No. 149 Squadron RAF
| No. 149 (East India) Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
| Active | 3 March 1918 – 1 August 1919 12 April 1937 – 1 March 1950 14 August 1950 – 31 August 1956 |
| Country |
 United Kingdom
|
| Branch |
 Royal Air Force
|
| Type | Bomber |
| Role | Night Bombing |
| Part of | RAF Bomber Command |
| Nickname(s) | 'East India' |
| Motto(s) |
Latin: Fortis Nocte ("Strong by Night") |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge heraldry | A horseshoe and a flash of lightning interlaced |
| Squadron Codes |
LY (Oct 1938 – Sep 1939) OJ (Sep 1939 – Nov 1949) TK (for 'C' flight) (Feb 1943 – Jun 1945) |
No. 149 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron between 1918 and 1956. Formed 1918 in the Royal Flying Corps as a night-bomber unit, it remained in that role for the rest of its existence which spanned three periods between 1918 and 1956.
Formed on 3 March 1918 at RAF Ford, near Yapton, West Sussex, as No. 149 (NB) Squadron RFC, the squadron soon moved to France for night bombing missions above occupied France and Belgium, flying Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2s. After the war the squadron for three months took part in the occupation force in Germany, being stationed at Bickendorf, moving to Ireland in March 1919 where the squadron was disbanded on 1 August 1919.
The squadron was reformed from 'B' Flight of No. 99 Squadron RAF on 12 April 1937 under No. 3 Group RAF at RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk where it remained until April 1942. Initially equipped with Heyford biplane bombers, the squadron converted to Vickers Wellingtons in January 1939. On 4 September 1939 L4259 was flown on "Ops Brunsbüttel 4/500 GP", the day after the declaration of war against Germany by Great Britain. (Source Pilot's Logbook). After being re-equipped with the Short Stirling in November 1941, the squadron took part in the first 1,000 bomber raid. The squadron also formed No. 149 Squadron Conversion flight on 21 January 1942 to train new Stirling crews and on 7 October this was formed into 1657 Heavy Conversion Unit (HCU) together with 7, 101 and 218 Squadron Conversion Flights. In August 1944, the Stirlings gave way to Avro Lancasters, which served the squadron until 1949. At the end of the war no. 149 squadron participated in Operation Manna, to drop food to the starved Dutch population still under German occupation, and Operation 'Exodus', to return former prisoners of war back to the UK.
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