No. 298 Squadron RAF
Encyclopedia
No. 298 Squadron was a Royal Air Force
special operations squadron during the second world war. Later in that war it changed to the transport role, disbanding after the end of the hostilities.
from a nucleus of 297 Squadron
as a special operations
squadron, equipped with the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley
. The squadron was however not required for operations, so the formation was suspended and the squadron was disbanded on 19 October 1942.
, from 'A' Flight of 295 Squadron
, with the Handley Page Halifax
. It trained to air-tow the big General Aircraft Hamilcar
glider, but began operations in February 1944 in its original role, dropping SOE
agents. On 16 March 1944 298 Squadrons 'C' Flight split off, to form 644 squadron
.
During the Normandy landing the squadron air-towed both the Airspeed Horsa
s and the Hamilcars to landing-zones around the beach head. An unusual operation involved parachuting jeep
s which had been carried underneath the Halifax. The squadron then returned again to SOE duties. In between the SOE duties the squadron air-towed Hamilcar and Horsa gliders for the Arnhem
landing (Operation Market Garden
). The squadron moved in March 1945 to RAF Woodbridge
, England
to air-tow gliders for the Rhine crossing (Operation Varsity
). After Operation Varsity the squadron flew normal supply and transport duties.
, Burma to the starving population in the jungle areas. The squadron disbanded at Mauripur
, Sindh
, British India (Now Pakistan Air Force Base Masroor) on 21 December or 30 December 1946
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...
special operations squadron during the second world war. Later in that war it changed to the transport role, disbanding after the end of the hostilities.
Formation
No. 298 Squadron was formed on 24 August 1942 at RAF ThruxtonRAF Thruxton
RAF Station Thruxton is a former World War II airfield in Hampshire, England. The airfield is located approximately west of Andover; about southwest of London...
from a nucleus of 297 Squadron
No. 297 Squadron RAF
No 297 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It was notable for being the first airborne forces squadron formed. With sister No 296 Squadron it formed No 38 Wing RAF -soon to be expanded with sister No 295 Squadron, which expanded later to become No 38 Group RAF.-Formation and World War...
as a special operations
Special operations
Special operations are military operations that are considered "special" .Special operations are typically performed independently or in conjunction with conventional military operations. The primary goal is to achieve a political or military objective where a conventional force requirement does...
squadron, equipped with the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley
Armstrong Whitworth Whitley
The Armstrong Whitworth A.W.38 Whitley was one of three British twin-engine, front line medium bomber types in service with the Royal Air Force at the outbreak of the Second World War...
. The squadron was however not required for operations, so the formation was suspended and the squadron was disbanded on 19 October 1942.
Gliders and Special Operations
The squadron was re-formed on 4 November 1943 at RAF Tarrant RushtonRAF Tarrant Rushton
RAF Tarrant Rushton was a Royal Air Force station near the village of Tarrant Rushton east of Blandford Forum in Dorset, England from 1943 to 1947.It was used for glider operations during World War II and later revived for civilian operations...
, from 'A' Flight of 295 Squadron
No. 295 Squadron RAF
No 295 Squadron RAF was an airborne forces and transport squadron of the Royal Air Force during World War II. It was the first unit to be equipped with the Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle transport and glider tug aircraft.-With the Airborne Forces:...
, with the Handley Page Halifax
Handley Page Halifax
The Handley Page Halifax was one of the British front-line, four-engined heavy bombers of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. A contemporary of the famous Avro Lancaster, the Halifax remained in service until the end of the war, performing a variety of duties in addition to bombing...
. It trained to air-tow the big General Aircraft Hamilcar
General Aircraft Hamilcar
The General Aircraft Limited GAL. 49 Hamilcar or Hamilcar Mark I was a large British military glider produced during the Second World War, which was designed to carry heavy cargo, such as the Tetrarch or M22 Locust light tank...
glider, but began operations in February 1944 in its original role, dropping SOE
Special Operations Executive
The Special Operations Executive was a World War II organisation of the United Kingdom. It was officially formed by Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Minister of Economic Warfare Hugh Dalton on 22 July 1940, to conduct guerrilla warfare against the Axis powers and to instruct and aid local...
agents. On 16 March 1944 298 Squadrons 'C' Flight split off, to form 644 squadron
No. 644 Squadron RAF
No. 644 Squadron RAF was a unit in 38 Group of the Royal Air Force during World War II which undertook glider-towing and supply dropping missions as well being employed in the paratroop role.-Formation and World War II:...
