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No. 575 Squadron RAF

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No. 575 Squadron RAF
Active1 February 1944 – 15 August 1946
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
TypeInactive
RoleTransport
Part ofNo. 46 Group, RAF Transport Command[1]
Motto(s)The air is our path[2][3]
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldryA hand couped at the wrist, supporting a terrestrial globe[3]
Squadron CodesI9 (Feb 1944 – Aug 1946)[4][5]

No. 575 Squadron RAF was a transport squadron of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.

History

The squadron was formed at RAF Hendon on 1 February 1944 from elements of 512 Squadron. Just two weeks later it moved to RAF Broadwell to work-up as a tactical transport squadron with the Douglas Dakota, the military transport version of the Douglas DC-3 airliner. The squadron's first operations were leaflet raids on France, on the eve of D-Day it dropped the 5th Para brigade into the invasion drop zone (Operation Tonga).[6] On 6 June it towed 21 gliders into France. In the next few weeks it started a casualty evacuation service from France back to England. In September 1944 it was heavily involved in operations at Arnhem, suffering casualties.[6]

After the end of the war the squadron began flying to and from India from RAF Melbourne in Yorkshire and later from RAF Blakehill Farm. In January 1946 it moved to RAF Bari in Italy to operate an air service between Italy, Austria, Romania, Greece and Bulgaria. It was eventually disbanded at RAF Kabrit, Egypt on 15 August 1946.[3][7]

Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated by no. 575 Squadron RAF, data from[3][6][7]
From To Aircraft Version
February 1944 August 1946 Douglas Dakota Mk.III
June 1944 May 1945 Avro Anson Mk.I
March 1945 August 1946 Douglas Dakota Mk.IV

Squadron bases

Bases and airfields used by no. 575 Squadron RAF, data from[3][6][7]
From To Base Remark
1 February 1944 14 February 1944 RAF Hendon, Middlesex
14 February 1944 5 August 1945 RAF Broadwell, Oxfordshire Dets. at B.56/Evere and B.70/Deurne, Belgium
5 August 1945 16 November 1945 RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire
16 November 1945 11 January 1946 RAF Blakehill Farm, Wiltshire
11 January 1946 26 July 1946 RAF Bari, Italy
26 July 1946 15 August 1946 RAF Kabrit, Egypt

Commanding officers

Officers commanding no. 575 Squadron RAF, data from[6]
From To Name
February 1944 December 1944 W/Cdr. T.A. Jefferson, AFC
December 1944 July 1945 W/Cdr. E.C. Deanesly, DFC
July 1945 August 1946 W/Cdr. B.L. Duigan, DSO, DFC

See also

References

Notes

  1. ^ Delve 1994, pp. 74, 81.
  2. ^ Rawlings 1982, p. 235.
  3. ^ a b c d e Halley 1988, p. 413.
  4. ^ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, pp. 56–57.
  5. ^ Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 79.
  6. ^ a b c d e Rawlings 1982, p. 236.
  7. ^ a b c Jefford 2001, p. 98.

Bibliography

  • Bowyer, Michael J.F.; Rawlings, John D.R. (1979). Squadron Codes, 1937–56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 0-85059-364-6.
  • Delve, Ken (1994). The Source Book of the RAF. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-85310-451-5.
  • Flintham, Vic; Thomas, Andrew (2003). Combat Codes: A Full Explanation and Listing of British, Commonwealth and Allied Air Force Unit Codes since 1938. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-84037-281-8.
  • Halley, James J. (1988). The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
  • Jefford, C.G. (2001). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912 (2nd ed.). Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
  • Rawlings, John D.R. (1982). Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Jane's Publishing Company Ltd. ISBN 0-7106-0187-5.
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