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No.50 Sqn RAF

Name : No.50 Sqn RAF Founded : 15th May 1916 Disbanded : 31st March 1984 Country : UK Fate : Disbanded 31st March 1984 More Details : From defence to attack Known Code Letters : , VN, ZN, QX,

Known Service Details :
Pilot or Aircrew	Rank	Start of Service	End of Service	Known Dates	Aircraft	Airframes	Notes
F. C. Bailey	Sergeant	unknown	unknown	14th February 1941	Hampden	X2983
J. B. Barclay	Sergeant	unknown	15th February 1941		Hampden	X2983	Killed in Action
A. B. Brooks	Sergeant	unknown	unknown	20th March 1941	Hampden	AD742
James Bryce		unknown	unknown
T. N. C. Burrough	Pilot Officer	unknown	unknown	20th March 1941	Hampden	AD742
J. Cameron	Sergeant	unknown	14th March 1941		Hampden	X3146	Killed in Action
K. J. Cooper	Sergeant	unknown	2nd March 1941			N1481	Killed in Action
B. Dixon	Sergeant	unknown	unknown	14th February 1941	Hampden	X2983
R. L. Grainger	Sergeant	unknown	14th March 1941		Hampden	X3146	Killed in Action
Raymond Ernest Grayston		unknown	unknown
P. B. Hodgson	Pilot Officer	unknown	unknown	20th March 1941	Hampden	AD742
H. Howell	Sergeant	unknown	13th March 1941		Hampden	AD721	Killed in Action
Edward Cuthbert Johnson		unknown	unknown
D. T. Johnston	Flight Lieutenant	unknown	13th March 1941		Hampden	AD721	Killed in Action
H. M. Macrossan	Pilot Officer	unknown	5th April 1941		Hampden	AD753	Killed in Action
Harold Brownlow Morgan Mick Martin		unknown	unknown
J. H. Matthews	Sergeant	unknown	5th April 1941		Hampden	AD753	Killed in Action
H. C. Pexton	Pilot Officer	unknown	unknown	01st March 1941	Hampden	X2984
J. Ratcliffe	Sergeant	unknown	unknown	01st April 1941	Hampden	P4409
L. T. Richards	Sergeant	unknown	2nd March 1941		Hampden	X2984	Killed in Action
Russell	Sergeant	unknown	unknown	20th March 1941	Hampden	AD742
L. E. Stannard	Pilot Officer	unknown	13th March 1941		Wellington	AD721	Killed in Action
J. H. Tittley	Sergeant	unknown	unknown	01st March 1941	Hampden	X2984
P. G. Tunstal	Pilot Officer	unknown	15th February 1941		Hampden	X2983	Killed in Action
R. D. Watson	Sergeant	unknown	14th March 1941		Hampden	X3146	Killed in Action
Wheeler	Sergeant	unknown	unknown	01st March 1941	Hampden	X2984
W. G. Williams	Sergeant	unknown	13th March 1941		Hampden	AD721	Killed in Action
F. R. Worthington	Sergeant	unknown	5th April 1941		Hampden	AD753	Killed in Action
R. E. F. Wunderlich	Sergeant	unknown	14th March 1941		Hampden	X3146	Killed in Action

Pilots and Aircrew for : No.50 Sqn RAF
A list of all aircrew from our database who are associated with this squadron. A profile page is available by clicking their name.
Name	Info
Bailey, F. C. Click the name above to see a profile of Bailey, F. C.	Bailey, F. C.
Baldwin, N B Click the name above to see a profile of Baldwin, N B	Baldwin, N B Air Vice-Marshal N B Baldwin CB CBE FRAcS was a Vulcan Mk 2 pilot for most of his flying career. A Cranwell flight cadet, he joined IX Sqn at RAF Coningsby as a co-pilot in 1963, became a captain on 35 Sqn at Cottesmore 2 years later, was a flight commander on the same squadron at RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus in 1970 and commanded 50 Sqn at Waddington towards the end of the aircraft's operational life in the late '70s. He has over 3000 hours on the aircraft. He was then station commander of RAF Wyton when it was a Canberra, Nimrod R, and Bloodhound base; he retired in 1996 having been the Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Overseas) in the Ministry of Defence. Since 1996, he has been the Chairman of the RAF Historical Society and the Chairman of 'Combat Stress' - the Ex-Services Mental Welfare Society.
