Tiger Force

Discussion in 'The War In The Air' started by PeteT, Nov 17, 2017.

  1. PeteT

    PeteT Senior Member

    A document which sets out the history of No. 35 Squadron states that the squadron was nominated for Tiger Force in May 1945, but this statement does not seem to be supported by the Order of Battle (August 1945).

    Working on the assumption that the statement in the history is correct, has anyone got any information on the development of the Tiger Force which shows how the Force evolved between the end of hostilities in Europe and the disbandment of the Force in October 1945 (in essence, I am trying to establish where No. 35 Squadron fitted into the overall picture)

    Regards

    Pete
     
  2. Jaap Vermeer

    Jaap Vermeer Active Member

    Pete I found this article,

    Jaap
     

    Attached Files:

  3. PeteT

    PeteT Senior Member

    Thanks Jaap; sadly it does not provide the information that I am looking for regarding No. 35 Squadron's role.

    Regards

    Pete
     
  4. Jaap Vermeer

    Jaap Vermeer Active Member

    Pete where you looking specific for ? Enclosed a tour by 35 RAF Squadron Lancasters over New York
     

    Attached Files:

  5. PeteT

    PeteT Senior Member

    Jaap, thanks again.

    In answer to your question, as per my original post, I am looking for information on the development of the Tiger Force which shows how the Force evolved between the end of hostilities in Europe and the disbandment of the Force in October 1945 (in essence, I am trying to establish where No. 35 Squadron fitted into the overall picture)

    Regards

    Pete
     
    Jaap Vermeer likes this.
  6. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Pete

    Would any of these help your quest??

    Search results: tiger force | The National Archives

    Example:

    Reference: AIR 14/2209
    Description:
    Tiger Force: formation
    Date: 1945 May-1945 Aug
    Held by: The National Archives, Kew
    Former reference in its original department: IIH/258/7/52 1550 Org
    Legal status: Public Record(s)
    Closure status: Open Document, Open Description

    TD
     
  7. PeteT

    PeteT Senior Member

    Thanks TD; I had noted the files at TNA but was hoping that someone had researched Tiger Force in detail and had the answer before I paid to have the file(s) copied (bearing in mind the files may not shed any light on the matter).

    Regards

    Pete
     
  8. Harry Ree

    Harry Ree Very Senior Member

    Tiger Force or to give it its original name the Very Long Range Bomber Force,Tiger being the project code makes an interesting insight into the Allies policy of defeating Germany as the first priority in attaining victory over the Axis forces,then dealing with Japan.

    But in a nutshell from the original plan of a 3 Group Bomber Command force of 12 squadrons per Group, consisting of 16 Lancasters/Lincolns/Squadron and 6 squadrons of Mosquitos for fighter escort,the plan was amended when the Tiger Force was officially formed on 24 February 1945 under AVM Hugh Lloyd.

    The amended plan was that No 5 and No 6 (Canadian) Bomber Command Groups would make up the complement of 20 Lancasters with 2 squadrons of Mosquitos for fighter escort.No 6 Group (Canadians) were sent home on victory in Europe and the plan was that their force would regroup to be effective for Far East operations in the New Year of 1946.Arrangements were also put in hand to include other Commonwealth squadrons within the force..... No 75 NZ Squadron was transferred to No 5 Group which already had Nos 463 and 467 RAAF within the Group.

    As it was, other events overran the planning and the Tiger Force was disbanded on 31 October 1945.

    No 35 Squadron was within No 8 PFF Group and would not to have been involved in the plan for Tiger Force.

    The technical assessment for the force concluded that the maximum load to be carried by Tiger Force aircraft would be 4000lbs..... compared to the much higher bomb load of the B29.....the option to use the B17 was also considered.
     
    Last edited: Nov 30, 2017
  9. PeteT

    PeteT Senior Member

    Harry

    Based on my research and information supplied by yourself and others, I am pretty confident that the squadron was not involved, but I needed to explore every avenue before I recorded my findings in my History of No. 35 Squadron (as it differs from already published material) .

    It has been an interesting exercise, but it proves that you should never take perceived wisdom at face value without finding the evidence to support it.

    Regards

    Pete
     

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