Operation Exodus (WWII operation)

Operation Exodus was the code name for the airborne repatriation of British ex-prisoners of war from Europe, that took place from April to May 1945, in the closing stages of the Second World War. By 1 June approximately, 3,500 flights had brought 75,000 men back to the UK in modified Lancaster bombers.

Background
Following the liberation of Europe by allied forces, a urgent need emerged to promptly repatriate ex-prisoners of war (POWs) to Britain. This urgency was precipitated by the release of 354,000 British POWs when their camps were liberated. In response, RAF command opted to repurpose Lancaster bomber planes into transport aircraft for this vital mission, each configured to transport 24 individuals along with a minimal crew.

The chosen reception airfields for these repatriation flights included Westcott, Oakley, Cosford, in Shropshire, Dunsfold in Surrey and Wing in Buckinghamshire. Additionally, designated collection airfields were established in Lübeck, Germany, Brussels, Belgium and Juvincourt, France.

The operation
The operation started with the receipt of orders at RAF Oakley, Buckinghamshire, on 2 April 1945, instructing the preparation for the arrival of 300 repatriated prisoners of war scheduled to land by air at 11:00. Extensive arrangements were made for their reception until the arrival was postponed for the following day. On 3 April, seven Dakotas landed with repatriated POWs, and by the end of the month, a total of 72 Douglas Dakotas twin-engined aircraft, transported 1,787 men.

In the subsequent month of May 1945, a significant number of personnel, totalling 15,088, were flown back using a variety of aircraft, including 443 Avro Lancasters, 103 Dakotas, 51 Handley Page Halifaxes, 31 Consolidated Liberators, 3 Short Stirlings, 3 Lockheed Hudsons and 2 Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses.

On 8 May 1945 No. 405 Squadron flew ten of its Lancasters with former PoWs, departing from Brussels to RAF Westcott in Buckinghamshire. The same squadron continued its involvement with eight additional planes, bringing men back from Lübeck, Germany, on 9 and 10 May 1945. Its final mission in this operation took place on 15 May, with seven planes bringing back 360 prisoners from Juvincourt airfield near Rheims, France, to Buckinghamshire. Simultaneously, No. 617 Squadron departed on VE day, 8 May, to Brussels via Juvincourt, contributing to a daily influx of 500 men through Juvincourt alone.

Between 10 and 11 May, No. 550 Squadron executed forty-eight missions between Brussels and Westcott. On 14 May, No. 619 Squadron flew back from Lille, France. Throughout the entire operation, a total of 469 missions were conducted, facilitating the return of 75,000 former PoWs.

Casualties
On 9 May, a Lancaster from No. 514 Squadron crashed between Westbeach and Juvincourt killing the 30 men on board. No. 149 Squadron flew from Reims France, one leading aircraft unable to take off from an airfield taxiway designed for fighters not heavy bombers, crashed killing its thirty one passengers and crew.