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Raymond Francis Ridge - Squadron 625

History of No. 625 Squadron.

625 squadron image No 625 Squadron was formed on 1 October 1943 at Kelstern from C Flight of No.100 Squadron. Its Lancasters took part in Bomber Command's night offensive against Germany for the rest of the war. The squadron was formed on 1 October 1943 at RAF Kelstern from 'C' flight of 100 Squadron. It was equipped with Avro Lancaster, as part of No. 1 Group RAF in Bomber Command, of which it formed part between 18 October 1944 and 25 April 1945.

The squadron carried out night raids against Germany. On 5 April 1945 it moved to RAF Scampton. At the end of the war the squadron dropped food to the starving Dutch people, flew POW repatriation flights from Belgium and repatriated British troops from Italy, before it was disbanded on 7 October 1945

Motto:"We avenge"
Badge:Within a circular chain of seven links, a Lancashire rose

Source: http://www.raf.mod.uk/history_old/h625.html, with permission of the site, research provided by Susan Campbell

Lost Bomber Report

lancaster image from lost bombers

Lancaster ED938 Information

Type: Lancaster

Serial Number: ED938

Squadron: 625 X1D CF-C

Operation: Gelsenkirchen

Date 1 12th July 1944 Note this date in error, should be June 12, 1944

Date 2 13th July 1944 Note this date in error, should be June 13, 1944

Further Information

"Serial Range ED303 - EE202 This aircraft was one of 620 Lancasters ordered from A.V.Roe (Chadderton) in 1941 and built from Nov42 to Jun43 as 129 Mk.1s and 491 Mk.111s in a mixed production run up to ED782 and all as Mk.111s from ED783 onwards. Mk.1s were initially fitted with Merlin 20 and the Mk.111s with Merlin 28 engines. ED938 was delivered to No.97 Sqdn 7 May43, to No.100 Sqdn 30Sep43, joining No.625 Sqdn 12Oct44.

Took part in the following Key Operations. With No.97 Sqdn as OF-J, Dortmund 23/24May43; D_sseldorf 25/26May43; D_sseldorf 11/12Jun43; Bochum 12/13Jun43; Hamburg 24/25Jul43; Hamburg 27/28Jul43; Hamburg 2/3Aug43; Peenem_nde 17/18Aug43; Berlin 3/4Sep43; Mannheim 23/24Sep43; To No.100 Sqdn. No operations. To No.625 Sqdn as CF-C, Hannover 18/19Oct43 (No 625's first Lancaster operation); Berlin 18/19Nov43; Berlin 22/23Nov43; Berlin 26/27Nov43; Berlin 2/3Dec43; Berlin 16/17Dec43; Berlin 23/24Dec43; Berlin 29/30Dec43; Berlin 1/2Jan44; Berlin 30/31Jan44; Stuttgart 15/16Mar44; Berlin 24/25Mar44; Schweinfurt 26/27Apr44; Duisburg 21/22May44; Gelsenkirchen 12/13Jul44-Lost.

When lost this aircraft had a total of 580 hours. Airborne 2243 12Jun44 from Kelstern. Cause of loss not established. Crashed near Spanbroek in Noord-Holland, some 9 km NW of Hoorn.

Those killed are buried in Spanbroek Churchyard. See page 5 for an image of the cemetary.

P/O A.G.Scott KIA

Sgt A.R.Williams KIA

F/S C.S.Tainsh RAAF KIA

F/s J.G.Lane RAAF KIA

Sgt L.T.V.Suffield KIA

F/S J.D.Lindsay was interned in Camp L7, PoW No.174 with F/S R.F.Ridge, PoW No.233. "

Source: http://www.lostbombers.co.uk/bomber.php?id=11270, with permission of the site, research provided by Susan Campbell

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