World War II No. 622 Squadron was first formed at
RAF Mildenhall in
Suffolk on 10 August 1943, equipped with
Stirling Mk.III bombers, as part of
3 Group in
Bomber Command. It re-equipped with
Lancaster Mk.III bombers in December, after briefly operating Lancaster Mk.Is that month. It operated in Bomber Command's Main Force as part of No 3 Group until April 1945 when it moved to humanitarian duties dropping food to the Dutch (
Operation Manna), repatriating POWs (
Operation Exodus) and ferrying troops home from Italy. The Squadron was disbanded at Mildenhall on 15 August 1945.
1950 to 1953 Unlike many of its contemporaries 622 Squadron was reformed post-war as a
Royal Auxiliary Air Force transport squadron at
RAF Blackbushe on 15 December 1950. It now operated
Valettas and consisted of a nucleus of regular officers who would be supplemented by personnel drawn from locally-based air charter operator
Airwork Ltd. This arrangement proved to be unsuccessful however, and the squadron was disbanded on 30 September 1953. ==Current role==