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No.50 Sqn RAF

Founded : 15th May 1916
Country : UK
Fate : Disbanded 31st March 1984
Known Aircraft Codes : VN, ZN, QX

From defence to attack

No.50 Sqn RAF

No.50 Sqn RAF Artwork

No.50 Sqn RAF Artwork Collection



Clipped Signature - Sir Michael Beetham.


Clipped Signature - Edward Johnson.


Clipped Signature - Aleksander Maisner.


Nursing Her Home by Ivan Berryman.


Vulcan B.2, 50 Sqn, Waddington by Ivan Berryman.


Forming Up by Randall Wilson. (GL)


Avro Lancaster B.1 by Ivan Berryman.

Aircraft for : No.50 Sqn RAF
A list of all aircraft known to have been flown by No.50 Sqn RAF. A profile page including a list of all art prints for the aircraft is available by clicking the aircraft name.
SquadronInfo

Hampden




Click the name above to see prints featuring Hampden aircraft.

Manufacturer : Handley Page
Retired : 1942
Number Built : 1500

Hampden

The Handley Page HP.52 Hampden was a twin-engine medium bomber built for the Royal Air Force and was used by Bomber Command in the early years of world war two. Along with the other medium bombers the Whitley and Wellington, the Hampden bore the brunt of the early bombing war over Europe, taking part in the first night raid on Berlin and the first 1,000-plane raid on Cologne. The newest of the three medium bombers, the Hampden was known as the Flying Suitcase because of its cramped crew conditions. A total of 226 Hampdens were in service with eight Royal Air Force squadrons by the start of the Second World War. Despite its speed and agility, in operational use the Hampden was no match for the fighters of the Luftwaffe (ME109 and FW 190) and the Hampdens role as a day bomber was brief, but Hampdens continued to operate at night on bombing raids over Germany and in mine laying (code-named gardening) in the North Sea. Almost half of the Hampdens built – 714, were lost on operations, witht he loss of 1,077 crew killed and another 739 missing. German flak accounted for 108; with one Hampden being lost due to German Barrage balloons; 263 Hampdens crashed due to a variety of causes, and 214 others were classed as missing. Luftwaffe pilots claimed 128 Hampdens, shooting down 92 at night. The Hampden soon became obsolete for its roll as a medium modern bomber, after operating mainly at night, it was retired from Bomber Command service in late 1942. but continued with Coastal Command throughout 1943 as a long-range Torpedo Bomber (the Hampden TB Mk I which carried the Mk XII torpedo in an open bomb-bay and a single 500 lb (230 kg) bomb under each wing) The Hampden was also used by the Royal Canadian Air Force and Royal New Zealand Air Force.

Lancaster




Click the name above to see prints featuring Lancaster aircraft.

Manufacturer : Avro
Production Began : 1942
Retired : 1963
Number Built : 7377

Lancaster

The Avro Lancaster arose from the avro Manchester and the first prototype Lancaster was a converted Manchester with four engines. The Lancaster was first flown in January 1941, and started operations in March 1942. By March 1945 The Royal Air Force had 56 squadrons of Lancasters with the first squadron equipped being No.44 Squadron. During World War Two the Avro Lancaster flew 156,000 sorties and dropped 618,378 tonnes of bombs between 1942 and 1945. Lancaster Bomberss took part in the devastating round-the-clock raids on Hamburg during Air Marshall Harris' Operation Gomorrah in July 1943. Just 35 Lancasters completed more than 100 successful operations each, and 3,249 were lost in action. The most successful survivor completed 139 operations, and the Lancaster was scrapped after the war in 1947. A few Lancasters were converted into tankers and the two tanker aircraft were joined by another converted Lancaster and were used in the Berlin Airlift, achieving 757 tanker sorties. A famous Lancaster bombing raid was the 1943 mission, codenamed Operation Chastise, to destroy the dams of the Ruhr Valley. The operation was carried out by 617 Squadron in modified Mk IIIs carrying special drum shaped bouncing bombs designed by Barnes Wallis. Also famous was a series of Lancaster attacks using Tallboy bombs against the German battleship Tirpitz, which first disabled and later sank the ship. The Lancaster bomber was the basis of the new Avro Lincoln bomber, initially known as the Lancaster IV and Lancaster V. (Becoming Lincoln B1 and B2 respectively.) Their Lancastrian airliner was also based on the Lancaster but was not very successful. Other developments were the Avro York and the successful Shackleton which continued in airborne early warning service up to 1992.

