No. 357 Squadron RAF
Encyclopedia
No. 357 Squadron RAF was a special squadron, involved in the supply of covert forces behind enemy lines during World War II in South East Asia Command
from No. 1576 (Special Duties) Flight. The squadron was equipped with Consolidated Liberator
and Lockheed Hudson
aircraft, which formed "A" Flight, whilst "B" Flight consisted of four Consolidated Catalina
aircraft operated by the squadron from Red Hills Lake
, Madras. The Catalina flight eventually became No. 628
squadron on 21 March 1944. On the 15 September 1944, No. 357 squadron moved to Jessore, Bengal. Early in 1945 the Hudsons were replaced by Douglas Dakota
s, and "C" Flight equipped with Westland Lysander
s joined the squadron. The squadron disbanded on 15 November 1945.
|+Aircraft operated by no. 357 Squadron RAF, data from
! From !! To !! Aircraft !! Version
|-
| February 1944 || March 1944 || Consolidated Catalina
|| Mk.IV
|-
| February 1944 || December 1944 || Lockheed Hudson
|| Mk.IIIa
|-
| February 1944 || December 1944 || Consolidated Liberator
|| Mk.III
|-
| September 1944 || October 1945 || Consolidated Liberator || Mk.VI
|-
| December 1944 || November 1945 || Douglas Dakaota
|| Mks.III, IV
|-
| January 1945 || March 1945 || Stinson Sentinel ||
|-
| March 1945 || November 1945 || Westland Lysander
|| Mk.IIIa
|+Bases and airfields used by no. 357 Squadron RAF, data from
! From !! To !! Base !! Remark
|-
| 1 February 1944 || 15 September 1945 || Digri, Bengal
, British India || Dets. at RAF China Bay
, Ceylon
and RAF Redhills Lake
, Madras, British India
|-
| 15 September 1945 || 15 November 1945 || RAF Jessore
, Bengal, British India || Dets. at RAF Meiktila
, Burma
and RAF Mingaladon
, Burma
|-
|+Officers commanding no. 357 Squadron RAF, data from
! From !! To !! Name
|-
| February 1944 || December 1944 || W/Cdr.
J.R. Moore
|-
| December 1944 || July 1945 || W/Cdr. L.M. Hodges, DSO
, DFC
|-
| July 1945 || November 1945 || W/Cdr. P.R. Gaskell, DFC
South East Asia Command
South East Asia Command was the body set up to be in overall charge of Allied operations in the South-East Asian Theatre during World War II.-Background:...
History
The squadron was formed on 1 February 1944 at Digri, BengalBengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
from No. 1576 (Special Duties) Flight. The squadron was equipped with Consolidated Liberator
B-24 Liberator
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
and Lockheed Hudson
Lockheed Hudson
The Lockheed Hudson was an American-built light bomber and coastal reconnaissance aircraft built initially for the Royal Air Force shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War and primarily operated by the RAF thereafter...
aircraft, which formed "A" Flight, whilst "B" Flight consisted of four Consolidated Catalina
PBY Catalina
The Consolidated PBY Catalina was an American flying boat of the 1930s and 1940s produced by Consolidated Aircraft. It was one of the most widely used multi-role aircraft of World War II. PBYs served with every branch of the United States Armed Forces and in the air forces and navies of many other...
aircraft operated by the squadron from Red Hills Lake
Red Hills Lake
The Red Hills Lake,also called Puzhal Lake is located in Ponneri Taluk of Thiruvallur district, Tamilnadu, South India . It is one of the two rain-fed reservoirs from where water is drawn for supply to Chennai City, the other one being the Chembarambakkam Lake.*The full capacity of the lake is...
