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     214 Squadron

History

Motto: "Ultor in umbris" ("Avenging in the shadows")

This squadron was originally formed at Coudekerque, near Dunkirk, on 28th July 1917, as No. 7A Squadron, RNAS, and from the outset its role was heavy night bombing. On 9th December 1917, it became No. 14 Squadron; RNAS, and on 1st April 1918, the day the Royal Air Force was formed, 200 was added to its number and it became No. 214 Squadron, RAF.

Flying Handley Page twin-engined bombers from coastal airfields in France, the squadron was mainly employed on night attacks against naval and army targets in Belgium, but also bombed targets in France. At first it operated under the Dunkirk Naval Command, then from March to June in the 7th Brigade under the control of the Army, and finally, from 4th June to the Armistice in the 82nd Wing, again under the Naval Command. In April and May 1918, it co-operated in the Naval blocking operations at Zeebrugge and Ostend. Another highlight of its wartime career was the night of 24/25th July 1918, when it dropped the RAF's first 1,650-lb. bomb on the enemy.

Posted to Egypt in 1919, No. 214 disbanded the following year and next appeared in 1935 at Boscombe Down, again as a bomber squadron.

For the greater part of the Second World War the squadron served in No. 3 Group and during that time flew many missions against naval and industrial targets in Fortress Europe and played an active part in Gardening or minelaying operations. Beginning operations with Wellingtons in June 1940, it was given Stirlings in the early part of 1942 and continued with these until January 1944, when its tour of duty with No. 3 Group ended. Transferred to No.100 (Bomber Support) Group, it was subsequently re-equipped with American Flying Fortress aircraft and employed until May 1945, on radio counter-measures, i.e. the detection and jamming of enemy radio and radar equipment.

On 27 July 1945, the squadron disbanded.

(Source and (c): Royal Air Force)

Acknowledgements:
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Relevant Websites

RAF 214 Squadron

Casualties of the squadron, buried in the Netherlands.