Matzos

HAMPDENS IN FLIGHT JUL 40

Matzos I had a larger copy of this image, so I have replaced it.
The image I have, describes this Aircraft as belonging to No195 Squadron, would the markings indicate that ?
 
The information I have at this time on 195 Sqn is:

It reformed after WW1 into the fighter role on 16 November 1942 at Duxford, equipped with Typhoons and following training began operations from East Anglian bases in May 1943. However, the squadron did not take part in the preparations for Operation 'Overlord' as it disbanded on 15 February 1944.
The squadron reformed again on 1 October 1944, when 'C' Flight of No 115 Squadron at Witchford was raised to squadron status. It operated Lancasters from Wratting Common as part of Bomber Command's Main Force until the end of the war, disbanding on 14 August 1945.

The squadron codes it used were, NP, JE & A4.

So it looks like your info maybe wrong, I will do some more research on the code GL

Also, from the images I have seen of RAF Bombers, they seem to have the two letter code BEFORE the markings and not after?

Latest info

Squadron code 'GL' was used by 185 Sqn, it's incarnation into WW2 began on 1 March 1938, when it was reformed in the bomber role at Abingdon from 'B' Flight of No 40 Squadron. Initially equipped with Hinds, these were replaced by Battles in June 1938 and in their turn by Hampdens in June 1939. However, it was destined not to become operational, being used as a training squadron and eventually merged into No 14 OTU on 5 April 1940. The same day a new 185 Squadron began to form but its existence was short-lived, disbanding on 17 May 1940

Just less than a year later on 27 April 1941 No 185 reformed, this time in the fighter role on Malta. It was equipped with Hurricanes and was immediately thrown into defence of the island. Spitfires began to arrive in February 1942 and had replaced the Hurricanes by the end of the following month. Following the 'Torch' landing in November 1942 the squadron began offensive operations against enemy targets on Sicily and in July 1943 acted as part of the fighter cover for Operation Husky, the Allied invasion of the island. (sorce - http://www.rafweb.org/Sqn181-185.htm)
 
No 14 OTU used between 5 May 1940 and December 1942, Codeletters AM, GL and VB.
Homebase was Cottesmore.

Shortly before the outbreak of war No. 185 Squadron arrived from Thornaby with Hampdens and Herefords and No. 106 from the same station a few weeks later. Both squadrons had pool status in No. 5 Group for providing reserves for operational units. Early in October, No. 106 was moved to Finningley while No. 185 continued in its reserve role at Cottesmore. However, in mid-December, the airfield was passed to No. 6 Training Group and, in the following April, No. 185 Squadron and the Station Headquarters establishment were merged to form No. 14 Operational Training Unit. No. 185 Squadron was re-formed later in the month at Cottesmore but was unsustainable and was discontinued in May. No. 14 OTU continued to provide Hampden-trained crews for No. 5 Group squadrons but, from the night of July 25, 1940, periodically undertook leaflet-dropping sorties over the Continent. None of its Hampdens were lost during these operations. The Luftwaffe raided Cottesmore on April 10/11, 1941 with an estimated 10-15 aircraft and, although flares illuminated the area, most of the bombs dropped fell outside the airfield perameter.
When No. 14 OTU was called upon to provided a sizeable force to bomb Cologne on the first of the `Thousand Plan' raids on the night of May 30/31, 1942, one of the 29 aircraft despatched was shot down by a night fighter and two others crashed in England, one after colliding with a Halifax. Cottesmore also participated in the second and third `Thousand Plan' raids, losing another Hampden but the station's most costly night was participation in the attack on Dusseldorf on the night of July 31 when three Hampdens were shot down by night fighters and a fourth was so badly crippled that it crashed on its return. On the night of September 13/14, 1942, a No. 14 OTU Hampden was shot down during a raid on Bremen and another crashed on its return. These were the last Hampden losses during Bomber Command operations. All told, Cottesmore had seven aircraft failing to return from operations and four lost in operational crashes.
In the autumn of 1942, No. 14 OTU converted to Wellingtons and remained at Cottesmore until August 1943 when it was moved to Market Harborough.
Source: http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/s70.html
 

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