- Type of Memorial
- Obelisk
- WMR Reference Number
- 3441
- Description
- Rough hewn obelisk with slate inscription tablet fixed to front. Title and motto in gilt. Plain metal panel on reverse gives squadron history. Squadron crest above the inscription.
- Inscription
- (FRONT FACE): NO 115 SQUADRON/ BOMBER COMMAND/ ROYAL AIR FORCE/ IN HONOUR AND/ MEMORY OF/ THOSE WHO/ SERVED DURING/ THE SECOND/ WORLD WAR/1939 1945/ERECTED BY/ MEMBERS OF/ NO 115 SQUADRON/ ASSOCIATION AND/ DEDICATED ON THE/ 21ST OF MAY 1989 BY/ THE BISHOP OF ELY/
During World War two/the Squadron was/based at RAF Stations/Marham,Mildenhall/East Wretham,Little/Snoring and here at Witchford. This memorial/is sited on what was once/the runway from which/Lancaster aircraft/took off on bombing operations./PER ARDUA AD ASTRA
(REAR FACE): BRIEF SQUADRON HISTORY/ 115 SQUADRON/ (FROM THE BOMBER COMMAND WAR DIARIES)/ SERVICE/ IN GROUP FROM THE OUTBREAK UNTIL THE END OF THE WAR. FLEW/ WELLINGTONS AND LANCASTERS FROM MARHAM, MILDENHALL, EAST WRETHAM,/ LITTLE SNORING AND WITCHFORD/ DETACHED TO COASTAL COMMAND FOR ONE SHORT PERIOD IN APRIL 1940/ OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE/ RAIDS FLOW/ WELLINGTONS - 332 BOMBING, 54 MINELAYING, 4 LEAFLET/ LANCASTERS - 261 BOMBING, 27 MINELAYING/ TOTAL - 593 BOMBING, 81 MINELAYING, 4 LEAFLET = 678 RAIDS/ SORTIES AND LOSSES/ WELLINGTONS - 3,075 SORTIES, 98 AIRCRAFT LOST (3.2 PER CENT)/ LANCASTERS - 4,678 SORTIES, 110 AIRCRAFT LOST (2.4 PER CENT)/ TOTAL - 7,753 SORTIES, 208 AIRCRAFT LSOT (2.7 PER CENT)/ 22 LANCASTERS WEER DESTROYED IN CRASHES/ POINTS OF INTEREST/ 115 SQUADRON HAD ONE OF THE FINEST RECORDS OF OPERATIONAL SERVICE/ IN BOMBER COMMAND/ AN ORIGINAL SQUADRON ON THE OUTBREAK WAR AND, EXCEPT FOR ONE/ VERY SHORT PERIOD OF DETACHMENT TO COASTAL COMMAND, SERVED CONTINUOUSLY UNTIL THE END OF THE WAR./ CARRIED OUT THE FIRST GEE TRIALS IN AUGUST 1941./ CARRIED OUT THE THIRD HIGHEST NUMBER OF BOMBING RAIDS IN BOMBER/ COMMAND HEAVY SQUADRONS AND THE MOST IN 3 GROUP./ FLEW THE SECOND HIGHEST NUMBER OF SORTIES IN BOMBER COMMAND./ PROBABLY DROPPED THE SECOND GREATEST TONNAGE OF BOMBS, APPROXIMATELY/ 23,000 TONS, IN BOMBER COMMAND. DROPPED MORE BOMBS THAN/ ANY OTHER SQUADRON IN 3 GROUP
(FULL INSCRIPTION TOO LONG TO TRANSCRIBE. SEE FILE FOR REMAINING LINES)