, Madras. The Catalina flight eventually became No. 628
No. 628 Squadron RAF
No. 628 Squadron RAF was a meteorological and air-sea rescue squadron of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.-History:The squadron was formed at Red Hills Lake in Madras, India on 21 March 1944, by redesignating 'B' Flight of No. 357 Squadron RAF. The unit was equipped with Consolidated...
squadron on 21 March 1944. On the 15 September 1944, No. 357 squadron moved to Jessore, Bengal. Early in 1945 the Hudsons were replaced by Douglas Dakota
C-47 Skytrain
The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota is a military transport aircraft that was developed from the Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remained in front line operations through the 1950s with a few remaining in operation to this day.-Design and...
s, and "C" Flight equipped with Westland Lysander
Westland Lysander
The Westland Lysander was a British army co-operation and liaison aircraft produced by Westland Aircraft used immediately before and during the Second World War...
s joined the squadron. The squadron disbanded on 15 November 1945.
Aircraft operated
{|class="wikitable"|+Aircraft operated by no. 357 Squadron RAF, data from
! From !! To !! Aircraft !! Version
|-
| February 1944 || March 1944 || Consolidated Catalina
PBY Catalina
The Consolidated PBY Catalina was an American flying boat of the 1930s and 1940s produced by Consolidated Aircraft. It was one of the most widely used multi-role aircraft of World War II. PBYs served with every branch of the United States Armed Forces and in the air forces and navies of many other...
|| Mk.IV
|-
| February 1944 || December 1944 || Lockheed Hudson
Lockheed Hudson
The Lockheed Hudson was an American-built light bomber and coastal reconnaissance aircraft built initially for the Royal Air Force shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War and primarily operated by the RAF thereafter...
|| Mk.IIIa
|-
| February 1944 || December 1944 || Consolidated Liberator
B-24 Liberator
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
|| Mk.III
|-
| September 1944 || October 1945 || Consolidated Liberator || Mk.VI
|-
| December 1944 || November 1945 || Douglas Dakaota
C-47 Skytrain
The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota is a military transport aircraft that was developed from the Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remained in front line operations through the 1950s with a few remaining in operation to this day.-Design and...
|| Mks.III, IV
|-
| January 1945 || March 1945 || Stinson Sentinel ||
|-
| March 1945 || November 1945 || Westland Lysander
Westland Lysander
The Westland Lysander was a British army co-operation and liaison aircraft produced by Westland Aircraft used immediately before and during the Second World War...
|| Mk.IIIa
Squadron bases
{|class="wikitable"|+Bases and airfields used by no. 357 Squadron RAF, data from
! From !! To !! Base !! Remark
|-
| 1 February 1944 || 15 September 1945 || Digri, Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
, British India || Dets. at RAF China Bay
SLAF China Bay
SLAF China Bay is a Sri Lanka Air Force base located at China Bay, Trincomalee. The airbase is situated close to the coast and has a long runway which is believed to be able to handle most modern aircraft...
, Ceylon
and RAF Redhills Lake
Red Hills Lake
The Red Hills Lake,also called Puzhal Lake is located in Ponneri Taluk of Thiruvallur district, Tamilnadu, South India . It is one of the two rain-fed reservoirs from where water is drawn for supply to Chennai City, the other one being the Chembarambakkam Lake.*The full capacity of the lake is...
, Madras, British India
|-
| 15 September 1945 || 15 November 1945 || RAF Jessore
Jessore Airport
-Airlines and destinations:-External links:*...
, Bengal, British India || Dets. at RAF Meiktila
Meiktila
Meiktila is a city in central Myanmar, located on the banks of Lake Meiktila in Mandalay Division, at the junctions of the Bagan-Taunggyi, Yangon-Mandalay and Meiktila-Myingyan highways. Because of its strategic position, Meiktila is home to Myanmar Air Force's central command and Meiktila Air...
, Burma
and RAF Mingaladon
Yangon International Airport
Yangon International Airport , located in Mingaladon, at north of downtown Yangon, is the primary international airport of Myanmar and the second largest airport in the country....
, Burma
|-
Commanding officers
{|class="wikitable"|+Officers commanding no. 357 Squadron RAF, data from
! From !! To !! Name
|-
| February 1944 || December 1944 || W/Cdr.
Wing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
J.R. Moore
|-
| December 1944 || July 1945 || W/Cdr. L.M. Hodges, DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, DFC
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
|-
| July 1945 || November 1945 || W/Cdr. P.R. Gaskell, DFC