No.190 Sqn RAF

Ex tenebris - Through darkness
Known Code Letters : , G5, L9, 6S,

No.190 Squadron was formed at Rochford on 24 October 1917 as a night training unit, moving to Newmarket in March 1918. After the end of the war, training ceased and the squadron disbanded in April 1919. On 1 March 1943, No.190 reformed at Sullom Voe with Catalinas and flew anti-submarine patrols over the North Atlantic until disbanded on 31 December 1943. On 5 January 1944, No.190 reformed at Leicester East as an airbourne forces squadron equipped with Stirlings. Flying began in March with glider-towing excercises, supply-dropping missions over France beginning in April. On D-Day, the squadron sent twenty-three aircraft with paratroops to the initial dropping zone, following up during the day with eighteen more towing gliders. During the first two days of the airbourne landings at Arnhem, No.190 flew forty-six sorties, all but six towing gliders. Fifty-three supply flights were then made in the face of heavy anti-aircraft fire, losing eleven aircraft in three days. During the Rhine crossing in March 1945, thirty Stirlings towed Gilders to the landing zone and in April the squadron was busy flying feul for the Army when divisions outran their supply lines. In May, Army units were carried to Norway to disarm the German garrison and the squadron converted to Halifaxes. After a period of general transport duties, No.190 was renumbered 295 Squadron on 21 January 1946.