Barclay, J. B. Click the name above to see a profile of Barclay, J. B.    Died : 15 / 2 / 1941	Barclay, J. B.
Beetham, Michael Click the name above to see a profile of Beetham, Michael	Beetham, Michael Michael Beetham volunteered for the RAFVR in May 1941. After pilot training he was commissioned, and in November 1943 posted to 50 Squadron flying Lancasters at Skellingthorpe. At this time the bomber offensive was at its height, culminating in the Battle of Berlin. Sir Michael and his crew made ten trips to Berlin, lost an engine over Augsburg and took heavy damage during an attack on Leipzig. After completing his first tour and a period of instructing, Sir Michael started his second tour with 57 Squadron at East Kirby, taking part in Operation Exodus, bringing home Prisoners of War from Germany. After a distinguished post war career, Sir Michael received the RAFs top job, Chief of the Air Staff, where he was deeply involved in the Falklands War.
Brooks, A. B. Click the name above to see a profile of Brooks, A. B.	Brooks, A. B.
Bryce, James Click the name above to see a profile of Bryce, James	Bryce, James Taken prisoner on 11th May 1941 after his Manchester Mk.I L7323 OF-A of No.97 Sqn ditched into the North Sea returning from an attack on Berlin. Awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal, gazetted on 22nd October 1940.
Burrough, T. N. C. Click the name above to see a profile of Burrough, T. N. C.	Burrough, T. N. C.
Cameron, J. Click the name above to see a profile of Cameron, J.    Died : 14 / 3 / 1941	Cameron, J.
Cooper, K. J. Click the name above to see a profile of Cooper, K. J.    Died : 2 / 3 / 1941	Cooper, K. J.
Dixon, B. Click the name above to see a profile of Dixon, B.	Dixon, B.
Grainger, R. L. Click the name above to see a profile of Grainger, R. L.    Died : 14 / 3 / 1941	Grainger, R. L.
Grayston, Raymond Ernest Click the name above to see a profile of Grayston, Raymond Ernest    Died : 15 / 4 / 2010	Grayston, Raymond Ernest Ray Grayston had been serving in 50 Squadron when he was posted to 617 Squadron in March 1943. The flight engineer of Les Knight’s Lancaster AJ-N, they attacked and successfully breached the Eder Dam, Ray was shot down on 16th September 1943, and was taken to Stalag Luft III as a POW. Sadly, we have learned that Ray Grayston passed away on 15th April 2010.
Hodgson, P. B. Click the name above to see a profile of Hodgson, P. B.	Hodgson, P. B.
Howell, H. Click the name above to see a profile of Howell, H.    Died : 13 / 3 / 1941	Howell, H.
Johnson, Edward Cuthbert Click the name above to see a profile of Johnson, Edward Cuthbert    Died : 1 / 10 / 2002	Johnson, Edward Cuthbert He joined the RAFVR early in the war, serving with 50 and 106 Squadrons. When he joined 617 Squadron in 1943 he was the bomb aimer on Lancaster AJ-N piloted by Les Knight on the Dambusters raid. During that raid they first attacked the Mohne Dam and then went on to attack and actually breach the Eder Dam, for which he was awarded the DFC. Later in 1943 he was shot down but evaded capture and during a two month journey returned to England via Holland, France, Spain and Gibraltar. Sadly, Edward Johnson died 1st October 2002.
Johnston, D. T. Click the name above to see a profile of Johnston, D. T.    Died : 13 / 3 / 1941	Johnston, D. T.
