No. 570 Squadron RAF
Encyclopedia
No. 570 Squadron RAF was a bomber unit active within No. 38 Group RAF
as an airborne, bomber support and special operations squadron during World War II
.
on 15 November 1943, equipped with Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle
s. It was part of No. 38 Group RAF
and was engaged in supply dropping missions to French resistance
units when it was not training paratroops and glider-towing.
In July 1944 the squadron re-equipped with Short Stirling
s, and in September 1944 participated in Operation Market Garden
, the ill-fated attempt by the allies to capture the Arnhem
bridge, during which time the squadron was engaged in glider
towing and supply drops. The squadron also took part in Operation Varsity
in March 1945, a major allied airborne offensive across the Rhine.
When the war finished, the squadron transported troops to Norway
, and was then assigned to various overseas mail routes prior to disbanding at RAF Rivenhall
on 8 January 1946.
No. 38 Group RAF
No 38 Group RAF was formed on 6 November 1943 from nine squadrons as part of Fighter Command. It was finally disbanded on 1 April 2000.-History:...
as an airborne, bomber support and special operations squadron during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
History
No. 570 Squadron RAF was formed at RAF HurnRAF Hurn
RAF Station Hurn is a former World War II airfield in Dorset, England. The airfield is located approximately north east of Christchurch; about southwest of LondonOpened in 1941, it was used by both the Royal Air Force and United States Army Air Force...
on 15 November 1943, equipped with Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle
Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle
The Armstrong Whitworth A.W.41 Albemarle was a British twin-engine transport aircraft that entered service during the Second World War.Originally designed as a medium bomber that could be built by non-aviation companies without using light alloys, the Albemarle never served in that role, instead...
s. It was part of No. 38 Group RAF
No. 38 Group RAF
No 38 Group RAF was formed on 6 November 1943 from nine squadrons as part of Fighter Command. It was finally disbanded on 1 April 2000.-History:...
and was engaged in supply dropping missions to French resistance
French Resistance
The French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...
units when it was not training paratroops and glider-towing.
In July 1944 the squadron re-equipped with Short Stirling
Short Stirling
The Short Stirling was the first four-engined British heavy bomber of the Second World War. The Stirling was designed and built by Short Brothers to an Air Ministry specification from 1936, and entered service in 1941...
s, and in September 1944 participated in 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 ill-fated attempt by the allies to capture 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...
bridge, during which time the squadron was engaged in glider
Military glider
Military gliders have been used by the military of various countries for carrying troops and heavy equipment to a combat zone, mainly during the Second World War. These engineless aircraft were towed into the air and most of the way to their target by military transport planes, e.g...
towing and supply drops. The squadron also took part in Operation Varsity
Operation Varsity
Operation Varsity was a successful joint American–British airborne operation that took place toward the end of World War II...
in March 1945, a major allied airborne offensive across the Rhine.
When the war finished, the squadron transported troops to Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, and was then assigned to various overseas mail routes prior to disbanding at RAF Rivenhall
RAF Rivenhall
RAF Station Rivenhall is a former World War II airfield in Essex, England. The airfield is located approximately south-southeast of Braintree; about northeast of London...
on 8 January 1946.
Aircraft operated
| From | To | Aircraft | Variant |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 1943 | August 1944 | Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle The Armstrong Whitworth A.W.41 Albemarle was a British twin-engine transport aircraft that entered service during the Second World War.Originally designed as a medium bomber that could be built by non-aviation companies without using light alloys, the Albemarle never served in that role, instead... |
Mks.I & II |
| May 1944 | August 1944 | Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle | Mk.V |
| July 1944 | January 1946 | Short Stirling Short Stirling The Short Stirling was the first four-engined British heavy bomber of the Second World War. The Stirling was designed and built by Short Brothers to an Air Ministry specification from 1936, and entered service in 1941... |
Mk.IV |
Squadron bases
| From | To | Base | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 November 1943 | 14 March 1944 | RAF Hurn RAF Hurn RAF Station Hurn is a former World War II airfield in Dorset, England. The airfield is located approximately north east of Christchurch; about southwest of LondonOpened in 1941, it was used by both the Royal Air Force and United States Army Air Force... , 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... |
Det. at RAF Stoney Cross RAF Stoney Cross RAF Station Stoney Cross is a former World War II airfield in the New Forest, Hampshire, England. The airfield is located approximately northwest of Lyndhurst and west of Southampton.... , 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... |
| 14 March 1944 | 7 October 1944 | RAF Harwell RAF Harwell RAF Harwell was a Royal Air Force airfield in former Berkshire, England, near the village of Harwell, later the site of the Atomic Energy Research Establishment and Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. The site is now in Oxfordshire.... , Berkshire Berkshire Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and... |
Det. at RAF Ayr, Ayrshire Ayrshire Ayrshire is a registration county, and former administrative county in south-west Scotland, United Kingdom, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine. The town of Troon on the coast has hosted the British Open Golf Championship twice in the... , Scotland Scotland Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the... |
| 7 October 1944 | 8 January 1946 | RAF Rivenhall RAF Rivenhall RAF Station Rivenhall is a former World War II airfield in Essex, England. The airfield is located approximately south-southeast of Braintree; about northeast of London... , Essex Essex Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west... |
Det. at RAF East Fortune RAF East Fortune RAF East Fortune is a former RAF station, just south of the village of East Fortune in East Lothian, Scotland. The motto of the station was "Fortune Favours the Bold".... , East Lothian East Lothian East Lothian is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy Area. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and Midlothian. Its administrative centre is Haddington, although its largest town is Musselburgh.... , Scotland |
Commanding officers
| From | To | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 15 November 1943 | 17 June 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... R.J.M. Bangay |
| 17 June 1945 | August 1945 | W/Cdr. K.R. Slater |
| August 1945 | 15 December 1945 | W/Cdr. R.E. Young, 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... |
| 15 December 1945 | 8 January 1946 | W/Cdr. J. Blackburn James Blackburn (RAF officer) Wing Commander James Blackburn DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar, DFC was a Royal Air Force officer who completed a record five tours of operations during World War II.-Early life:... , DSO, DFC |
External links
- 570 squadron history at RAFWeb's Air of Authority
- 570 squadron history at MOD site
- [570 squadron history at no. 38 Group site]