No. 571 Squadron RAF
Encyclopedia
No. 571 Squadron RAF was a Second World War Royal Air Force
pathfinder
squadron operating the de Havilland Mosquito
.
, Norfolk
to operate the de Havilland Mosquito XVI
as part of the No. 8 (Pathfinder) Group
. The main squadron role was to carry out independent raids on German industrial targets using 4,000 lbs. (1,814 kg) "Cookie"
bombs. The squadron moved to RAF Oakington
on 22 April 1944 and then, after having flown its last operational mission on 26/27 April 1945, to RAF Warboys
on 20 July 1945. No. 571 Squadron was disbanded at Warboys on the 20 September 1945.
The squadron carried out 2,681 operational sorties with the Mosquito with a loss of 8 aircraft.
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
pathfinder
Pathfinder (RAF)
The Pathfinders were elite squadrons in RAF Bomber Command during World War II. They located and marked targets with flares, which a main bomber force could aim at, increasing the accuracy of their bombing...
squadron operating the de Havilland Mosquito
De Havilland Mosquito
The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
.
History
The squadron was formed on the 7 April 1944 at RAF Downham MarketRAF Downham Market
RAF Downham Market was a Royal Air Force airfield in the west of the county of Norfolk in the United Kingdom which operated during the second half of World War II.-History:...
, Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
to operate the de Havilland Mosquito XVI
De Havilland Mosquito
The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
as part of the No. 8 (Pathfinder) Group
No. 8 Group RAF
No. 8 Group RAF was a Royal Air Force group which existed during the final year of World War I and during World War II.-Formation in World War II:...
. The main squadron role was to carry out independent raids on German industrial targets using 4,000 lbs. (1,814 kg) "Cookie"
Blockbuster bomb
Blockbuster or "cookie" was the name given to several of the largest conventional bombs used in World War II by the Royal Air Force...
bombs. The squadron moved to RAF Oakington
RAF Oakington
RAF Oakington was an RAF base situated in Cambridgeshire, England.Construction was started in 1939, but was affected by the outbreak of war, the original plan called for Type C hangars two type J were erected instead. It was used by No. 2 Group in July 1940 for No. 218 Squadron which had recently...
on 22 April 1944 and then, after having flown its last operational mission on 26/27 April 1945, to RAF Warboys
RAF Warboys
RAF Warboys was a World War II Royal Air Force heavy bomber station, situated just outside the village of Warboys in Huntingdonshire ....
on 20 July 1945. No. 571 Squadron was disbanded at Warboys on the 20 September 1945.
The squadron carried out 2,681 operational sorties with the Mosquito with a loss of 8 aircraft.
Aircraft operated
| From | To | Aircraft | Variant | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 1944 | September 1945 | de Havilland Mosquito De Havilland Mosquito The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"... |
Mk.XVI | Twin-engined light bomber |
Squadron bases
| From | To | Base | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 April 1944 | 24 April 1944 | RAF Downham Market RAF Downham Market RAF Downham Market was a Royal Air Force airfield in the west of the county of Norfolk in the United Kingdom which operated during the second half of World War II.-History:... , Norfolk Norfolk Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county... |
Det. at RAF Graveley RAF Graveley - 35 Sqn RAF :The first Squadron to move to Graveley was 35 Sqn RAF in August 1942 using the Handley Page Halifax it became a pathfinder unit, forming part of No. 8 Group... , Huntingdonshire Huntingdonshire Huntingdonshire is a local government district of Cambridgeshire, covering the area around Huntingdon. Traditionally it is a county in its own right... |
| 24 April 1944 | 20 July 1945 | RAF Oakington RAF Oakington RAF Oakington was an RAF base situated in Cambridgeshire, England.Construction was started in 1939, but was affected by the outbreak of war, the original plan called for Type C hangars two type J were erected instead. It was used by No. 2 Group in July 1940 for No. 218 Squadron which had recently... , Cambridgeshire Cambridgeshire Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west... |
|
| 20 July 1945 | 20 September 1945 | RAF Warboys RAF Warboys RAF Warboys was a World War II Royal Air Force heavy bomber station, situated just outside the village of Warboys in Huntingdonshire .... , Huntingdonshire |
Commanding officers
| From | To | Name |
|---|---|---|
| April 1944 | November 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.M. Birkin, 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... , AFC Air Force Cross (United Kingdom) The Air Force Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, and formerly also to officers of the other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy"... |
| November 1944 | March 1945 | W/Cdr. R.J. Gosnell, DSO, DFC |
| March 1945 | September 1945 | W/Cdr. R.W. Bray, DFC |