No. 196 Squadron RAF
| No. 196 Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
| Active | 7 Nov 1917 – 16 Mar 1946 |
| Country |
 United Kingdom
|
| Branch |
 Royal Air Force
|
| Role | Bomber Airborne Forces Special Operations Transport |
| Part of |
No. 4 Group RAF No. 3 Group RAF No. 38 Group RAF |
| Motto(s) |
Latin: Sic fidem servamus (Translation: "Thus we keep faith") |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge heraldry | A Mailed Fist holding a Dagger, hilt downwards |
| Squadron Codes |
ZO (Nov 1942 – Mar 1946) 7T (May 1943 – Mar 1946) |
No. 196 Squadron was a Royal Air Force squadron originally formed as a training unit during World War I. It was active during World War II in Nos. 3, 4 and 38 Group RAF. It served first as a bomber squadron and later as an airborne support and transport unit.
The first 196 Squadron was originally formed as a training unit at Heliopolis, in Egypt on 9 August 1917 and disbanded a mere 3 months later on 13 November 1917, becoming a part of the Aerial Fighting School.
196 Squadron was reformed at RAF Driffield, Yorkshire on 7 November 1942 as a night bomber unit in No. 4 Group, part of Bomber Command. It was initially equipped with Mk.III and Mk.X Vickers Wellingtons. The squadron carried out many raids on enemy ports and industrial centres in Europe in 1943; it also flew numerous 'gardening' (minelaying) sorties.
On 19 July 1943, the squadron moved south to RAF Witchford, Cambridgeshire, as part of No. 3 Group and was re-equipped with Mk. III Stirling bombers. They moved again to RAF Leicester East later that year and became part of No.38 Group. They then carried out various transport, glider-towing and supply-dropping flights and also undertook SOE and SAS parachuting missions over occupied territories. This required converting to the Mark IV, the 'cloak and dagger' version of the Stirling. On 7 January 1944, the squadron moved again to RAF Tarrant Rushton, Dorset. In February of that year supply drops to the French Resistance commenced, unfortunately with the loss of two aircraft. Many other such missions were subsequently flown successfully.
On 14 March 1944, the squadron was moved yet again in preparation for D-Day to RAF Keevil, Wiltshire. There they trained with 299 Squadron for their part in Operation Overlord. Their mission was to deliver paratroops of the 5th Parachute Brigade and 6th Airborne Division as part of Operation Tonga (each Stirling could carry 20 troops and their equipment). They then had to return to Normandy, towing gliders laden with the main force and their equipment as part of Operation Mallard. At 23:00 on 5 June 1944, 23 Stirlings of 196 Squadron (plus 23 of 299 Squadron), took off to successfully drop paratroops in Normandy, although one aircraft of 196 Squadron was lost. The following day, D-Day itself, a second wave (17 from 196 Squadron), took off at 18:00 towing Horsa gliders as part of Operation Mallard. All returned safely. On 8 June, seven Stirlings carried out a re-supply mission to Normandy as part of Operation Rob Roy.
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