Kelbrick, William Click the name above to see a profile of Kelbrick, William	Kelbrick, William Gunner, No.50 and No.9 Squadrons.
Macrossan, H. M. Click the name above to see a profile of Macrossan, H. M.    Died : 5 / 4 / 1941	Macrossan, H. M.
Martin, Harold Brownlow Morgan Mick Click the name above to see a profile of Martin, Harold Brownlow Morgan Mick    Died : 3 / 11 / 1988	Martin, Harold Brownlow Morgan Mick Born 27th February 1918, Australian Mick Martin joined the RAF in 1940 and had flown tours with 455 Squadron RAAF and 50 Squadron RAF before joining Guy Gibson at 617 Squadron. Pilot of Lancaster ED909 AJ-P of No.617 Sqn, Mick Martin was Deputy Leader of the Dams Raid and flew in Gibsons lead group. Third aircraft to attack the Mohne Dam, he was awarded the DSO for his part in the raid. Mick Martin later served with Leonard Cheshire, and went on to a distinguished career after the war. ADC to the Queen in 1963, he eventually retired from the RAF as an Air Marshal in 1974. Mick Martin died 3rd November 1988.
Matthews, J. H. Click the name above to see a profile of Matthews, J. H.    Died : 5 / 4 / 1941	Matthews, J. H.
Payne, Reg Click the name above to see a profile of Payne, Reg	Payne, Reg Having completed his training as a WOP/Air Gunner he joined 50 Sqn on Lancasters in the same crew as Marshal of the RAF Sir Michael Beetham. With this crew he completed over 30 ops including 10 to Berlin.
Pexton, H. C. Click the name above to see a profile of Pexton, H. C.	Pexton, H. C.
Ratcliffe, J. Click the name above to see a profile of Ratcliffe, J.	Ratcliffe, J.
Reeve, John Click the name above to see a profile of Reeve, John	Reeve, John Commanded the lead aircraft of Operation Black Buck 1, but was forced to return to base before reaching his objective when his aircraft suffered a pressurisation failure. Several days later he flew a near identical mission as Operation Black Buck 2 successfully targeted an Argentine airstrip at Port Stanley. He served with 9, 10 and 50 Squadrons.
Richards, L. T. Click the name above to see a profile of Richards, L. T.    Died : 2 / 3 / 1941	Richards, L. T.
Russell, Click the name above to see a profile of Russell,	Russell,
Stannard, L. E. Click the name above to see a profile of Stannard, L. E.    Died : 13 / 3 / 1941	Stannard, L. E.
Sumner, Adrian Click the name above to see a profile of Sumner, Adrian	Sumner, Adrian Wing Commander Adrian Sumner joined the RAF in 1966. He first flew the Vulcan as a Co-pilot in Cyprus on IX Squadron in 1970; this was followed by a Captain's tour on 44 Sqn at RAF Waddington. After a brief sojourn at Central Flying School where he became a Qualified Flying Instructor (QFI) on the Bulldog, Adrian returned to RAF Waddington as a Vulcan Squadron Flight Commander and Q171 on 50 Squadron, where he displayed the aircraft during the 1980 Season. Adrian's final association with the Vulcan was as Officer Commanding the RAF Detachment at Offutt Air Force Base, Omaha, Nebraska, USA, where Vulcan's frequently detached for low level training. The rest of Adrian's Service career was mainly associated with Flying Training, both at Support Command Headquarters and as Officer Commanding Operations and Pilot Training Wing at RAF Finningley, where he flew the Dominie, and was Chief Instructor on the Jetstream. His final tour in the RAF was with NATO at SHAPE Headquarters, Mons, Belgium. After leaving the RAF in 1997, Adrian flew the BAe146 for 2 airlines, and he now works as a contract pilot and QFI flying Royal Navy Jetstreams at RNAS Culdrose. He is also a qualified Balloon Pilot. During his flying career Adrian has currently amassed 8500 flying hours, of which 2300 were on the Vulcan.
Tittley, J. H. Click the name above to see a profile of Tittley, J. H.	Tittley, J. H.
