View source for No. 100 Group RAF

{{Short description|Former Royal Air Force operations group}}
{{use British English|date=September 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}

{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name                     = No. 100 Group RAF
|image                         =
|caption                       =
|dates                         = 1943–1945
|country                       = {{UK}}
|branch                        = {{Air force|UK}}
|command_structure             = [[RAF Bomber Command]]
|type                          =
|role                          = Electronic countermeasures
|size                          =
|current_commander             =
|garrison                      =
|garrison_label                =
|ceremonial_chief              =
|ceremonial_chief_label        =
|colonel_of_the_regiment       =
|colonel_of_the_regiment_label =
|nickname                      =
|motto                         = Confound and Destroy<ref>{{cite book|last1=Pine|first1=L.G.|title=A dictionary of mottoes|date=1983|publisher=Routledge & Kegan Paul|location=London|isbn=0-7100-9339-X|page=[https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofmott00tion/page/37 37]|edition=1|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofmott00tion/page/37}}</ref>
|colors                        = [[Image:Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg|125px]]
|colors_label                  = [[Royal Air Force Ensign]]
|march                         =
|mascot                        =
|equipment                     =
|notable_commanders            =[[Edward Addison]]
| identification_symbol =The head of Medusa azure/or/sable.{{efn|The group specialised in electronic countermeasures, so used the head of Medusa who confounded her enemies. <ref>{{cite book |last1=Delve |first1=Ken |title=Bomber Command 1939-1945 : a reference to the men - aircraft & operational history |date=2005 |publisher=Pen & Sword Aviation |location=Barnsley |isbn=1-84415-183-2 |page=174}}</ref>}}
| identification_symbol_label = [[Heraldic badges of the Royal Air Force|Group badge]]
|anniversaries                 =
<!-- Aircraft -->
|aircraft_electronic=[[Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress]], [[Consolidated B-24 Liberator]], [[Handley Page Halifax]], [[Short Stirling]], [[Vickers Wellington]]
|aircraft_fighter= [[Bristol Beaufighter]], [[de Havilland Mosquito]]
}}

'''No. 100 (Bomber Support) Group''' was a special duties [[Group (air force)|group]] within [[RAF Bomber Command]]. The group was formed on 11 November 1943 to consolidate the increasingly complex business of [[electronic warfare]] and [[Electronic countermeasures|countermeasure]]s in one organisation. The group was responsible for the development, operational trial and use of electronic warfare and countermeasures equipment. It was based at RAF stations in [[East Anglia]], chiefly [[Norfolk]].

The group was a pioneer in countering the formidable force of [[radar]]-equipped [[Luftwaffe]] [[night fighter]]s, using a range of [[Electromagnetic spectrum|electronic]] 'homers' fitted to [[de Havilland Mosquito]] fighters which detected night fighter radar and radio emissions and allowed the RAF fighters to home in onto the [[Axis powers|Axis]] aircraft and either shoot them down or disrupt their missions against the [[bomber stream]]s. Other Mosquitoes would patrol around Luftwaffe fighter airfields ready to attack night fighters as they landed.

This constant harassment had a detrimental effect on the morale and confidence of many Luftwaffe crews and indirectly led to a high proportion of aircraft and aircrew wastage from crashes as night fighters hurried in to land to avoid the Mosquito threat (real or imagined).{{Citation needed|date=December 2008}}

From 1944–45, the Mosquitos of 100 Group claimed 258 Luftwaffe aircraft shot down for 70 losses. The gradually increasing threat from the RAF fighters also created what the Luftwaffe crews nicknamed ''Moskito Panik'' as the night fighter crews were never sure when or where they may come under attack from the marauding 100 Group fighters.

[[File:Lancaster I NG128 Dropping Load - Duisburg - Oct 14 - 1944.jpg|thumb|A 101 Squadron Avro Lancaster with Airborne Cigar (ABC) radio jamming equipment - the two vertical [[Antenna (radio)|aerials]] on the fuselage, Duisberg 1944]]
Top Mosquito ace with 100 Group was [[Wing Commander (rank)|Wing Commander]] [[Branse Burbridge]] of [[No. 85 Squadron RAF|85 Squadron]], with 21 claims from 1944–45.

The bomber squadrons of 100 Group utilised various specialist electronic jamming devices to disrupt German [[Radio|radio communications]] and radar. During 100 Group's existence over 32 different devices were evaluated and used. Specially equipped 100 Group aircraft would fly in the bomber stream. Much of this equipment was developed at the [[Telecommunications Research Establishment]] (TRE).