Lincoln


Click the name above to see prints featuring Lincoln aircraft.

Manufacturer : Avro

Lincoln

Full profile not yet available.

Manchester


Click the name above to see prints featuring Manchester aircraft.

Manufacturer : Avro

Manchester

Full profile not yet available.

Vulcan




Click the name above to see prints featuring Vulcan aircraft.

Manufacturer : Avro
Production Began : 1955

Vulcan

The Avro Vulcan was the worlds first delta winged heavy bomber. the first prototype flew on the 30th August 1952 and the first production Vulcan flew in February 1955. The first Avro Vulcan's arrived for service with the Royal Air Force with 230 operational Conversion Unit (OCU) at RAF Finningley in May 1956. with the first squadron to receive the Vulcan in July 1957 was 83 squadron. In April 1968 Bomber Command merged into the Newly created Strike Command with eight Squadrons being equipped with Vulcan's. A terrain Hugging variant was introduced (the Vulcan SR2) in 1973, to all squadrons except no. 27 squadron (Flying Elephants) which was a Maritime reconnaissance Sqd. The Last Major role for the Avro Bomber was the bombing of Argentinean Airfields in the Falkland Islands During The Falklands Conflict The Avro Vulcan high Altitude Bomber with a crew of five. Top Speed 650 mph with a ceiling of 60,000 feet. maximum range of 5750 miles (with in flight refuelling). with a conventional bomb load of 21 x 1000 lb bombs

Wellington




Click the name above to see prints featuring Wellington aircraft.

Manufacturer : Vickers
Production Began : 1938
Retired : 1953

Wellington

The Vickers Wellington was a Bomber aircraft and also used for maritime reconnaissance. and had a normal crew of six except in the MKV and VI where a crew of three was used. Maximum speed was 235 mph (MK1c) 255 mph (MK III, X) and 299 mph (MK IIII), normal operating range of 1805 miles (except MK III which was 1470miles) The Wellington or Wimpy as it was known, was the major bomber of the Royal Air Force between 1939 and 1943. The Royal Air Force received its first Wellingtons in October 1938 to 99 squadron. and by the outbreak of World war two there were 6 squadrons equipped with the Vickers Wellington. Due to heavy losses on daylight raids, the Wellington became a night bomber and from 1940 was also used as a long range bomber in North Africa. and in 1942 also became a long range bomber for the royal Air Force in India. It was well used by Coastal Command as a U-Boat Hunter. The Wellington remained in service with the Royal Air Force until 1953. Probably due to its versatile use, The aircraft was also used for experimental work including the fitting of a pressure cabin for High altitude tests. The Vickers Wellington could sustain major damage and still fly, probably due to its construction of its geodesic structure and practical application of geodesic lines. Designed by Sir Barnes Wallis
Signatures for : No.50 Sqn RAF
A list of all signatures from our database who are associated with this squadron. A profile page is available by clicking their name.
NameInfo


Air Vice-Marshal N B Baldwin CB CBE FRAeS
Click the name above to see prints signed by Air Vice-Marshal N B Baldwin CB CBE FRAeS
Air Vice-Marshal N B Baldwin CB CBE FRAeS

Air Vice-Marshal N B Baldwin CB CBE FRAcS was a Vulcan Mk 2 pilot for most of his flying career. A Cranwell flight cadet, he joined IX Sqn at RAF Coningsby as a co-pilot in 1963, became a captain on 35 Sqn at Cottesmore 2 years later, was a flight commander on the same squadron at RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus in 1970 and commanded 50 Sqn at Waddington towards the end of the aircraft's operational life in the late '70s. He has over 3000 hours on the aircraft. He was then station commander of RAF Wyton when it was a Canberra, Nimrod R, and Bloodhound base; he retired in 1996 having been the Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Overseas) in the Ministry of Defence. Since 1996, he has been the Chairman of the RAF Historical Society and the Chairman of 'Combat Stress' - the Ex-Services Mental Welfare Society.




Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Michael Beetham GCB CBE DFC AFC FRAeS
Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Michael Beetham GCB CBE DFC AFC FRAeS
Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Michael Beetham GCB CBE DFC AFC FRAeS

Michael Beetham volunteered for the RAFVR in May 1941. After pilot training he was commissioned, and in November 1943 posted to 50 Squadron flying Lancasters at Skellingthorpe. At this time the bomber offensive was at its height, culminating in the Battle of Berlin. Sir Michael and his crew made ten trips to Berlin, lost an engine over Augsburg and took heavy damage during an attack on Leipzig. After completing his first tour and a period of instructing, Sir Michael started his second tour with 57 Squadron at East Kirby, taking part in Operation Exodus, bringing home Prisoners of War from Germany. After a distinguished post war career, Sir Michael received the RAFs top job, Chief of the Air Staff, where he was deeply involved in the Falklands War.




Flight Lieutenant Edward Johnson
Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by or with the mounted signature of Flight Lieutenant Edward Johnson

1 / 10 / 2002Died : 1 / 10 / 2002
Flight Lieutenant Edward Johnson

He joined the RAFVR early in the war, serving with 50 and 106 Squadrons. When he joined 617 Squadron in 1943 he was the bomb aimer on Lancaster AJ-N piloted by Les Knight on the Dambusters raid. During that raid they first attacked the Mohne Dam and then went on to attack and actually breach the Eder Dam, for which he was awarded the DFC. Later in 1943 he was shot down but evaded capture and during a two month journey returned to England via Holland, France, Spain and Gibraltar. Sadly, Edward Johnson died 1st October 2002.



Flight Lieutenant William J Kelbrick
Click the name above to see prints signed by Flight Lieutenant William J Kelbrick
Flight Lieutenant William J Kelbrick

Gunner, No.50 and No.9 Squadrons.



Air Marshal Sir Harold (Mick) Martin KCB CB DSO* AFC RAAF
Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by or with the mounted signature of Air Marshal Sir Harold (Mick) Martin KCB CB DSO* AFC RAAF

3 / 11 / 1988Died : 3 / 11 / 1988
Air Marshal Sir Harold (Mick) Martin KCB CB DSO* AFC RAAF

Born 27th February 1918, Australian Mick Martin joined the RAF in 1940 and had flown tours with 455 Squadron RAAF and 50 Squadron RAF before joining Guy Gibson at 617 Squadron. Pilot of AJ-P, Mick Martin was Deputy Leader of the Dams Raid and flew in Gibsons lead group. Third aircraft to attack the Mohne Dam, he was awarded the DSO for his part in the raid. Mick Martin later served with Leonard Cheshire, and went on to a distinguished career after the war. ADC to the Queen in 1963, he eventually retired from the RAF as an Air Marshal in 1974. Mick Martin died 3rd November 1988.



Warrant Officer Reg Payne
Click the name above to see prints signed by Warrant Officer Reg Payne
Warrant Officer Reg Payne

Having completed his training as a WOP/Air Gunner he joined 50 Sqn on Lancasters in the same crew as Marshal of the RAF Sir Michael Beetham. With this crew he completed over 30 ops including 10 to Berlin.



Squadron Leader John Reeve
Click the name above to see prints signed by Squadron Leader John Reeve
Squadron Leader John Reeve

Commanded the lead aircraft of Operation Black Buck 1, but was forced to return to base before reaching his objective when his aircraft suffered a pressurisation failure. Several days later he flew a near identical mission as Operation Black Buck 2 successfully targeted an Argentine airstrip at Port Stanley. He served with 9, 10 and 50 Squadrons.




