page_title: No. 550 Squadron RAF
section_title: After the war
hierarchical_section_title: No. 550 Squadron RAF / History / After the war
caption_attribution_description: English: Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Lancaster B1 bomber PA474 waiting to display at Kemble Battle of Britain Weekend 2009, Cotswold Airport, Gloucestershire, England. The BBMF brochure for 2009 says “one of 7,377 Lancasters built. In the markings of No 550 squadron on one side (BQ-B) and No 100 squadron on the other (HW-R). Built in Chester, England, in mid-1945, too late to take part in World War 2.”
context_page_description: No. 550 Squadron RAF was a heavy bomber squadron of the Royal Air Force during World War II. Formed at RAF Waltham on 25 November 1943, 550 Squadron flew Avro Lancaster bombers as part of No. 1 Group RAF. In early 1944, the squadron was moved to RAF North Killingholme, Lincolnshire where it continued operations until May 1945, when it began dropping food over the Netherlands as a relief effort as part of Operation Manna. The squadron was disbanded on 31 October 1945. Today, a surviving Lancaster bomber continues to fly in the markings of BQ-B "Phantom of the Ruhr" EE139 from 550 squadron as part of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
context_section_description: Germany surrendered on 8 May 1945. 550 Squadron was disbanded at North Killingholme on 31 October 1945., the same day that North Killinghome closed.
  Today, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Lancaster is painted in the colours of BQ-B "Phantom of the Ruhr" EE139.
caption: Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Lancaster B1 bomber in the markings of No 550 squadron on one side (BQ-B) and No 100 squadron on the other (HW-R).
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