THE Banff
Strike Wing enjoyed a spectacular success during its brief life on the exposed
north-facing coast of the Moray Firth. Six squadrons joined forces to create an effective
multi-national unit which denied Germany many thousands of tons of vital iron ore and
other supplies during operations from RAF Banff between September 1944 and May 1945. Under
the command of Group Captain The Hon. Max Aitken, son of the then Lord Beaverbrook, the
mixed Mosquito and Beaufighter Wing mounted concentrated attacks on German surface vessels
and U-boats in the North Sea and along the Norwegian coastline. Often penetrating deep
into heavily defended fjords to reach their anchored supply ship targets, which only dared
venture to sea under cover of darkness; the Strike Wing crews ran the gauntlet of
formidable anti-aircraft fire to achieve their goal. Although their reputation was built
on the outstanding capabilities of both the Beaufighter MK. 10 and the Mosquito FB.VI, it
was undoubtedly the latter which became synonymous with the Strike Wing and eventually
equipped the RAF Banff based squadrons. Armed with a deadly mixture of cannon and rockets
the Wing’s aircraft inflicted heavy damage on shipping. The unit was unique because
of the presence of 333 Sqn Royal Norwegian Air Force as part of the Strike Wing. Their
skills in the air and ability to locate targets concealed in mountain-fringed fjords
became one of the RAF Banff unit’s great strengths and helped the joint RAF,
Norwegian and Commonwealth aircrews who made up the unit achieve outstanding success in
the destruction of supply ships, flak ships and U-boats. Flying alongside 333 Sqn were 143
Sqn, 248 Sqn, 404 Sqn, 144 Sqn and 235 Sqn whose losses were heavy. More than 80
RAF Banff Strike Wing aircrew died on operations.
The Banff Strike Wing which operated from RAF
Banff in the closing months of World War II, often jointly with the nearby RAF Dallachy
Strike Wing Beaufighter force, made a significant contribution to the defeat of Germany by
denying them vital raw materials. |