Wing Commander Adrian Sumner
Click the name above to see prints signed by Wing Commander Adrian Sumner
Wing Commander Adrian Sumner

Wing Commander Adrian Sumner joined the RAF in 1966. He first flew the Vulcan as a Co-pilot in Cyprus on IX Squadron in 1970; this was followed by a Captain's tour on 44 Sqn at RAF Waddington. After a brief sojourn at Central Flying School where he became a Qualified Flying Instructor (QFI) on the Bulldog, Adrian returned to RAF Waddington as a Vulcan Squadron Flight Commander and Q171 on 50 Squadron, where he displayed the aircraft during the 1980 Season. Adrian's final association with the Vulcan was as Officer Commanding the RAF Detachment at Offutt Air Force Base, Omaha, Nebraska, USA, where Vulcan's frequently detached for low level training. The rest of Adrian's Service career was mainly associated with Flying Training, both at Support Command Headquarters and as Officer Commanding Operations and Pilot Training Wing at RAF Finningley, where he flew the Dominie, and was Chief Instructor on the Jetstream. His final tour in the RAF was with NATO at SHAPE Headquarters, Mons, Belgium. After leaving the RAF in 1997, Adrian flew the BAe146 for 2 airlines, and he now works as a contract pilot and QFI flying Royal Navy Jetstreams at RNAS Culdrose. He is also a qualified Balloon Pilot. During his flying career Adrian has currently amassed 8500 flying hours, of which 2300 were on the Vulcan.



Air Chief Marshal Sir Augustus Walker GCB CBE DSO DFC AFC
Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by or with the mounted signature of Air Chief Marshal Sir Augustus Walker GCB CBE DSO DFC AFC

11 / 12 / 1986Died : 11 / 12 / 1986
Air Chief Marshal Sir Augustus Walker GCB CBE DSO DFC AFC

Born in 1912, Augustus Walker joined the RAF on a university commission in 1931. Serving with Bomber Command, he became a squadron leader and wing commander and was awarded both the DSO and DFC for his fine leadership, particularly on low level bombing raids, and for his invariable cheerfulness and his inspiring example. He lost his right arm when he and the crew of a fire tender approached a Lancaster which had caught fire on the runway and the 4000lb bomb suspended under the aircraft exploded. Despite this, he returned to active service with an artificial arm, and went on to take several key posts in the post-war RAF, including ADC to King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II. He died on 11th December 1986.

Citation for the Distinguished Flying Cross :

This officer is not only a brilliant captain of aircraft but an outstanding squadron commander. On one occasion the target area was almost completely obscured by cloud but, descending through a break in it, he skillfully piloted his aircraft to his target. Climbing out of a balloon barrage into which he had flown, he bombed the target successfully. During the whole of the period his aircraft was subjected to considerable anti-aircraft fire and searchlight activity. Wing Commander Walker has set a splendid example.



Squadron Leader E Gray Ward DFC
Click the name above to see prints signed by Squadron Leader E Gray Ward DFC
Squadron Leader E Gray Ward DFC

After joining the RAF in November 1940, Gray Ward trained as a pilot. His first operational squadron was 50 Squadron flying Lancasters, before he joined 57 Squadron as a Flight Commander. In late 1944 he was selected to join 617 Squadron, and took part in the 22,000lb Grand Slam raids on the Bielefeld and Arnsberg viaducts.




Squadron Leader Martin Withers, DFC
Click the name above to see prints signed by Squadron Leader Martin Withers, DFC
Squadron Leader Martin Withers, DFC

Joined the RAF in 1968. In 1971, he was posted to 44 Sqn at RAF Waddington as a Vulcan co-pilot, remaining there on 50 Sqn as a captain until 1976. After 3 years as a Jet Provost QFI at RAF Linton-on-Ouse, he returned to RAF Scampton as a QFI on the Vulcan Operational Conversion Unit. When the OCU closed, he moved again to RAF Waddington as Pilot Leader and Squadron QFI on 101 Sqn. The following year, during the Falklands War, he and his crew were selected to fly 2 of the 5 Black Buck missions. Martin Withers was the captain on XM607, the first Vulcan to bomb in anger during the Falklands War. On 1 May 1982, just one month after the Argentine invasion, Withers and his crew completed Black Buck One, the longest distance bombing mission in history until that time, and one of the most significant, attacking Port Stanley airfield during an 8,000 mile, 16 hour flight from their base at Ascension Island. for which he was awarded the DFC, with the other crewmembers being Mentioned in Dispatches. With the final demise of the Vulcan squadrons, he returned to No1 FTS at RAF Linton-on-Ouse, where he served as squadron commander and Deputy Chief Instructor, until leaving the RAF in 1991, having flown over 5500 hours (2000 on Vulcans). Since then he has accumulated a further 9500 hours on a variety of airliners, and is now flying the Boeing 767.


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