50 Squadron
Memorial Locations
Memorials (2)
Crew Of Handley Page Hampden Ae381 (2)
Pocklington Lancaster Memorial
Aircraft Types
Hampden, Lancaster — Squadron code: VN-
Squadron History
No. 50 Squadron RFC was founded at Dover on 15 May 1916, initially in the home defence role against German Zeppelins and Gotha bombers over Kent. Its last CO before disbandment in 1919 was Major Arthur Harris — later Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of RAF Bomber Command. Reformed at RAF Waddington on 3 May 1937 with Hawker Hind biplanes, the squadron converted to Handley Page Hampdens before the war. Early daylight raids proved costly — on 12 April 1940, six Hampdens were lost attacking German warships off Norway, with 13 officers and men killed. Daylight attacks with Hampdens were abandoned. The squadron flew Manchesters briefly from April 1942, contributing 17 aircraft to Operation Millennium — the first 1,000-bomber raid on Cologne. During that raid, Flying Officer Leslie Manser was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for pressing on after heavy damage and sacrificing his life to allow his crew to parachute to safety. Re-equipped with Lancasters, 50 Squadron continued operations until the final raid of the war against Vallø, Norway on 25/26 April 1945 — flying 7,135 sorties with the loss of 176 aircraft. Post-war, the squadron flew Lincolns, Canberras, and finally Vulcan V-bombers. In 1957, a 50 Squadron Vulcan dropped Britain's first megaton-range nuclear weapon during Operation Grapple at Christmas Island. Two crews were selected for Operation Black Buck during the Falklands War in 1982. The squadron was the last unit to operate the Vulcan, disbanding on 31 March 1984.
Commanding Officers
Notable Personnel
Awarded for the raid on Cologne, 30/31 May 1942 (Operation Millennium). After his Manchester was heavily damaged, Manser pressed on with the attack. When a crash became inevitable, he remained at the controls to allow his crew to parachute to safety. He did not survive.