This is the video of IX(B) Squadron's 1956 visit to Africa. The Squadron was led by Squadron Leader George Bastard and the other solo aerobatic Pilots were Flt Lt Peter Thomas and Flt Lt Des Hall. The story of the detachment is on pages 13 & 14 of 2009 TABS.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzI7mHbZP7I

With thanks to Association Member Paul Forbes for finding the video after many hours searching.

IX SQUADRON HISTORY

DATE EVENT BASE CO AIRCRAFT
4 Aug 14 War Declared - - -
8 Dec 14 IX Sqn formed St Omer Musgrave BE2, 2A, 2B, 2C
1 Apr 15 Move & New CO Brooklands Dowding Longhorn
23 Jul 15 Move Dover Dowding Shorthorn
16 Sep 15 New CO Dover Wanklyn Avro 504
12 Dec 15 Move & new A/C St Omer Wanklyn Bleriot
24 Dec 15 Move Bertangles Wanklyn RE5, RE7
29 Dec 15 First Op. Sortie Bertangles Wanklyn Scout
25 Mar 16 New CO Bertangles Burdett Scout C, BE2C
26 Mar 16 Move Allonville Burdett Scout C, BE2C
12 Aug 16 New Aircraft Allonville Burdett BE2E
15 Jul 16 Move Chipilly Burdett BE2E
3 Sep 16 Move Mourlancourt Burdett BE2E
10 Dec 16 New CO Mourlancourt Edwards BE2E
14 Apr 17 Move ('C' Flt only) Mons-en-Chaussee Edwards BE2E
27 Apr 17 Move Nurlu Edwards BE2E
7 May 17 New Aircraft Nurlu Edwards RE8
29 May 17 Move & New CO Estrees-en-Chaussee Hunter RE8
10 Jun 17 Move Proven Hunter RE8
16 Nov 17 New CO Proven Rodwell RE8
11 Apr 18 Move Calais Rodwell RE8
6 Jun 18 Move Agenvillers Rodwell RE8
23 Jun 18 First Formation raids Agenvillers Rodwell RE8
17 Jul 18 Move Quevenvillers Rodwell RE8
15 Aug 18 Move Amiens Rodwell RE8
7 Sep 18 Move Proyart Rodwell RE8
8 Sep 18 Move Athies Rodwell RE8
6 Oct 18 Move Montingnet Farm Rodwell RE8
18 Oct 18 Move Premont Farm Rodwell RE8
29 Oct 18 Move Tarcienne Rodwell RE8
11 Nov 18 Armistice Tarcienne Rodwell RE8
11 Dec 18 Move Fort Cognelee Rodwell RE8
3 Jan 19 New Aircraft Fort Cognelee Rodwell Bristol
5 May 19 Move Ludendorf Rodwell Bristol
31 Jul 19 Reduced to cadre and posted home Castle Bromwich Rodwell Bristol
31 Dec 19 Sqn Disbanded Castle Bromwich Rodwell Bristol
1 Apr 24 Sqn Reformed Upavon Gibbs Vimy
30 Apr 24 Move & New CO Manston Quinnell Vimy
1 Aug 24 New CO Manston Daly Vimy
9 Jan 25 New Aircraft Manston Daly Virginia
19 Jan 25 New CO Manston Guilfoyle Virginia
28 Feb 26 New CO Manston Gaskell-Blackburn Virginia
29 Dec 26 New CO Manston Durston Virginia
1927 Bat design adopted for Sqn Badge Manston Durston Virginia
28 Nov 28 New CO Manston Strugnell Virginia
26 Nov 30 Move Boscombe Down Strugnell Virginia
4 Jan 31 New CO Boscombe Down Stent Virginia
22 Nov 32 New CO Boscombe Down Sowrey Virginia
27 Feb 33 New CO Boscombe Down Mylne Virginia
20 Dec 34 New CO Boscombe Down Cock Virginia
15 Oct 35 Move Andover Cock Virginia
15 Jan 36 Move Aldergrove Cock Virginia
24 Jul 36 New Aircraft Aldergrove Cock Heyford
1 Oct 36 Move Scampton Cock Heyford
27 Jan 37 King Edward VIII approves Sqn Badge Scampton Cock Heyford
28 Feb 38 New CO Scampton Smith Heyford
10 Mar 38 Move Stradishall Smith Heyford
14 Nov 38 New CO Stradishall Sanderson Heyford
14 Jan 39 New CO Stradishall Lloyd Heyford
31 Jan 39 First Wellington arrives Stradishall Lloyd Wellington
24 Apr 39 Operational strength reached with Wellingtons Stradishall Lloyd Wellington
