203 Squadron RAF
- 203 Squadron's history starts with No. 3 Squadron RNAS, formed in June 1916, and renumbered 203 Squadron upon the formation of the RAF on April 1, 1918.
- The squadron was disbanded in January, 1920, reformed in April, 1920, then disbanded again in April, 1923.
- The squadron was reformed on January 1, 1929 by renumbering 482 Flight at Cattewater, Plymouth.
- Pre-war the squadron was based in the Gulf area.
- Initial wartime operations were in the Gulf area East Africa and the Mediterranean theatre.
- In November 1943 it moved to India and re-equipped with Wellington XIII's for anti-shipping patrols over the Indian Ocean.
- In November 1944, the squadron started converting to Liberators, initially flying patrols over the Bay of Bengal..
- In 1945 the squadron commenced anti-shipping strikes by both day and night over the Bay of Bengal. During this period it also flew some supply dropping flights.
- After VJ day, the squadron was used for ferrying flights, until May 1946 when it returned to the UK.
- In August 1946 it converted to Lancaster GR3's
- During WWII the squadron flew MkVI and Vk VIII Liberators
Transcripts of 203 Squadron Records, while in SEAC
(Initial drafts -- on a few the sections of the copies were unreadable and some transcripts need a lot of work)
October 1944 Form 540
November 1944 Form 540
December 1944 Form 540
December 1944 Form 541
January 1945 Form 540
January 1945 Form 541
February 1945 Form 540
March 1945 Form 540
March 1945 Form 541
April 1945 Form 540
April 1945 Form 541
May 1945 Form 540
May 1945 Form 540 Cuttack Detachment
May 1945 Form 541
June 1945 Form 540
June 1945 Form 540 Akyab Detachment
June 1945 Form 541
July 1945 Form 540
July 1945 Form 541
Liberators listed as serving with 203 Squadron
Includes the "fates" of the aircraft.
The Painting by Frank Wootton P.G. Av
A
"P/O Eric. H Cocks, RAAF, flying a B24, 203 Squadron RAF
in a low level bombing attack on enemy ships in Bandon Harbour, Malaya
6th July 1945"
(presented here courtesy of E. H. Cocks)
"P"
KH185
(Photographs of 203 Squadron members in the Mediterranean Theatre while on Baltimores on this page.)
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Last updated June 27, 2009