Special equipment used included ''[[Airborne Cigar]]'' (ABC) jammer, ''Jostle'' (jammer), ''Mandrel'' (jammer), ''Airborne Grocer'' (jammer), ''Piperack'' (jammer), ''[[Perfectos]]'' (homer), ''[[Serrate radar detector|Serrate]]'' (homer), ''[[Operation Corona|Corona]]'' (spoofer), ''[[Carpet (jammer)|Carpet]]'' (jammer)  and  ''Lucero'' (homer), used against German equipment such as [[Lichtenstein radar|''Lichtenstein'']], [[Freya radar|''Freya'']], and [[Würzburg radar|''Wurzburg'']] radars.
{{cquote|The combination of the [[Pathfinder (RAF)|Pathfinders]]' operations, the activities of No. 100 Group, the British advantage in radar, jamming and [[Chaff (radar countermeasure)|Window]] techniques, combined with intelligent attacking tactics, as well as the discipline and bravery of the RAF crews, have been remarkable. We had our'' (sic) ''severe problems in trying to defend Germany in the air |4=''General der Jagdflieger'', [[Adolf Galland]]. |5=Lancaster - the Biography{{sfn|Iveson|Milton|2009|p=122}}}}

== History ==
100 Group was formed in November 1943 under [[Air commodore|Air Commodore]] Addison at Radlett.  Its first unit was [[No. 192 Squadron RAF|192 Squadron]] whose aircraft had been used for monitoring German radio traffic as part of [[Y service]]. The Squadron moved to [[RAF Foulsham]] in Norfolk on 7 December. The Group HQ was initially at [[RAF West Raynham|West Raynham]], Norfolk.{{Sfn|Bowman|Cushing|2004}} and then made its permanent headquarters at [[Bylaugh Hall]] -  about five miles from East Dereham -  from January 1944, a central location from which to administer the group's airfields in north Norfolk.

The first operation was in support of Bomber Command raid on Berlin with four intruder aircraft (two Beaufighters and two Mosquitos) of 141 Squadron on 16/17 December. The first success was a [[Junkers Ju 88]] shot down on 23/24 December by a Beaufighter. The squadrons Mosquitos were old aircraft in poor condition and their Beaufighters were being transferred out. With 239 and 169 squadrons still in training, 100 Group could only provide a couple of aircraft, if any, for [[Battle of Berlin (RAF campaign)|Bomber Command's attacks on Berlin]]. Problems with the Mosquitos persisted even when all three squadrons were operational in late January.{{Sfn|Bowman|Cushing|2004}}

The group disbanded on 17 December 1945. During its existence it had one commander, [[Air Vice-Marshal]] [[Edward Addison]].

==Order of battle==
[[File:Boeing Fortress Mk.III (SD) ECM aircraft 214 Sqn RAF at Prestwick 1944.jpg|thumb|An electronic warfare Fortress III of [[No. 214 Squadron RAF|214 Squadron]] with nose-mounted [[H2S (radar)|H2S]] navigation radar]]
No 100 Group operated from eight airfields with approximately 260 aircraft, 140 of which were various marks of [[de Havilland Mosquito]] night fighter intruders with the remainder consisting of [[Handley Page Halifax]]es, [[Short Stirling]]s, [[Vickers Wellington]]s, [[Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress]] and [[Consolidated B-24 Liberator]]s carrying electronic jamming equipment. The group also operated the [[Bristol Beaufighter]] for a short time.

Intruder aircraft were fitted with [[AI Mark IV radar|Mark IV Airborne Interception]] radar for locating and attacking enemy fighters and [[Serrate radar detector|Serrate]] radar detector to find enemy aircraft using their own [[Lichtenstein radar]] to look for Allied aircraft. Intruders would loiter near enemy airfields or staging beacons.

The Short Stirlings were fitted with ''Mandrel'' which jammed German [[Freya radar|Freya]] (early warning) radars. Later B-17 Flying Fortresses equipped the ''Carpet'' to jam [[Würzburg radar|Würzburg]] (gun directing) radars.{{Sfn|Bowman|Cushing|2004}}

No 223 Squadron's Liberators were ex-American Eight Air Force B-24 H and J models, already well used but long ranged and each able to carry multiple 'Jostle' radio telephony jamming units. The Jostle transmitter took the place of the ventral ball turret.{{Sfn|Bowman|Cushing|2004}}