8-11 Jul 39 Brussels Display Stradishall Lloyd Wellington
15 Jul 39 Move Honington Lloyd Wellington
3 Sep 39 War Declared Honington Lloyd Wellington
4 Sep 39 Sqn Ldr Lamb leads first mission on ships at Brunsbuttel Honington Lloyd Wellington
27 Sep 39 New CO Honington Cole Wellington
18 Dec 39 AC1 Driver earns first DFM of the war Honington Cole Wellington
17 Jan 40 New CO Honington McKee Wellington
19 Jan 40 Leaflet raid on Hamburg, led by CO Honington McKee Wellington
20 Apr 40 First attack on enemy target: Stavanger Honington McKee Wellington
15 May 40 First attack on Ruhr Valley Honington McKee Wellington
5 Jun 40 Fg Off James shot down over Germany escaped on three occasions and awarded MC after the war Honington McKee Wellington
24 Jul 40 New CO Honington Healy Wellington
23 Sep 40 First raid on Berlin Honington Healy Wellington
16 Jan 41 New CO Honington Arnold Wellington
1941 "There's Always Bloody Something" becomes unofficial Sqn motto Honington Arnold Wellington
3 May 41 Sgt Fairfax drops Sqn's first
4,000 lbs bomb on Cologne Honington Arnold Wellington
9 Jun 41 Wg Cdr Arnold flies his damaged aircraft level to allow his crew to bale out. He died in the crash that followed Honington Arnold Wellington
20 Jun 41 New CO Honington Wasse Wellington
11 Sep 41 Target: Turin Honington Wasse Wellington
10 Jan 42 New CO Honington Inness Wellington
31 Mar 42 First Daylight raid on the Ruhr Honington Inness Wellington
3 May 42 Fg Off Saul becomes first Sqn member to drop mines Honington Inness Wellington
27 May 42 New CO Honington James Wellington
30 May 42 14 x IX Sqn aircraft take part in first 1,000 bomber raid on Cologne Honington James Wellington
22 Jun 42 New CO Honington Southwell Wellington
26 Jun 42 16 IX Sqn aircraft attack Bremen in the last 1,000 bomber raid on Cologne Honington Southwell Wellington
1 Aug 42 Sgt Hobbs lands after 2458th and last sortie by Sqn in Wellingtons Honington Southwell Wellington
7 Aug 42 New Aircraft, move and change from 3 Gp to 5 Gp Waddington Southwell Lancaster
17 Oct 42 Daylight low altitude formation raid against Le Creusot Waddington Southwell Lancaster
14 Feb 43 Target Milan Waddington Southwell Lancaster
25 Feb 43 Target Nuremburg Waddington Southwell Lancaster
15 Mar 43 New CO Waddington Smith Lancaster
12 Apr 43 New CO Waddington Burnett Lancaster
14 Apr 43 Move & Target Stuttgart Bardney Burnett Lancaster
11 Jun 43 19 Crews - Target: Dusseldorf Bardney Burnett Lancaster
28 Jun,
3 & 8 Jul 43 Target: Cologne Bardney Burnett Lancaster
24, 27 & 29 Jul 43 Target: Hamburg Bardney Burnett Lancaster
3 Oct 43 Target: Kassel Bardney Burnett Lancaster
14 Nov 43 New CO Bardney Porter Lancaster
15 Feb 44 21 IX Sqn Crews attack Berlin Bardney Porter Lancaster
6 Jun 44 D Day Bardney Porter Lancaster
15 Jun 44 New CO Bardney Bazin Lancaster
21 Jun 44 Target: Gelsenkirchen Bardney Bazin Lancaster
4 Jul 44 Flying Bomb (V-1) sites attacked at Peenemunde Bardney Bazin Lancaster
15 Sep 44 First attack on the Tirpitz with Tallboy Bombs Bardney Bazin Lancaster
15 Oct 44 Target: Sorpe Dam Bardney Bazin Lancaster
12 Nov 44 Tirpitz sunk by IX Sqn Bardney Bazin Lancaster

