and Norway. The squadrons went into action immediately and on 11/12 April one of them (115 Sqn) became the first RAF unit to bomb deliberately a mainland target (Stavanger Airport, Sola) during the Second World War. In September 1940 3 Group Bomber Command assumed administrative control of No. 419 Flight, the first of the Royal Air Force Special Duties Service units. The group provided administrative support for all the Special Duties squadrons til the end of the war. In 1942 the Group’s strength was almost halved when 7, 156, and 109 Squadrons were transferred to the newly created No. 8 Group – the Pathfinder Force. In March 1943 3 Group consisted of: 3 Group Headquarters – Harraton House, Exning, Suffolk. 15 Sqn, RAF Bourn, Short Stirling 75 Sqn, RAF Newmarket, Stirling 90 Sqn, RAF Ridgewell, Stirling 115 Sqn, RAF East Wretham, Wellington & Lancaster 138 (Special Duties) Squadron, RAF Tempsford, Halifax 149 Sqn, RAF Lakenheath, Stirling 199 Sqn, RAF Lakenheath, Stirling 161 (Special Duties) Squadron, RAF Tempsford, Lysander, Halifax Hudson Havoc Albemarle Hudson Cygnet 192 (Special Duties) Squadron, RAF Gransden Lodge, Halifax, Wellington Mk.X Mosquito Wellington Mk.IC 214 Sqn, RAF Chedburgh, Stirling 218 Sqn, RAF Downham Market, Stirling After the invasion of Normandy, Bomber Command joined in the campaign against German oil targets. Although daylight bombing against targets within Germany itself still incurred too many casualties closer targets could be attacked by day with fighter escorts. 3 Group carried out blind bombing techniques by day using G-H. By April 1945 3 Group consisted of: 15 Sqn, RAF Bourn, Avro Lancaster Mks. I and III 75 Sqn, RAF Mepal, Lancaster Mks. I and III 90 Sqn, RAF Tuddenham, Lancaster Mks. I and III 115 Sqn, RAF Witchford, Lancaster Mks. I and III 138 (Special Duties) Squadron, RAF Tuddenham, Lancaster Mks. I and III 149 Sqn, RAF Methwold, Lancaster Mks. I and III 186 Sqn, RAF Stradishall, Lancaster Mks. I and III 195 Sqn, RAF Wratting Common, Lancaster Mks. I and III 218 Sqn, RAF Chedburgh, Lancaster Mks. I and III 514 Sqn, RAF Waterbeach, Lancaster Mks. I, II and III 622 Sqn, RAF Mildenhall, Lancaster Mks. I and III Training units, e.g. No. 1688 Flight, at RAF Feltwell Headquarters – Exning Post war The Group HQ moved back to Mildenhall in January 1947. In June 1948, No.3 Group consisted of 35, 115, 149, and 207 Squadrons operating Lancasters from RAF Stradishall,