Number of Aircrew in an RAF Bomber Group in WW2
 

Does anyone know the number of Aircrew in an RAF Bomber Command Group, say equipped with four engined bombers like the Avro Lancaster or HP Halifax?

Its a question about the number of aircrew, and spare crews if they existed - not the guys who stayed on the airfields to fix the aircraft up when or if they returned.

Re: Number of Aircrew in an RAF Bomber Group in WW2
 

I guess I could work on the number of aircrew in a Sqn and multiply it by the numbers of Sqns in a Group? Anyone?

Re: Number of Aircrew in an RAF Bomber Group in WW2
 

Our friend Geoffrey Sinclair wishes to add the following:

To state the obvious RAF groups were not fixed size, that essentially
stopped at Squadron/Wing stage

The Bomber Command OOB published in the official history for 22 March
1945, heavy bombers
1 Group, 9 two flight and 5 three flight squadrons = 33 flights
3 Group, 5 two flight and 7 three flight squadrons (includes 1 ex
Special Operations) = 31 flights
4 Group, 5 two flight and 6 three flight squadrons = 28 flights
5 Group, 16 two flight and 1 three flight squadrons (includes 2
Pathfinder, excludes 1 Pathfinder Mosquito) = 35 flights
6 Group, 14 two flight squadrons = 28 flights

Operational unit figures,
Unfortunately the aircrew strength figures I have are crews and by
aircraft type and the Halifax and Lancaster could have 8 man crews.
13 Fortress crews
365 Halifax crews, plus another 74 with 100 group
1,307 Lancaster crews
13 Liberator crews
196 Mosquito bomber crews, plus another 57 Oboe crews
108 Mosquito fighter crews

Authorised strength 2,095 aircraft, 2,141 on hand, 1,496 serviceable,
2,133 crews, 1,460 crews and aircraft, 98.5 squadrons of which 95
operational.

A year earlier, authorised strength 1,233 aircraft, 1,483 on hand, 1,188
serviceable, 1,342 crews, 1,143 crews and aircraft, 74 squadrons of
which 68 operational.

Apart from the combat units groups also had training units,
like B.D.T. flights, under command. 3 group had the Bombing Development
Unit.
Geoffrey Sinclair