625 Squadron RAF Bomber Command was operational from 18th October 1943 to May 26th May 1945, during which time it carried out 209 operations made up of about 3,500 individual sorties. 74 aircraft were lost. 389 members of the aircrew lost their lives. The Squadron operated Avro Lancaster heavy bombers — Marks I and III. From 18th October 1943 to 4th April 1945 the Squadron operated from RAF Kelstern and from 5th April 1945 to October 1945 from RAF Scampton. It was officially disbanded in October 1945. The Squadron coat of arms incorporated a Lancaster rose encircled by a seven link gold chain — symbolic of the majestic aircraft that carried them into battle and the critical teamwork and camaraderie that was essential for the seven crew member's survival during a tour of operations. The Squadron's motto was: We Avenge.
Following the war a large number of 625 veterans kept in contact and began to hold regular reunions, initially in London until the early 1960s, thereafter at the site of the airfield, Kelstern. The annual Memorial Service was conducted by Rev. Les Hakes, a member of the Squadron who joined the ministry after the war. The 625 Squadron RAF Memorial Association was formed to include vets and those who lost family members in service with 625. Its prime purpose is memorialize those who fought and died for us. For the last sixteen years Nic Lewis has been the life blood of the Association in the role of Honorary Secretary. His father, a wireless operator, completed a tour of the operations with the Squadron from March to July 1944. Nic is dedicated to the preservation of the Squadron's history, focusing on those that made the ultimate sacrifice. The purpose of the Seven Links project is to ensure that these courageous men are not forgotten.
Sources of material for the submitted articles will be credited as accurately as possible. These include the Archives of the 625 in the Squadron Operations Record Books, Library and Archives Canada/ Ancestry.ca site, Commonwealth War Graves Commission site, Aircrew Remembered site, 625 Squadron Facebook site and family collections. Special thanks is extended to Kevin Ball for preserving the remarkable collection of archival photos preserved by his mother, Eileen Edge. She served as a WAAF in the Squadron's administration section.
Jack Albrecht / Nic Lewis
- Introduction
- Coat of Arms — Motto — Crew Positions
- Map Legend of 625 Squadron Losses
- Sole Survivor / Frank Magee
- Two Caterpillars and a Goldfish / John Goldsmith
- ED317 Memorial Cairn Inaugural Ceremony, 75th Anniversary
- 625 Squadron: The Unsung Heroes
- Loss #6 - LM424 16/12/43 Berlin W/O Baker
- Loss #10 - DV364 28/1/44 Berlin F/L Spark DFC
- Loss #11 - JB122 30/1/44 Berlin F/S Gallop
- Loss #13 - JA862 19/2/44 Leipzig S/L Douetil
- Loss #15 - LM384 19/2/44 Leipzig F/S Pearson
- Loss #20 - ME684 24/3/44 Berlin F/L Clark
- Loss #21 - ND641 24/3/44 Berlin W/O Owen
- Loss #22 - ED317 24/3/44 Berlin F/Sgt. Jamieson
- Loss #23 - W5009 30/3/44 Nuremberg S/L Nicholls
- Loss #26 - ME734 18/4/44 Rouen P/O Cosgrove
- Loss #28 - ME697 3/5/44 Mailly-le-Camp S/L Gray
- Loss #32 - LM513 21/5/44 Duisburg 1st Lt. Dowden
- Loss #33 - LM427 31/5/44 Tergnier P/O Tanner
- Loss # *** - ND995 11/6/44 A434217 F/Sgt. F.P. Adams (AUS- R.A.A.F.)
- Loss #38 - PB126 30/6/44 Vierzon F/L Elmhurst-Baxter
- Loss #41 - ND975 30/6/44 Vierzon P/O Knowles
- Loss #44 - LM546 28/7/44 Stuttgart F/O Collet
- Loss #52 - LL956 14/10/44 Duisburg F/O Hannah
- Loss #60 - NG238 16/11/44 Düren F/O Copland
- Loss #63 - PD388 14/1/45 Merseburg Leuna F/O Hazell DFC
- Loss #64 - NF996 14/2/45 Chemnitz F/L Cunliffe
- Loss #65 - NG267 20/2/45 Dortmund F/L Maloney DFC
- Loss #*** - NG412 21/2/45 154093 F/O D.N.A. Cooper
- Loss #68 - NG240 5/3/45 Chemnitz F/O Alexander
- Loss #74 - PD204 10/4/45 Plauen F/O Mooney
- 05.03.1945 425 RCAF Squadron Halifax III MZ845 KW-J P/O. Mark Sylvester Harold Anderson
- 05.03.1945 No. 420 Squadron RCAF Halifax III NA184 PT-W F/O Earl William Clark
- 05.03.1945 No. 426 Squadron RCAF Halifax VII LW210 OW-Y F/Lt Ivor Emerson
- 05.03.1945 No. 426 RCAF Squadron Halifax VII PN228 OW-A Sqn Ldr. Eric Thomas Garrett
- 02/03.11.1944 No. 405 Squadron Lancaster III PB413 LQ-K F/O. Hannah
- 14/15.02.1943 No. 101 Squadron Lancaster I ED377 SR-X Sgt. Ivan H. Hazard
- 05/06.03.1945 No 425 Squadron Halifax III MZ454 KW-S F/O. Arthur R. Lowe
- 19/20.02.1944 No. 100 Squadron Lancaster III ND571 HW-N F/O. Sidebotham
- 05.03.1945 No. 420 Squadron RCAF Halifax III NA190 PT-U P/O. Roald Frederick Sollie
- 20/21.07.44 No. 405 Squadron Lancaster III PB174 LQ-P F/L Virtue
- 05.03.1945 No. 426 Squadron RCAF Halifax VII NP793 OW-H F/O. Humphrey Stanley Watts
- W/C Ralph Viril Manning DFC CD: The ‘Torp’ that changed the course of the War
- Unsung Heroes: LAC Henry Cockbain R168552