About This Unit
No. 227 Squadron RAF
No.227 Squadron went through three active incarnations during the Second World War, the first two flying anti-shipping and maritime reconnaissance operations in the Mediterranean and the third and last as a Lancaster Heavy Bomber squadron in Bomber Command, based in the UK.
The squadron was partially reformed early in 1942 but this version of the squadron never became operational. Instead its aircraft were used to form No. 272 Squadron in June 1942, while its ground crews went to No.10 Squadron.
The first operational No.227 Squadron of the Second World War was formed on 20 August 1942 by the re-designation of a detachment of Bristol Beaufighters from No. 235 Squadron on Malta. The new squadron became operational on the same day, providing a fighter escort for No.39 Squadron. The squadron flew escort missions in August-October, before starting to fly offensive patrols of its own from November. The pressure of continuous operations from Malta slowly took its toll, and in February 1943 the squadron was withdrawn from operations and dispersed.
The second operational version of the squadron formed at Idku (Egypt) around a core of personnel from Nos.252 and 272 Squadrons, as a Beaufighter equipped anti-shipping and maritime reconnaissance squadron. Operations began on 21 April, and with most taking place over the Aegean. The squadron was also used for some attacks on targets on Crete and to provide fighter cover for convoys and for the short-lived garrisons of Kos and Leros.
A similar mix of operations was flown in the first half of 1944, but in July the squadron was withdrawn from operations, its RAF crews replaced with South African crews and on 12 August the squadron was renumbered as No.19 Squadron, SAAF.
The squadron was reformed for the last time on 7 October 1944 at Bardney around 'A Flight' of No.9 Squadron and 'B Flight' of No.619 Squadron. The reformed squadron was a Lancaster bomber squadron and was part of Bomber Command's main force until the end of the war. This version of the squadron was disbanded on 5 September 1945.
Sources: https://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/RAF/227_wwII.html