Awarded: March 1944
Blazon: On a Plate a Wall in fess Argent fracted by 3 Flashes of Lightning in pale Gules and issuant from the breach Water proper.
Link: The badge is indicative of the successful attacks on the Ruhr Dams in May 1943.The three flashes indicate the 3 Dams attacked in that raid.
Motto: French: Apres moi le deluge – After me the deluge
History: Formed Scampton 21 March 1943 and remains current. Squadron is unique in having had it Standard originally awarded before the squadron had been in existence for 25 years on 15 January 1952 as a mark of His Majesty King George VI’s appreciation of the squadron’s outstanding achievements in operations and was presented by HM Queen Elizabeth II on 14 May 1959
Battle Honours: 1. Fortress Europe 1943-44. 2. The Dams. 3.Biscay Ports 1944. 4. France & Germany 1944-45. 5. Normandy 1944. 6. Tirpitz. 7. Channel & North Sea 1944-45. 8. German Ports 1945. 9. Gulf 1991. 10. Iraq 2003
Sponsored by Sqn Ldr LW Curtis DFC & Bar and dedicated to my fellow aircrew who flew with 617 Sqn 1943-45 in particular to my skipper Sqn Ldr HB ‘Mick’ Martin DSO & Bar DFC & 2 Bars.
Further Reading …
History of 617 Squadron, 1943-1993
Steve Hillier
Forces & Corporate, 1993
Paperback 80pp