Halifax Squadron(s) on Norway SOE operations

[Pilot44]

Trying to locate the Squadron(s) flying Halifax aircraft to Norway on SOE operations. Based in Scotland during WW2

[Pam Downes]

Hello Pilot44,

Welcome to British-Genealogy.

Have you tried googling or using a similar search engine for this query?
Far too many results for me to read every one, but this one mentions Wick and Stornoway https://www.
historyofwar.org/air/units/RAF/58_wwII.html

Pam

[arthurk]

I believe the main squadrons involved in SOE work were 138 and 161, and both of these flew Halifaxes. They moved around a bit, but when they took on SOE duties they were mostly based at RAF Tempsford in Bedfordshire. (A relative of mine, Hunter McMullan, was in 138 Squadron.)

There's more about them on the site Pam mentioned, at:
https://www.
historyofwar.org/air/units/RAF/138_wwII.html and
https://www.
historyofwar.org/air/units/RAF/161_wwII.html

This is an interesting page too, based on an interview with Harold Watson of 161 Squadron:
https://
libertesoe.webs.com/rafspecialdutiessquadrons.htm
About two-thirds of the way down is a question and answer about the use of Scottish airfields; these were apparently used for refuelling, and the ones mentioned here are Kinloss, Lossiemouth, Wick and Peterhead - though I get the impression that there may have been others. (Similarly, missions to other parts of Europe often refuelled at Tangmere in Sussex.)

A lot of SOE training was done in Scotland - see https://
libertesoe.webs.com/soeinscotland.htm
but this was apparently for agents etc. As far as I can remember from the research I did a few years back, the RAF part of the operations was all based at Tempsford (or at other dates, other English bases).

There are a few books about 138 and 161 Squadrons by Freddie Clark ("Agents by Moonlight" is one of them). Currently unavailable or fearfully expensive at Amazon, but a few years ago I was able to borrow a copy via inter-library loan.

Arthur

[Pam Downes]

Thanks for the 'inside' information, Arthur.
Explains why nearly all the hits I found mentioned Tempsford.

Pam

[Jack Richards]

Although not an answer to your query, I have an interesting true factual little story on my web site relating to a crashed Halifax bomber. See : www.richardsbygonetimes.co.uk - I think it is under the Book 3 heading.

Regards Jack Richards

[Peter Goodey]

Now you've got some hints, you need to follow the advice in these research guides:

https://nationalarchives.gov.uk/recor...f-squadron.htm

https://nationalarchives.gov.uk/recor...des/raf-op.htm