COMMANDING OFFICERS
A/V/M
G. E. Brookes Jan.1, 1943--Feb 28,
1944
A/V/M C. M.
McEwen
Feb. 29, 1944--July 13, 1945
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STATISTICS
First Sortie: |
Jan 3/4, 1943--427 Squadron
Mine Laying |
Last
Sortie: |
April 25, 1945--Bombing Gun
Positions at Wangerooge |
Sorties
Flown: |
40,822 |
Ordinance
Dropped: |
126,000 Tons |
Losses: |
814 Aircraft with
approximately 3500 aircrew
killed or presumed dead. |
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Situated
4 miles east of Knaresborough, a 75 room mansion on a 2000 acre estate,
Allerton Park Castle was requisitioned by the Air Ministry from Lord
Mowbray.
This castle was then transformed into offices and was the
administration
and operations headquarters of the Canadian [6 Group] Bomber Command.
On
Dec 6,1942, headquarters was moved from the temporary site at Linton on
Ouse to Allerton Park. The 6 Group officially reached operational
status
at 00.01 on Jan 1,1943. With this in affect, the Canadian squadrons
ceased
to take orders from 4 Group, and now reported directly to bomber
command
headquarters in High Wycombe. The financial responsibility for aircraft
maintenance and administration was now looked after by the Canadian
government.
The order of battle will show which squadrons and airfields came on
line
as of this date. All 6 Group airfields were located in North Yorkshire
and therefore had the furthest to fly when attacking most targets.
Because
of the topographic features in this area, the airfields were close
together,
and circuits overlapped, making flying hazardous. This,along with fog
and
industrial smog, made takeoffs and landings very stressful on the
aircrews
and airfield controllers. Allerton Park was also responsible to insure
that all squadrons complied with instructions from bomber command as to
routes, bombload, bombing height, and timing over the target. The
stations
were responsible for accommodation, feeding, and maintenance of
squadron
aircraft. |
Click on the following
images to
see larger versions.
If you can name any of the
people
in the photos, please e-mail
me.
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