Operation Exodus | |
---|---|
Planned by | Royal Air Force |
Objective | Air repatriation of British PoWs |
Date | 3 April 1945 —31 May 1945 |
Executed by | RAF Bomber Command |
Casualties | (see Casualties section) |
Operation Exodus was the code name for the airborne repatriation of British ex-prisoners of war from Europe, that took place from April to May 1945, in the closing stages of the Second World War. [1] By 1 June approximately, 3,500 flights had brought back 75,000 men back to the UK in modified Lancaster bombers. [2]
Following the liberation of Europe by allied forces, a urgent need emerged to promptly repatriate ex-prisoners of war (POWs) to Britain. This urgency was precipitated by the release of 354,000 British POWs when their camps were liberated. [3] In response, RAF command opted to repurpose Lancaster bomber planes into transport aircraft for this vital mission, each configured to transport 24 individuals along with a minimal crew. [4]
The chosen reception airfields for these repatriation flights included Westcott, Oakley, Cosford, in Shropshire, Dunsfold in Surrey and Wing in Buckinghamshire. Additionally, designated collection airfields were established in Lübeck, Germany, Brussels, Belgium and Juvincourt, France. [4]
The operation started with the receipt of orders at RAF Oakley, Buckinghamshire, on 2 April 1945, instructing the preparation for the arrival of 300 repatriated prisoners of war scheduled to land by air at 11:00. Extensive arrangements were made for their reception until the arrival was postponed for the following day. On 3 April, seven Dakotas landed with repatriated POWs, and by the end of the month, a total of 72 Douglas Dakotas twin-engined aircraft, transported 1,787 men. [5]
In the subsequent month of May 1945, a significant number of personnel, totalling 15,088, were flown back using a variety of aircraft, including 443 Avro Lancasters, 103 Dakotas, 51 Handley Page Halifaxes, 31 Consolidated Liberators, 3 Short Stirlings, 3 Lockheed Hudsons and 2 Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses. [6]
On 8 May 1945 No. 405 Squadron flew ten of its Lancasters with former PoWs, departing from Brussels to RAF Westcott in Buckinghamshire. [7] The same squadron continued its involvement with eight additional planes, bringing men back from Lübeck, Germany, on 9 and 10 May 1945. Its final mission in this operation took place on 15 May, with seven planes bringing back 360 prisoners from Juvincourt airfield near Rheims, France, to Buckinghamshire. [8] Simultaneously, No. 617 Squadron departed on VE day, 8 May, to Brussels via Juvincourt, [9] contributing to a daily influx of 500 men through Juvincourt alone. [10]
Between 10 and 11 May, No. 550 Squadron executed forty-eight missions between Brussels and Westcott. [7] On 14 May, No. 619 Squadron flew back from Lille, France. [11] Throughout the entire operation, a total of 469 missions were conducted, facilitating the return of 75,000 former PoWs. [10] [12]
On 9 May, a Lancaster from No. 514 Squadron crashed between Westbeach and Juvincourt killing the 30 men on board. [13] No. 149 Squadron flew from Reims France, one leading aircraft unable to take off from an airfield taxiway designed for fighters not heavy bombers, crashed killing its thirty one passengers and crew. [14]
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No. 8 Group RAF was a Royal Air Force group which existed during the final year of the First World War and during the Second World War.
No. 100 Group was a special duties group within RAF Bomber Command. The group was formed on 11 November 1943 to consolidate the increasingly complex business of electronic warfare and countermeasures in one organisation. The group was responsible for the development, operational trial and use of electronic warfare and countermeasures equipment. It was based at RAF stations in East Anglia, chiefly Norfolk.
No. 5 Group RAF was a Royal Air Force bomber group of the Second World War, led during the latter part by AVM Sir Ralph Cochrane.
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RAF Westcott is a former Royal Air Force station located near Westcott in Buckinghamshire, England. The site fully opened in September 1942 and was the base of No.11 Operational Training Unit (OTU) flying the Vickers Wellington medium bomber until the RAF moved out in August 1945, the station was officially closed on 3 April 1946.
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No. 626 Squadron RAF was a heavy bomber squadron of the Royal Air Force from 1943 to 1945.
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No. 463 Squadron RAAF was a Royal Australian Air Force heavy bomber squadron during World War II. The squadron was formed in the United Kingdom in late 1943 from personnel and aircraft allocated from No. 467 Squadron RAAF. The squadron was equipped with Avro Lancaster bombers and flew its first raids on Germany immediately after being formed. Operating as part of RAF Bomber Command No. 463 Squadron conducted raids against cities, industrial facilities and military targets in Germany, France and Norway throughout 1944 and until the end of the war in May 1945. Following the war, the squadron evacuated Allied prisoners of war from Europe until it was disbanded in late 1945.
Raymond Brown Hesselyn, was a New Zealand fighter pilot and flying ace of the Second World War, credited with the destruction of at least 18 enemy aircraft while flying with the Royal Air Force (RAF) over Europe and the Mediterranean.
No. 576 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Second World War heavy bomber squadron.
Juvincourt Airfield is an abandoned military airfield, which is located near the commune of Juvincourt-et-Damary in the Aisne department of northern France.
Royal Air Force Wing or more simply RAF Wing is a former Royal Air Force station, situated just west of the village of Wing, in the Aylesbury Vale district of Buckinghamshire, England.
RAF Helperby, was a First World War era airfield near to the villages of Brafferton and Helperby in North Yorkshire, England. It was used initially by No. 33 Squadron RAF, and then later by No. 76 Squadron RAF in the home defence (HD) role. During the Second World War, the site was used as an ammunition supply depot, being operated by No. 92 Maintenance Unit RAF, and also by the USAAF. The site was known to have stored mustard gas and other chemical weapons during the period of the Second World War.
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