.
During the Normandy landing the squadron air-towed both the Airspeed Horsa
Airspeed Horsa
The Airspeed AS.51 Horsa was a British World War II troop-carrying glider built by Airspeed Limited and subcontractors and used for air assault by British and Allied armed forces...
s and the Hamilcars to landing-zones around the beach head. An unusual operation involved parachuting jeep
Jeep
Jeep is an automobile marque of Chrysler . The first Willys Jeeps were produced in 1941 with the first civilian models in 1945, making it the oldest off-road vehicle and sport utility vehicle brand. It inspired a number of other light utility vehicles, such as the Land Rover which is the second...
s which had been carried underneath the Halifax. The squadron then returned again to SOE duties. In between the SOE duties the squadron air-towed Hamilcar and Horsa gliders for the Arnhem
Arnhem
Arnhem is a city and municipality, situated in the eastern part of the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of Gelderland and located near the river Nederrijn as well as near the St. Jansbeek, which was the source of the city's development. Arnhem has 146,095 residents as one of the...
landing (Operation Market Garden
Operation Market Garden
Operation Market Garden was an unsuccessful Allied military operation, fought in the Netherlands and Germany in the Second World War. It was the largest airborne operation up to that time....
). The squadron moved in March 1945 to RAF Woodbridge
RAF Woodbridge
Royal Air Force Station Woodbridge, more commonly referred to as RAF Woodbridge, is a former Royal Air Force military airbase situated to the east of Woodbridge in the county of Suffolk, England...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to air-tow gliders for the Rhine crossing (Operation Varsity
Operation Varsity
Operation Varsity was a successful joint American–British airborne operation that took place toward the end of World War II...
). After Operation Varsity the squadron flew normal supply and transport duties.
Transport in British India
In July 1945 the squadron moved to Raipur, British India to provide transport support to the Army. In March 1946 the squadron was involved in rice-dropping sorties from MeiktilaMeiktila
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 to the starving population in the jungle areas. The squadron disbanded at Mauripur
Masroor Airbase
PAF Base Masroor is the largest airbase of Pakistan Air Force. It is located in the Mauripur area of Karachi, Sindh. It was originally known as RPAF Station Mauripur and after 1956, as PAF Station Mauripur.-Name origin:...
, Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
, British India (Now Pakistan Air Force Base Masroor) on 21 December or 30 December 1946
Aircraft operated
| From | To | Aircraft | Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 1942 | October 1942 | Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Armstrong Whitworth Whitley The Armstrong Whitworth A.W.38 Whitley was one of three British twin-engine, front line medium bomber types in service with the Royal Air Force at the outbreak of the Second World War... |
Mk.V |
| November 1943 | November 1944 | Handley Page Halifax Handley Page Halifax The Handley Page Halifax was one of the British front-line, four-engined heavy bombers of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. A contemporary of the famous Avro Lancaster, the Halifax remained in service until the end of the war, performing a variety of duties in addition to bombing... |
Mk.V |
| September 1944 | July 1945 | Handley Page Halifax | Mk.III |
| March 1945 | December 1946 | Handley Page Halifax | A.7 |
Squadron bases
| From | To | Base | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 August 1942 | 19 October 1942 | RAF Thruxton RAF Thruxton RAF Station Thruxton is a former World War II airfield in Hampshire, England. The airfield is located approximately west of Andover; about southwest of London... , Hampshire Hampshire Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force... |
|
| 4 November 1943 | 21 March 1945 | RAF Tarrant Rushton RAF Tarrant Rushton RAF Tarrant Rushton was a Royal Air Force station near the village of Tarrant Rushton east of Blandford Forum in Dorset, England from 1943 to 1947.It was used for glider operations during World War II and later revived for civilian operations... , Dorset Dorset Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974... |
|
| 21 March 1945 | 24 March 1945 | RAF Woodbridge RAF Woodbridge Royal Air Force Station Woodbridge, more commonly referred to as RAF Woodbridge, is a former Royal Air Force military airbase situated to the east of Woodbridge in the county of Suffolk, England... , Suffolk Suffolk Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east... |
