfields/23/), Norfolk, in flight.
ⓘ licence & creditForward (Flying Officer), Royal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aircraft_of_the_Royal_Air_Force_1939-1945-_Short_S.29_Stirling._CH6308.jpgView source & full licence →
Armourers loading 1,000-lb GP bombs into a [Short Stirling](/aircraft/3/) of [No. 218 Squadron](/squadrons/19/) RAF at [RAF Downham Market](/airfields/30/), Norfolk, prior to an operation.
ⓘ licence & creditMinistry of Information Photo Division Photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:218_Squadron_Stirling_IWM_D_8973.jpgView source & full licence →
Mechanics at work on an engine of [Avro Lancaster](/aircraft/1/) B Mark III, LM577 'HA-Q' "Edith", of [No. 218 Squadron](/squadrons/19/) RAF on a pan hardstanding at [Chedburgh](/airfields/6088/), Suffolk.
ⓘ licence & creditRAF Chedburgh, Royal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:218_Squadron_Lancaster_at_RAF_Chedburgh_WWII_IWM_CH_15460.jpgView source & full licence →