{| class="wikitable"
|+100 (Special Duties) Group order of battle<ref>{{Harvnb|Moyes|1976|p=307.}}</ref>
!Squadron
!Aircraft
!First 100 Group operation
!Base
|-
| [[No. 192 Squadron RAF|192]]
| [[de Havilland Mosquito]] NF.II, B.IV, B.XVI, [[Vickers Wellington]] B.III, [[Handley Page Halifax]] IV || December 1943 || [[RAF Foulsham]]
|-
| [[No. 141 Squadron RAF|141]]
| [[Bristol Beaufighter]] VI, Mosquito II, VI, XXX || December 1943 || [[RAF West Raynham]]
|-
| [[No. 239 Squadron RAF|239]]
| Mosquito II, VI, XXX || 20 January 1944 || [[RAF West Raynham]]
|-
| [[No. 515 Squadron RAF|515]]
| Mosquito II, VI
| 3 March 1944
| [[RAF Little Snoring]], [[RAF Great Massingham]]
|-
| [[No. 169 Squadron RAF|169]]
| Mosquito II, VI, XIX
| 20 January 1944
| [[RAF Little Snoring]]
|-
| [[No. 214 Squadron RAF|214]]
| [[Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress|Boeing Fortress]] II, III
| 20/21 April 1944
| [[RAF Sculthorpe]], [[RAF Oulton]]
|-
| [[No. 199 Squadron RAF|199]]
| [[Short Stirling]] B.III, Halifax B.III || 1 May 1944 || [[RAF North Creake]]
|-
| [[No. 157 Squadron RAF|157]]
| Mosquito XIX, XXX
| May 1944
| [[RAF Swannington]]
|-
| [[No. 85 Squadron RAF|85]]
| Mosquito XII, XVII
| 5/6 June 1944
| [[RAF Swannington]]
|-
| [[No. 23 Squadron RAF|23]]
| Mosquito VI
| 5/6 July 1944
| [[RAF Little Snoring]]
|-
| [[No. 223 Squadron RAF|223]]
| [[Consolidated B-24 Liberator|Consolidated Liberator]] VI, Fortress II, III
| September 1944
| [[RAF Oulton]]
|-
| [[No. 171 Squadron RAF|171]]
| Stirling II, Halifax III || 15 September 1944 || [[RAF North Creake]]
|-
| [[No. 462 Squadron RAAF|462 (RAAF)]]
| Halifax III || 13 March 1945 || [[RAF Foulsham]]
|}

Other units and stations:
* [[No. 1692 Flight RAF]] based at RAF Little Snoring
* [[No. 1699 Flight RAF]] based at RAF Oulton to train Fortress crews for 214 Squadron
* No. 100 Group Communications Flight at RAF West Raynham and then [[RAF Swanton Morley]]
* [[No. 80 Wing RAF|No. 80 (Signals) Wing RAF]] from November 1943 based at [[Radlett Aerodrome]], controlled [[Meaconing|Meacon]] beacons and other radio countermeasures and intelligence work.

==See also==
* [[Light Night Strike Force]]
* [[List of World War II electronic warfare equipment]]
* [[List of Royal Air Force groups]]
* [[36th Bombardment Squadron]]
* [[Michael Renaut]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}
== References ==
=== Citations ===
{{Reflist}}

=== Sources ===
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last1=Bond |first1= Steve |last2= Forder |first2= Richard |title=Special Ops Liberators: 223 (Bomber Support) Squadron, 100 Group and the Electronic War |publisher= Grub Street |date=2011 |isbn=978-1-908-11714-4}}.
* Bowman, Martin W. ''100 Group (Bomber Support): RAF Bomber Command in World War II''. Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK: Pen & Sword/Leo Cooper, 2006. {{ISBN|1-84415-418-1}}.
* {{cite book |last1=Bowman |first1= Martin W. |first2= Tom |last2= Cushing |title=Confounding the Reich |location=Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK |publisher= Pen and Sword Books  |date=2004 |isbn=1-84415-124-7}}.
* {{cite book |last1=Iveson |first1=Tony, DFC |last2=Milton |first2=Brian |title=Lancaster - the Biography |publisher=Andre Deutsch |location=London |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-233-00270-5 }}
* {{cite book |last=Moyes |first=Philip J. R. |title=Bomber Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft |location=London |publisher=Macdonald and Jane's |year=1976 |orig-year=1964 |edition=rev. |isbn=0-354-01027-1 }}
* Peden, Murray. ''A Thousand Shall Fall: the True Story of a Canadian Bomber Pilot in World War Two''. Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Stoddart Publishing Co. Ltd., 1988 (reprinted in 2000). {{ISBN|0-7737-5967-0}}.
* Streetly, Martin. ''Confound & Destroy''.  London: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishing) Company Ltd., 1978. {{ISBN|0-354-01180-4}}.
{{refend}}
==Further reading ==
* {{cite magazine |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1944/1944%20-%202360.html |work=Flight |title=Bomber Support Interceptors Intercepted: Reasons for Big Drop in Bomber Command Casualties |date=16 November 1944 |first=John |last=Yoxall |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121102022735/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1944/1944%20-%202360.html |archive-date=2 November 2012}}
* {{cite magazine |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1945/1945%20-%202407.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305153301/www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1945/1945%20-%202407.html |archive-date=2016-03-05 |title=The Illusionists |date=6 December 1945 |magazine=Flight |p=610 }}
== External links ==
* [http://www.raf100groupassociation.org Website RAF 100 Group Association]
* [http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/s18no2group.html Website RAF bomber Command]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090218235617/http://cnam.co.uk/ Website, RAF 100 Group Museum]


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{{RAF WWII Strategic Bombing}}
{{Royal Air Force}}
{{RAF Groups}}

[[Category:Electronic warfare units and formations]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1943]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force groups|100]]
[[Category:Telecommunications in World War II]]
[[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1945]]