1 Jan 45
Target: Dortmund, Ems Canal. Flt Sgt G Thompson's gallantry earns him the VC
Bardney
Bazin
Lancaster
12 Jan 45 Target: U-boat pens at Bergen Bardney Bazin Lancaster
22 Feb 45 Target: Altenbaken Viaduct Bardney Bazin Lancaster
23 Mar 45 Target: Bad Cynhausen Bridge Bardney Bazin Lancaster
25 Apr 45 Target: Berchtesgaden, with Tallboys Bardney Bazin Lancaster
8 May 45 VE Day Bardney Bazin Lancaster
18 May 45 New CO Bardney Dupont Lancaster
3 Jul 45 First Aircraft fitted with H2S Mk 2 Bardney Dupont Lancaster
6 Jul 45 Sqn Move Waddington Dupont Lancaster
14 Aug 45 'VJ' Day Waddington Dupont Lancaster
26 Nov 45 New CO Waddington Osborn Lancaster
1-8 Jan 46 Sqn Moves overseas to India Solbani Osborn Lancaster
1-18 Apr 46 Return to UK Binbrook Osborn Lancaster
19 Apr 46 New Base Binbrook Osborn Lancaster
1 May 46 New CO Binbrook Watkins Lancaster
5 Jun 46 Ex Sunbrinze First Peacetime Ex Binbrook Watkins Lancaster
3 Jul 46 Last Flt od Sqn Lancaster Binbrook Watkins Lancaster
13 Jul 46 5 Lincolns arrive on Squadron Binbrook Watkins Lincoln
13 Dec 46 New CO Binbrook Overton Lincoln
24 Jan 47 New CO Binbrook Speed Lincoln
24 Apr 47 New CO Binbrook Flynn Lincoln
13 Nov 47 New CO Binbrook Wilson Lincoln
3 Apr 48 Det to Shallufa Binbrook Wilson Lincoln
20 Aug 48 New CO Binbrook Ostle Lincoln
17 Feb 50 Tirpitz Bulkhead presented to IX & 617 Sqns by C-in-C Norwegian AF Binbrook Ostle Lincoln
17 Aug 50 New CO Binbrook Southall Lincoln
31 Aug 51 2 month detachment to Shallufa Binbrook Southall Lincoln
1 May 52 Last day of flying piston engined aircraft by IX Sqn Binbrook Southall Lincoln

