No. 618 Squadron RAF
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No. 618 Squadron RAF was a squadron of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, intended to carry of a variation of the Barnes Wallis designed Bouncing bomb code-named Highball. Due to various circumstances the Highball weapon was never used and the squadron disbanded at the end of the war.
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[edit] Formation
618 Squadron was first formed at RAF Skitten on 1 April 1943, as part of No. 18 Group of Coastal Command, from crews of No. 105 RAF Squadron and No. 109 RAF Squadron. The unit was equipped with Beaufighter IIs fighter-bombers, quickly changing to converted Mosquito IV.
[edit] Highball
The Highball device was intended to bounce across the sea until it hit an enemy ship, sank and exploded. Unlike the cylindrical Upkeep weapon used by No. 617 Squadron RAF in Operation Chastise, the Highball was more spherical.
[edit] UK Squadron Movements
The squadron's primary target was designated as the Kriegsmarine Surface Fleet, primarily the battleship Tirpitz, so the squadron remained training in Scotland and waiting for the Surface Fleet to sortie into the North Sea until July 1944, when this threat had lessened. During this time, as the German Surface Fleet never emerged from its bases in Norway, 618 Squadron did not have the opportunity to use the Highball weapon. In August 1944, the squadron deployed to RAF Beccles in Suffolk, and in September changed aircraft again to Mosquito XVIs. The squadron deployed to RAF Benson in September, transitioning to Mosquito XVIIIs in October. They later deployed to Wick in June 1944, and reequipped with Mosquito VIs the following month.
[edit] Australian Deployment
In January 1945, 618 squadron deployed to Australia, as Japanese targets for the Highball weapon were still available. Arriving on 23 December 1944, the aircraft were sent to Fisherman's Bend aircraft factory for reassembly. Training began at Narromine in February 1945. A detachment was sent to British Pacific Fleet base at Manus Island in March, but the squadron was unable to go into action against Japanese shipping.
[edit] Disbandment
The squadron was disbanded on 29 June 1945.
