# No. 158 Squadron RAF

No. 158 Squadron RAF was a World War I proposed ground attack squadron that did not become operational in time to see action, and a World War II bomber squadron. After World War II had ended in Europe the squadron operated in the transport role until disbandment in December 1945.

## History
### Formation in World War I

No. 158 Squadron RAF was first formed on 9 May 1918, and the squadron was originally to be equipped with Sopwith Snipe fighters, but this was postponed and the squadron eventually formed at Upper Heyford on 4 September 1918, equipped with Sopwith Salamander ground attack aircraft. The squadron arrived too late to see action during the war, and disbanded on 20 November 1918.

### Reformation and World War II

The squadron reformed at RAF Driffield on 14 February 1942, via the renumbering of No. 104 Squadron, which was equipped with the Vickers Wellington medium bomber, and 158 sqn used these on night raids to Germany and occupied France. In June 1942 the squadron re-equipped with the Halifax B.Mk.II heavy bomber and moved to RAF East Moor. On 6 November 1942 the squadron moved to RAF Rufforth, followed by a move to RAF Lissett on 28 February 1943. In January 1944 the squadron had re-equipped with the Halifax B.Mk.III and 'C' flight was used to form No. 640 Squadron at Leconfield. By 7 May 1945 the Second World War in Europe had finished and the squadron was transferred to RAF Transport Command, re-equipping with the Short Stirling Mk.V. The squadron moved to Stradishall on 17 August 1945, where it disbanded on 31 December 1945.
One of the 158 Squadron aircraft, a Halifax B.Mk.III, serial no. LV907, coded NP-F and nicknamed "Friday the 13th", completed 128 operational missions and was scrapped after being displayed on Oxford Street in London. A section of the nose from the aircraft was saved and is exhibited at the RAF Museum Hendon. The Halifax that is displayed at the Yorkshire Air Museum is made up of parts of various aircraft and painted as LV907, in honour of the aircraft and its crew. On 11 November 1945 a Stirling C.5 operated by the squadron was departing for the United Kingdom when it crashed on take off from RAF Castel Benito in Libya after the wing caught fire; 21 soldiers and five crew were killed, one person survived.

## Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated by no. 158 Squadron RAF, data from :
| From | To | Aircraft | Version |
| February 1942 | June 1942 | Vickers Wellington | Mk.II |
| June 1942 | December 1943 | Handley Page Halifax | Mk.II |
| December 1943 | May 1945 | Handley Page Halifax | Mk.III |
| April 1945 | May 1945 | Handley Page Halifax | Mk.VI |
| May 1945 | December 1945 | Short Stirling | Mk.V |
| November 1945 | December 1945 | Short Stirling | Mk.IV |

## Squadron bases

Bases and airfields used by no. 158 Squadron RAF, data from :
| From | To | Base | Remark |
| 14 February 1942 | 6 June 1942 | RAF Driffield, Yorkshire | Det. at RAF Pocklington, Yorkshire, 14 Feb/5 Mar 1942 |
| 6 June 1942 | 6 November 1942 | RAF East Moor, Yorkshire | Det. at RAF Beaulieu, Hampshire for operations with Coastal Command in October 1942 |
| 6 November 1942 | 28 February 1943 | RAF Rufforth, Yorkshire | Det. at RAF Manston, Kent for operations with Coastal Command, 7/25 November 1942. |
| 28 February 1943 | 17 August 1945 | RAF Lissett, Yorkshire | |
| 17 August 1945 | 31 December 1945 | RAF Stradishall, Suffolk | |

## Commanding officers

Officers commanding no. 158 Squadron RAF, data from :
| From | To | Name | Remark |
| 14 February 1942 | 7 October 1942 | W/Cdr. P. Stevens, DFC | Posted to 10 OTU |
| 7 October 1942 | 10 March 1943 | W/Cdr. C.G.S.R. Robinson, DFC | Posted to 138 Squadron |
| 10 March 1943 | 10 August 1943 | W/Cdr. T.R. Hope, DFC | MIA, 10 August 1943 |
| 11 August 1943 | 7 June 1944 | W/Cdr. C.C. Calder, DFC | Posted to 1652 HCU |
| 7 June 1944 | 7 March 1945 | W/Cdr. P. Dobson, DFC, AFC DSO | |
| 7 March 1945 | 12 June 1945 | W/Cdr. G.B. Read, DFC | |
| 12 June 1945 | 10 July 1945 | W/Cdr. F.J. Austin, DFC | |
| 10 July 1945 | 30 July 1945 | S/Ldr. W.H. Whitty | |
| 30 July 1945 | 31 December 1945 | W/Cdr. D. Iveson, DSO, DFC | |