10 Jun 52
Sqn Ldr Southall flies first Canberra B2
Binbrook
Southall
Canberra B2
24 Nov 52 New CO Binbrook Mountford Canberra B2
28 May 53 Sgt Neate and crew became first in RAF to bomb from 45,000 ft Binbrook Mountford Canberra B2
15 Jul 53 Royal Flypast Binbrook Mountford Canberra B2
29 Jul 54 New CO Binbrook Bastard Canberra B2
Sep 55 New Aircraft Binbrook Bastard Canberra B6
25 Jan 56 West African tour: Nigeria, Gold Coast, Gambia & Sierra Leone Binbrook Bastard Canberra B6
29 Jan 56 6 Aircraft display for the Queen at Lagos Binbrook Bastard Canberra B6
25 Feb 56 RTB from African tour via Gibraltar Binbrook Bastard Canberra B6
18 Mar 56 Sqn Detachment to Butterworth Binbrook Bastard Canberra B6
7 Apr 56 First Operational strike against Malayan Terrorists from Det Base at Butterworth Binbrook Bastard Canberra B6
11-16 Apr 56 Goodwill tour to the Phillipines Binbrook Bastard Canberra B6
23 Jun 56 Return to Binbrook Binbrook Bastard Canberra B6
9 Oct 56 Sqn Standard presented by ACM Sir Hugh P Lloyd Binbrook Bastard Canberra B6
30 Oct 56 Sqn Detachment to RNAS Hal Far, Malta for Suez Operation. Targets: Abusuior, Kasfaret & Cairo Binbrook Bastard Canberra B6
10 Jan 57 New CO Binbrook Horsley Canberra B6
Apr 57 First Sunspot detachment to Luqa with bombing at Malta, El Adem, and Tarhuna (Tripoli) Binbrook Horsley Canberra B6
17 Feb 58 New CO Binbrook Stanton Canberra B6
Oct 58 All aircraft modified for LABS Binbrook Stanton Canberra B6
Feb 59 Split Sunspot, Half Sqn to Luqa other half to Idris Binbrook Stanton Canberra B6
2 Jun 59 Move Coningsby Stanton Canberra B6
15 Dec 59 New Co and start of QRA Coningsby Bayley Canberra B6
27 Apr 61 New CO Coningsby Murley Canberra B6
13 Jul 61 Disbanded Coningsby Murley Canberra B6
1 Mar 62 Sqn reformed Coningsby Stevens -
17 Apr 62 First Vulcan B2 arrives Coningsby Stevens Vulcan B2
30 May 63 Vulcan XL 388 'Mayflower III' flown by Sqn Ldr Dick from Boston UK to Boston USA with greetings from the British Mayor to his American counter part Coningsby Stevens Vulcan B2
31 Mar 64 New CO Coningsby Maugham Vulcan B2
20 Jul 64 New CO Coningsby Baker Vulcan B2
7 Oct 64 New CO Coningsby Harris Vulcan B2
10 Nov 64 Move Cottesmore Harris Vulcan B2
May 65 New CO Cottesmore Pollington Vulcan B2
17 Dec 66 New CO Cottesmore Christie Vulcan B2
27 Jun 68 New CO Cottesmore Sewell Vulcan B2
26 Feb 69 Move Akrotiri Sewell Vulcan B2
20 Jun 70 New CO Akrotiri Dick Vulcan B2
7-14 Jul 70 Visit of Harry Denton & Crew Akrotiri Dick Vulcan B2
19 Jun 72 New CO Akrotiri Howie Vulcan B2
30 Aug 72 Flight commemorating the 30th Anniversary of the formation of The Pathfinder Force. Akrotiri Howie Vulcan B2
15 Aug 73 Sqn Ldr Davies's crew provided a radio link between the Commander British Forces in Cyprus and The Turkish General Staff during the invasion of Cyprus. Akrotiri Howie Vulcan B2
8 Dec 74 IX Sqn Diamond Jubilee Akrotiri Howie Vulcan B2
15 Jan 75 Sqn returns to UK Waddington Howie Vulcan B2
24 Jan 75 New CO Waddington Mather Vulcan B2
15 Nov 75 Squadron crew collect the Lincoln copy of The Magna Carta from Castle AFB, California Waddington Mather Vulcan B2
29 Dec 76 New CO Waddington Turner Vulcan B2
29 Jul 77 Sqn takes part in The Royal Review of the RAF at Finningley Waddington Turner Vulcan B2
22 Aug 77 Flt Lt Nelson's crew take part in the first USAF exercise RED FLAG flown by RAF crews Waddington Turner Vulcan B2
5 Jul 78 Flt Lt Tanner's crew win the Blue Steel trophy in STC Bombing Competition Waddington Turner Vulcan B2
14 Oct 78 Squadron presented with portrait of FS George Thompson VC. The painting commissioned and loaned to the squadron by 10 Sqn Association Waddington Turner Vulcan B2
11 Dec 80 New CO Waddington Prideaux Vulcan B2
24 Nov 79 Painting of Lancaster WS-Y presented to Squadron by Scottish and Newcastle Breweries in the company of Flt Lt Tweddle and several of his crew members. Waddington Prideaux Vulcan B2
20 Feb 80 Wg Cdr Prideaux completed 3000 hours on Vulcans Waddington Prideaux Vulcan B2
19 Oct 80 IX Sqn Association and Sqn members attend the dedication of the Bardney Memorial to Squadron aircrew who were killed in the war. Waddington Prideaux Vulcan B2
19 Dec 80 New CO Waddington Mayes Vulcan B2
25 Jul 81 Vulcan Silver Jubilee Celebrations Waddington Mayes Vulcan B2
4 Jan 82 Wg Cdr Mayes commands the last RED FLAG detachment by RAF Vulcans Waddington Mayes Vulcan B2
29 Apr 82 Ceremonies for the handover to IX Sqn Tornado Waddington Mayes Vulcan B2
1 Jun 82 IX Sqn becomes the first RAF to equip with Tornado Honington Gooding Tornado GR1
9 Nov 82 IX Sqn Tornado flies to Cyprus and back non-stop. (4300 nm) Honington Gooding Tornado GR1
1 Oct 83 First Goose Bay Det for Tornado Honington Gooding Tornado GR1
1 Feb 85 First Tornado Ex Green Flag, USA Honington Gooding Tornado GR1
15 Apr 85 New CO Honington Ferguson Tornado GR1
1 Oct 86 Sqn move to RAF Bruggen Bruggen Ferguson Tornado GR1
18 Dec 87 New CO Bruggen Wright Tornado GR1
8 Dec 89 New CO Bruggen Evans Tornado GR1
3 Jan 91 IX(B) Sqn deploy to Dhahran, Saudi Arabia in preparation for Gulf War Bruggen Evans Tornado GR1
17 Jan 91 OC IX(B) leads first attack of 4 x IX(B) Sqn Tornados armed with JP233. Bruggen Evans Tornado GR1
16 Mar 91 IX(B) Sqn return to base Bruggen Evans Tornado GR1
6 Mar 92 New CO Bruggen White Tornado GR1
18 Feb 94 New CO Bruggen Peach Tornado GR1
10 Aug 96 New CO Bruggen McAlpine Tornado GR1
1 Jun 98 First Sqn to re-equip with Tornado GR4 Bruggen McAlpine Tornado GR4
22 Feb 99 New CO Bruggen Bagwell Tornado GR1
1 Apr 99 Sqn involved in Kosovo crisis Bruggen Bagwell Tornado GR1
17 Jul 01 Sqn moves to Marham Marham Bagwell Tornado GR4
6 Aug 01 New CO Marham Watson Tornado GR4
10 Feb 03 Sqn deploys to Ali-Al-Salem Air Base, Kuwait in preparation for second Gulf War Marham Watson Tornado GR4
6 May 03 Sqn returns from Kuwait, OC IX(B) completes 3000 hrs on Tornado Marham Watson Tornado GR4
26 Jan 04 New CO Marham Evans Tornado GR4
26 Jun 06 New CO Marham D Waddington Tornado GR4