|
| 24 March 1945 | 5 July 1945 | RAF Tarrant Rushton, Dorset | |
| 5 July 1945 | 15 July 1945 | en route to British India | |
| 15 July 1945 | 9 December 1945 | RAF Raipur, Chhattisgarh Chhattisgarh Chhattisgarh is a state in Central India, formed when the 16 Chhattisgarhi-speaking South-Eastern districts of Madhya Pradesh gained separate statehood on 1 November 2000.... , British India |
Dets. at RAF Akyab Sittwe -Economy:In February 2007, India announced a plan to develop the port, which would enable ocean access from Indian Northeastern states, so called "Seven sisters", like Mizoram, via the Kaladan River.... , Burma and RAF Alipore Alipore Alipore is headquarters of South 24 Parganas district and a neighbourhood in South Kolkata in the Indian state of West Bengal.Alipore, Kolkata, not to be confused with Alipore, Gujarat, is one of the poshest and costliest localities in Kolkata, along with the area Ballygunge... , 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 |
| 9 December 1945 | 20 May 1946 | RAF Digri Digri Digri is a town In District Mirpurkhas, Sindh, Pakistan.Digri is named after then lived taller lady which was renowned as "dighi" in Sindhi means taller.*Geographical location: Mirpurkhas, Sind, Pakistan, Asia... , Sindh Sindh Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can... , British India |
Dets. at RAF Negombo Negombo Negombo is a town of about 121,933, approximately 37 km north of Colombo, in Sri Lanka. It is located at the mouth of the Negombo Lagoon, about 7 km from the Bandaranaike International Airport... , Ceylon; 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 Chaklala PAF Base Chaklala PAF Base Chaklala is an active Pakistan Air Force airbase located in Chaklala Rawalpindi, Punjab province, Pakistan. It also forms part of Islamabad International Airport.-History:The base was originally operated by the Royal Air Force as R.A.F... , Punjab Punjab region The Punjab , also spelled Panjab |water]]s"), is a geographical region straddling the border between Pakistan and India which includes Punjab province in Pakistan and the states of the Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and some northern parts of the National Capital Territory of Delhi... , British India |
| 20 May 1946 | 24 July 1946 | RAF Baroda Vadodara Vadodara formerly known as Baroda is the third most populated city in the Indian State of Gujarat . It is one of the four cities with the population of over 1 million... , Gujarat, British India |
|
| 24 July 1946 | 21 December 1946 | RAF Mauripur RAF Mauripur RAF Mauripur was a Royal Air Force station in British India outside of Karachi. It is now known as Masroor Airbase.British units continued to use the airfield after the creation of Pakistan in 1947, finally leaving in 1956 - Pakistan becoming a republic at this time, and the RAF airfields at Gan... , Sindh, British India |
Det. at RAF Risalpur Risalpur Risalpur is a city in Nowshera District, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, on the Nowshera-Mardan Road. It is nearly 45 km from Peshawar and 15 km from Mardan and is located at 34°4'52N 71°58'21E. In a basin some 1014 feet above sea level, it is bounded on the south and west by the Kabul and... , North-West Frontier Province North-West Frontier Province Khyber Pakhtunkhwa , formerly known as the North-West Frontier Province and various other names, is one of the four provinces of Pakistan, located in the north-west of the country... , British India |
Commanding officers
| From | To | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 24 August 1942 | 19 October 1942 | S/Ldr. Squadron Leader Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these... L.C. Bartram |
| 4 November 1943 | 4 December 1943 | S/Ldr. C.H. Briggs |
| 4 December 1943 | January 1945 | 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... D.H. Duder, 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... |
| January 1945 | 17 April 1945 | W/Cdr. Law-Wright, DSC Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom) The Distinguished Service Cross is the third level military decoration awarded to officers, and other ranks, of the British Armed Forces, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and British Merchant Navy and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries.The DSC, which may be awarded posthumously, is... , DFC |
| 17 April 1945 | 1945 | W/Cdr. J. Stewart, DFC |
| 1945 | January 1946 | W/Cdr. A.G. Norman, DFC |
| January 1946 | 21 December 1946 | W/Cdr. W.G. Gardiner, DFC, 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"... |