http://www.aviation-news.co.uk 39617 SQN THROUGH THE DECADES
Below left: Two pressurised DH Mosquito XVIs, ML975 ‘HS-M’ and ML976 ‘HS-N’, were loaned to 617 as the behest of the unit’s OC, Wg Cdr
Cheshire, to improve the accuracy of the low-level target marking in 1944. Both aircraft came from 109 Sqn. The experiment worked, and so two
Mk.VI fighter-bombers, NS992 ‘S’ and NS993 ‘N’ (illustrated) were permanently allocated. No.617 occasionally borrowed Mk.IVs from 627 Sqn,
which was co-located at Woodhall Spa in Lincolnshire. Douglas Garton
Below: A pair of brand new North American Mustang IIIs – serial numbers HB825 and HB839, illustrated with Cheshire at the controls on July 6,
1944 – were used by 617 for target marking from June to October 1944. P Clark via Mark Postlethwaite38-41_dambusters_through_the_decadesDC.mfDC.mf.indd 39 06/04/2018 17:45