Page 3 - 49 Squadron History

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49 Squadron was formed at Dover on 15 April 1916 under the command of Major A. S. Barratt
MC and spent its first 18 months as an aircrew-training unit equipped with BE2Cs and RE7s. In
November 1917 the Squadron was re equipped with DH4s and moved to La Bellevue aerodrome
in France. Here the Squadron was employed in the day bomber role as part of the 3rd (Army)

Wing. Its first raid was made on 26 November 1917.
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Later the Squadron took part in the Battle of Cambrai, attacking enemy supply and
communications centres. In April 1918, the Squadron re equipped with DH9s and continued high
and low level bombing until the end of the war. After the Armistice the Squadron moved to

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Bickendorf, Germany as part of the Army of Occupation and disbanded there on 18 July 1919.
According to its records 49 Squadron destroyed 56 enemy aircraft drove down another 63 out of
control, dropped a total of 120 tons of bombs and operated from 10 airfields in France
during the 1914-18 war.

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On 10 February 1936, the Squadron reformed at Bircham Newton from a nucleus provided by
‘C’ Flight of 18 Squadron. It was equipped with Hawker Hind light bombers and initially
commanded by Flight Lieutenant J. C. Cunningham. It moved to RAF Worthy Down in August
1936 where its official badge, depicting a racing greyhound surmounting the motto ‘Cave Canem’

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(Beware of the Dog), was presented on 14 June 1937. At first the badge seems inappropriate for
a bomber squadron but it is in fact indicative of the performance of the Hawker Hind when
compared with its contemporaries.
A move to Scampton in March 1938 was followed by conversion to the Handley Page Hampden,

the first unit to be equipped with the type. During the opening months of World War 2 the
Squadron was employed mainly on reconnaissance, mine laying and leaflet dropping. On 11 May
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1940 bombing attacks on Germany began, the oil refineries at Mönchengladbach being attacked.
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On 12 August a most successful low level attack on the Dortmund Ems canal was pressed home
by Hampdens of 49 Squadron despite fierce opposition. Flight Lieutenant R. A. B. Learoyd
received the Victoria Cross for his bravery during the attack, the first awarded in Bomber
Command.

Throughout 1941 many targets were attacked; ports, industrial centres, shipping, marshalling

yards and airfields. In March 1942 the Squadron took part in a particularly successful attack on the
Renault works, at Boulogne-Billancourt, Paris.
The Squadron began to re-equip with the twin engine Manchester in April 1942; however, these
aircraft were not in use for long and by July 1942 were replaced by Lancasters which, with their

greater range and striking power, extended the scope of the Squadrons operations.

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On 17 October 1942 the Squadron flew deep into France without escort and attacked the
Schneider works at Le Creusot; the Commanding Officer, Wing Commander L. Slee and his
Navigator Pilot Officer A. C. Grant, led the attack and both were awarded the DSO. Italy could now

be reached and the Squadrons first operation in that theatre was an attack on the harbour at
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Genoa on 22 October 1942. The Squadron stood down from 1-15 January 1943 during which
time a move was made to Fiskerton.