On a pellet between two eight-pointed stars, a torch enflamed
ΚΑΘΟΡΩΜΕΝ ΑΙΣΤΟΙ (We Observe unseen)
No.220 Squadron was formed in September 1918 at Imbros from Nos.475, 476 and 477 Flights for fighter and reconnaissance duties in the Aegean. It flew Camels until disbanded in December 1918 as part of the No.62 Wing operating against the Turks,
On 17 August 1936 No.220 reformed at Bircham Newton as a general reconnaissance unit equipped with Ansons On the outbreak of World War Two it began patrols from Thornaby and by November 1939 had converted to Hudsons. These it used for anti-shipping missions off Norway and the Dutch Coast from May 1940 In April 1941 the squadron moved to northern Scotland for attacks on coastal shipping and harbours in Norway and in November supplied a detachment to operate the surviving Fortresses of No. 90 Squadron in the Middle East for two months. The home-based element of the squadron began conversion to Fortresses in January 1942 and became operational on 29 April from Northern Ireland. In March 1943 No. 220 moved to Benbecula in the Outer Hebrides for seven months before being transferred to the Azores where it began to convert to Liberators in December 1944. For the rest of the war it flew anti-sub marine patrols over the South Atlantic, returning to the UK in June 1945, to join Transport Command. Trooping flights to India began in October and continued till the end of April 1946. On 25 May 1946 No. 220 was disbanded.
On 24 September 1951 the squadron reformed at Kinloss as a maritime reconnaissance unit with Shackletons being renumbered 201 Squadron on 1 October 1958. On 22 July 1959, it was reformed at North Pickenham as a Thor strategic missile squadron disbanding on 10 July 1963.
Squadron Bases & Airfields
Equipment Used and Dates
Imbros, Sep 1918 to Dec 1918
Camel - Sep 1918 - Dec 1918
Bircham Newton, 17 Aug 1936
Anson 1 - Aug 1936 - Nov 1939
Thornaby, 21 Aug 1939
Hudson I, 111, VI - Sep 1939 - Feb 1942
St. Eval (D) 6 Nov 1940 to 28 Apr 1941
Fortress 1 - Nov 1941 - Jul 1942
Wick, 1 Mar 1941 (D) to 28 Apr 1941 (All)
Fortress II, Iia - Jul 1942 - Apr 1945
Nutts Corner, 9 Jan 1942
Fortress lII - Jul 1944 - Apr 1945
Ballykelly, 20 Jun 1942
Liberator VI - Dec 1944 - May 1946
Aldergrove, 14 Feb 1943
Liberator VIII - Jul l945 - May 1946
Benbecula, 13 Mar 1943
Left for Azores 9 Oct 1943 (G)
Lagens, 18 Oct 1943 (A)
St. Davids, 30 May 1945 (A)
Waterbeach 22 Sep 1945 to 25 May 1946
'Yea, Though I Fly Through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I Shall Fear No Evil. For I am at 50,000 Feet and Climbing.'
Hello Members. I have only just joined your site so still finding my way around. My late father served with 220 Squadron. He was based at St. Eval, Lagens/Azores, Gibraltar, St Davids, and Waterbeach. He was Donald Taylor from Pontypool, South Wales and was a Flight Engineer. He served with a crew whose pilot's surname was Mallinson. Aircraft ZZ-E. I have a wonderful photograph of both air crew [sitting] and ground crew [standing] in front of their aircraft. My father finished as a Warrant Officer at Waterbeach, Cambridge. Can anyone recall him or his crew. David Taylor. [also 224 for a short time.]
Tremic replied the topic: Re: No. 220 Squadron R.A.F.
Hello Taylor family
My father-in-law Flight Sgt Edward Kent was also a Flight Engineer with 220 squadron and also ended as Warrant Officer at Waterbeach. He served in all the places you mentioned around 1944-45 including the Azores from Sep 1944 - May 1945. We are seeing him tomorrow and will mention the names you have mentioned - if you want to upload one of the photographs you have I can show that to him and maybe he might recognise someone.
mark brumell replied the topic: No. 220 Squadron R.A.F.
Hi can anybody help ?,my father is James Fredrick Brumell, in ww2 he was rear gunner and engineer,his 220 squadron plane was named shangarni shower, are any other members off his crew still alive ? perhaps on this site ?if so it would be great to here from you. Regards his loving son mark