Tunstal, P. G. Click the name above to see a profile of Tunstal, P. G.    Died : 15 / 2 / 1941	Tunstal, P. G.
Walker, Augustus Click the name above to see a profile of Walker, Augustus    Died : 11 / 12 / 1986	Walker, Augustus Born in 1912, Augustus Walker joined the RAF on a university commission in 1931. Serving with Bomber Command, he became a squadron leader and wing commander and was awarded both the DSO and DFC for his fine leadership, particularly on low level bombing raids, and for his invariable cheerfulness and his inspiring example. He lost his right arm when he and the crew of a fire tender approached a Lancaster which had caught fire on the runway and the 4000lb bomb suspended under the aircraft exploded. Despite this, he returned to active service with an artificial arm, and went on to take several key posts in the post-war RAF, including ADC to King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II. He died on 11th December 1986. Citation for the Distinguished Flying Cross : This officer is not only a brilliant captain of aircraft but an outstanding squadron commander. On one occasion the target area was almost completely obscured by cloud but, descending through a break in it, he skillfully piloted his aircraft to his target. Climbing out of a balloon barrage into which he had flown, he bombed the target successfully. During the whole of the period his aircraft was subjected to considerable anti-aircraft fire and searchlight activity. Wing Commander Walker has set a splendid example.
Ward, E Gray Click the name above to see a profile of Ward, E Gray	Ward, E Gray After joining the RAF in November 1940, Gray Ward trained as a pilot. His first operational squadron was 50 Squadron flying Lancasters, before he joined 57 Squadron as a Flight Commander. In late 1944 he was selected to join 617 Squadron, and took part in the 22,000lb "Grand Slam" raids on the Bielefeld and Arnsberg viaducts.
Watson, R. D. Click the name above to see a profile of Watson, R. D.    Died : 14 / 3 / 1941	Watson, R. D.
Wheeler, Click the name above to see a profile of Wheeler,	Wheeler,
Williams, W. G. Click the name above to see a profile of Williams, W. G.    Died : 13 / 3 / 1941	Williams, W. G.
Worthington, F. R. Click the name above to see a profile of Worthington, F. R.    Died : 5 / 4 / 1941	Worthington, F. R.
Wunderlich, R. E. F. Click the name above to see a profile of Wunderlich, R. E. F.    Died : 14 / 3 / 1941	Wunderlich, R. E. F.

Aircraft for : No.50 Sqn RAF
A list of all aircraft associated with No.50 Sqn RAF. A profile page including a list of all art prints for the aircraft is available by clicking the aircraft name.
Aircraft	Info
Hampden Click the name above to see prints featuring Hampden aircraft. Manufacturer : Handley Page Retired : 1942 Number Built : 1500	Hampden The Handley Page HP.52 Hampden was a twin-engine medium bomber built for the Royal Air Force and was used by Bomber Command in the early years of world war two. Along with the other medium bombers the Whitley and Wellington, the Hampden bore the brunt of the early bombing war over Europe, taking part in the first night raid on Berlin and the first 1,000-plane raid on Cologne. The newest of the three medium bombers, the Hampden was known as the Flying Suitcase because of its cramped crew conditions. A total of 226 Hampdens were in service with eight Royal Air Force squadrons by the start of the Second World War. Despite its speed and agility, in operational use the Hampden was no match for the fighters of the Luftwaffe (ME109 and FW 190) and the Hampdens role as a day bomber was brief, but Hampdens continued to operate at night on bombing raids over Germany and in mine laying (code-named gardening) in the North Sea. Almost half of the Hampdens built – 714, were lost on operations, witht he loss of 1,077 crew killed and another 739 missing. German flak accounted for 108; with one Hampden being lost due to German Barrage balloons; 263 Hampdens crashed due to a variety of causes, and 214 others were classed as missing. Luftwaffe pilots claimed 128 Hampdens, shooting down 92 at night. The Hampden soon became obsolete for its roll as a medium modern bomber, after operating mainly at night, it was retired from Bomber Command service in late 1942. but continued with Coastal Command throughout 1943 as a long-range Torpedo Bomber (the Hampden TB Mk I which carried the Mk XII torpedo in an open bomb-bay and a single 500 lb (230 kg) bomb under each wing) The Hampden was also used by the Royal Canadian Air Force and Royal New Zealand Air Force.