Last Updated: 04 Jan 07

Number IX (Bomber) Squadron is the oldest dedicated Bomber Squadron in the RAF. IX (B) Squadron formed as a Royal Flying Corps (RFC) unit at St Omer, France on 8 December 1914 by renaming the Wireless Flight of the RFC Headquarters. The Squadron disbanded in March 1915 when its various elements were absorbed into other RFC squadrons, but reformed a month later at Brooklands equipped with BE2Cs. The Squadron then joined the effort in France on reconnaissance and bombing tasks, equipped subsequently with RE8s. Like many other squadrons, it was disbanded in 1919 after a brief period in occupied Germany.

IX (B) Squadron reformed at Upavon on 1 April 1924, equipped with Vickers Vimy night bombers, and then moved to Manston where the hangars could accommodate the aircraft. In January 1925, the Squadron received the first in a long line of Virginia heavy bombers, which were followed by Heyfords in 1936.

In February 1939, the Squadron moved to Honington and received Wellingtons, with which it was involved in anti-shipping sorties in the early stages of World War II. In September 1942 the Wellingtons were replaced by the famous Lancaster bomber and IX (B) Squadron, now based at Waddington, took part in Bomber Command's strategic offensive against German targets. During World War II, IX (B) Squadron was also stationed at Bardney, Scampton, Honington, Binbrook, Stradishall, Hemswell and Coningsby and still retains its strong ties to East Anglia and Lincolnshire.

Following the move to Bardney the Squadron specialised in dropping large bombs, in particular the 12,000lb (5,440kg) 'Tallboy' bomb, and Squadron crews took part in the successful mission to sink the German battleship Tirpitz in 1944. In January 1945, during an attack on the Dortmund-Ems canal, the Lancaster of Flying Officer H Denton was hit and caught fire and Flight Sergeant George Thompson was awarded the Victoria Cross for saving the lives of 2 crewmembers. Unfortunately, Flight Sergeant Thompson was badly burned and died in hospital 3 weeks later.

After the War, the Lancasters were replaced by Lincolns until 1952, when the Squadron re-equipped with Canberra jet-bombers. These aircraft were used during three months of operations in Malaya in 1956 and during the Suez Crisis. In March 1962, the Squadron converted to the Vulcan and became part of the V-Force, spending six years in Cyprus as part of the Near East Air Force before disbanding in April 1982.

IX (B) Squadron reformed at Honington on 1 June 1982 as the world's first operational Tornado GR1 squadron, and then moved to Brüggen in Germany in 1986. The Squadron deployed to Dhahran, Saudi Arabia in 1990 and took part in operations during the first Gulf War, with IX (B) Squadron crews leading a number of bombing raids, delivering JP 233 and 1000lb bombs. The Squadron has conducted operations over northern & southern Iraq in support of UN resolutions and saw action over Kosovo in 1999. IX (B) Squadron continued her tradition of firsts by becoming the first operational Tornado GR4 squadron in 1999. On 17 July 2001, the Squadron completed a move from Brüggen to Marham in Norfolk. This move, resulting from the UK’s Strategic Defence Review, has seen Marham become the RAF's largest and most potent operational, front-line base.

The Squadron deployed to Kuwait in February 2003 and was heavily involved in the second Gulf War as part of the Ali-Al Salem Combat Air Wing.