Lancaster Click the name above to see prints featuring Lancaster aircraft. Manufacturer : Avro Production Began : 1942 Retired : 1963 Number Built : 7377	Lancaster The Avro Lancaster arose from the avro Manchester and the first prototype Lancaster was a converted Manchester with four engines. The Lancaster was first flown in January 1941, and started operations in March 1942. By March 1945 The Royal Air Force had 56 squadrons of Lancasters with the first squadron equipped being No.44 Squadron. During World War Two the Avro Lancaster flew 156,000 sorties and dropped 618,378 tonnes of bombs between 1942 and 1945. Lancaster Bomberss took part in the devastating round-the-clock raids on Hamburg during Air Marshall Harris' Operation Gomorrah in July 1943. Just 35 Lancasters completed more than 100 successful operations each, and 3,249 were lost in action. The most successful survivor completed 139 operations, and the Lancaster was scrapped after the war in 1947. A few Lancasters were converted into tankers and the two tanker aircraft were joined by another converted Lancaster and were used in the Berlin Airlift, achieving 757 tanker sorties. A famous Lancaster bombing raid was the 1943 mission, codenamed Operation Chastise, to destroy the dams of the Ruhr Valley. The operation was carried out by 617 Squadron in modified Mk IIIs carrying special drum shaped bouncing bombs designed by Barnes Wallis. Also famous was a series of Lancaster attacks using Tallboy bombs against the German battleship Tirpitz, which first disabled and later sank the ship. The Lancaster bomber was the basis of the new Avro Lincoln bomber, initially known as the Lancaster IV and Lancaster V. (Becoming Lincoln B1 and B2 respectively.) Their Lancastrian airliner was also based on the Lancaster but was not very successful. Other developments were the Avro York and the successful Shackleton which continued in airborne early warning service up to 1992.
Lincoln Click the name above to see prints featuring Lincoln aircraft. Manufacturer : Avro Production Began : 1945 Retired : 1967 Number Built : 624	Lincoln he first RAF Lincolns joined No. 57 Squadron at East Kirby in 1945. No. 75 (New Zealand) Squadron RAF began re-equipping with Lincolns at RAF Spilsby during August 1945. However, 75 (NZ) Sqn received just three aircraft before VJ Day. In the postwar Royal Air Force, the Lincoln equipped many bomber squadrons. Nearly 600 Lincolns were built to equip 29 RAF squadrons, mainly based in the United Kingdom. They were partially replaced by 88 Boeing Washingtons, on loan from the USAF, which had longer range and could reach targets inside the Iron Curtain. Small numbers remained in use with Nos 7, 83 and 97 Squadrons until the end of 1955, when they were replaced by the first of the V bombers. RAF Lincolns were used in combat during the 1950s, in Kenya against the Mau-Mau, operating from Eastleigh, and also served in Malaya during the Malayan Emergency, against insurgents aligned to the Malayan Communist Party. In Malaya, Lincolns operated from Changi and Tengah, More than 3,000 sorties were flown during their  7 1⁄2-year deployment, with half a million pounds of bombs dropped. This equated to 85% of the bomb tonnage dropped during the Malayan emergency. On 12 March 1953, a RAF Lincoln (RF531 "C") of Central Gunnery School was shot down 20 mi (32 km) NE of Lüneburg, Germany by several Soviet MiG-15s as it flew to Berlin on a radar reconnaissance flight, resulting in the deaths of the seven crew members. In November 1955, four Lincolns of No. 7 Squadron RAF were detached for duties in British territories in the Middle East. In Bahrain, they carried out border patrols of the then Trucial States. When 7 Sqn was disbanded in December 1955, the four detached crews and aircraft became No. 1426 Flight RAF, officially a photographic reconnaissance unit. It was later sent to Aden, carrying out patrols in the lead up to the Aden Emergency. As the RAF Lincolns became unserviceable due to wear and tear, they were replaced by jet aircraft. The Lincolns of Bomber Command were phased out from the mid-1950s and were completely replaced by jet bombers by 1963. The last Lincolns in RAF service were five operated by No. 151 Squadron, Signals Command, at RAF Watton, Norfolk, which were retired on 12 March 1963. From late 1946, Australian-built Lincolns were phased into No. 82 Wing RAAF at RAAF Amberley, replacing the Consolidated Liberators operated by 12, 21 and 23 Squadrons. In February 1948, these units were renumbered 1, 2 and 6 Squadrons respectively; a fourth RAAF Lincoln squadron, No. 10 was formed on 17 March 1949 at RAAF Townsville as a reconnaissance unit. RAAF Lincolns took part in operations in Malaya in the 1950s, operating alongside RAF examples. The RAAF based the B.Mk 30s of No.1 Squadron at Tengah, for the duration of operations in Malaya. The RAAF Lincolns were retired in 1961, with the MR.Mk 31s of No. 10 Squadron being the final variant to see service in Australia.
Manchester Click the name above to see prints featuring Manchester aircraft. Manufacturer : Avro	Manchester Full profile not yet available.
Vulcan Click the name above to see prints featuring Vulcan aircraft. Manufacturer : Avro Production Began : 1955	Vulcan The Avro Vulcan was the worlds first delta winged heavy bomber. the first prototype flew on the 30th August 1952 and the first production Vulcan flew in February 1955. The first Avro Vulcan's arrived for service with the Royal Air Force with 230 operational Conversion Unit (OCU) at RAF Finningley in May 1956. with the first squadron to receive the Vulcan in July 1957 was 83 squadron. In April 1968 Bomber Command merged into the Newly created Strike Command with eight Squadrons being equipped with Vulcan's. A terrain Hugging variant was introduced (the Vulcan SR2) in 1973, to all squadrons except no. 27 squadron (Flying Elephants) which was a Maritime reconnaissance Sqd. The Last Major role for the Avro Bomber was the bombing of Argentinean Airfields in the Falkland Islands During The Falklands Conflict The Avro Vulcan high Altitude Bomber with a crew of five. Top Speed 650 mph with a ceiling of 60,000 feet. maximum range of 5750 miles (with in flight refuelling). with a conventional bomb load of 21 x 1000 lb bombs
Wellington Click the name above to see prints featuring Wellington aircraft. Manufacturer : Vickers Production Began : 1938 Retired : 1953	Wellington The Vickers Wellington was a Bomber aircraft and also used for maritime reconnaissance. and had a normal crew of six except in the MKV and VI where a crew of three was used. Maximum speed was 235 mph (MK1c) 255 mph (MK III, X) and 299 mph (MK IIII), normal operating range of 1805 miles (except MK III which was 1470miles) The Wellington or Wimpy as it was known, was the major bomber of the Royal Air Force between 1939 and 1943. The Royal Air Force received its first Wellingtons in October 1938 to 99 squadron. and by the outbreak of World war two there were 6 squadrons equipped with the Vickers Wellington. Due to heavy losses on daylight raids, the Wellington became a night bomber and from 1940 was also used as a long range bomber in North Africa. and in 1942 also became a long range bomber for the royal Air Force in India. It was well used by Coastal Command as a U-Boat Hunter. The Wellington remained in service with the Royal Air Force until 1953. Probably due to its versatile use, The aircraft was also used for experimental work including the fitting of a pressure cabin for High altitude tests. The Vickers Wellington could sustain major damage and still fly, probably due to its construction of its geodesic structure and practical application of geodesic lines. Designed by Sir Barnes Wallis