No. 620 Squadron RAF
Encyclopedia
No 620 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force
during World War II
. During its existence it served as bomber, airborne forces and transport squadron.
on 17 June 1943 as a heavy bomber squadron equipped with the Short Stirling
. It was a part of No.3 Group of RAF Bomber Command
and carried out night bombing missions until November 1943 when it was transferred to No 38 Group RAF and moved to RAF Leicester East
in preparation for airborne forces operations. By March 1944 the squadron had been moved to RAF Fairford
to prepare for D-Day
and completed many practice missions in Gloucestershire
area such a parachuting and glider towing.
On D-Day itself, the squadron took part in Operation Tonga
and dropped paratroopers of the 6th Airborne Division near Caen
. After these events, the squadron was used to resupply Allied forces in France, mainly SOE
and the French Resistance
.
No 620 Squadron also took part in Operation Market Garden
, where they towed gliders and dropped paratroopers belonging to the 1st Airborne Division. They also flew operations to resupply the struggling ground forces in and around Arnhem
. After these operations the squadron flew some missions in support of the resistance in the Netherlands and in Norway.
Throughout Operation Varsity
in March 1945 the squadron towed 30 gliders, carrying anti tank and artillery weapons to their destination near the Rhine.
After VE Day, the squadron helped to transport ex-POWs, troops and supplies around Europe. The Stirlings which they had used throughout the war began to be replaced in May 1945 by Halifaxes
, and the sphere of operations was changed from Western-Europe to Greece, Czechoslovakia, Egypt, Italy and Palestine. In December 1945 the squadron was moved to Tunisia
and shortly thereafter to Palestine
and Egypt
and the squadron began missions in the Middle East
. By June 1946 it received also some Dakotas
, but on 1 September 1946 the squadron was disbanded at RAF Aqir, Palestine by being renumbered to No. 113 Squadron RAF
.
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...
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...
. During its existence it served as bomber, airborne forces and transport squadron.
History
No 620 Squadron was formed at RAF ChedburghChedburgh
Chedburgh is a village and civil parish in the St Edmundsbury district of Suffolk in eastern England. Located on the A143 around five miles south-west of Bury St Edmunds, in 2005 its population was 650....
on 17 June 1943 as a heavy bomber squadron equipped with the 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...
. It was a part of No.3 Group of RAF Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command controlled the RAF's bomber forces from 1936 to 1968. During World War II the command destroyed a significant proportion of Nazi Germany's industries and many German cities, and in the 1960s stood at the peak of its postwar military power with the V bombers and a supplemental...
and carried out night bombing missions until November 1943 when it was transferred to No 38 Group RAF and moved to RAF Leicester East
RAF Leicester East
Royal Air Force Station Leicester East, more commonly known as RAF Leicester East, , was a Royal Air Force airbase, near the village of Stoughton, east southeast of Leicester, Leicestershire...
in preparation for airborne forces operations. By March 1944 the squadron had been moved to RAF Fairford
RAF Fairford
RAF Fairford is a Royal Air Force station in Gloucestershire, England. It is a standby airfield, not in everyday use. Its most prominent use in recent years has been as an airfield for United States Air Force B-52s during the 2003 Iraq War, Operation Allied Force in 1999, and the first Gulf War in...
to prepare for D-Day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
and completed many practice missions in Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
area such a parachuting and glider towing.
On D-Day itself, the squadron took part in Operation Tonga
Operation Tonga
Operation Tonga was the codename given to the airborne operation undertaken by the British 6th Airborne Division between 5 June and 7 June 1944 as a part of Operation Overlord and the Normandy Landings during the Second World War....
and dropped paratroopers of the 6th Airborne Division near Caen
Caen
Caen is a commune in northwestern France. It is the prefecture of the Calvados department and the capital of the Basse-Normandie region. It is located inland from the English Channel....
. After these events, the squadron was used to resupply Allied forces in France, mainly 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...
and the 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...
.
No 620 Squadron also took part 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....
, where they towed gliders and dropped paratroopers belonging to the 1st Airborne Division. They also flew operations to resupply the struggling ground forces in and around 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...
. After these operations the squadron flew some missions in support of the resistance in the Netherlands and in Norway.
Throughout 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 the squadron towed 30 gliders, carrying anti tank and artillery weapons to their destination near the Rhine.
After VE Day, the squadron helped to transport ex-POWs, troops and supplies around Europe. The Stirlings which they had used throughout the war began to be replaced in May 1945 by Halifaxes
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...
, and the sphere of operations was changed from Western-Europe to Greece, Czechoslovakia, Egypt, Italy and Palestine. In December 1945 the squadron was moved to Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
and shortly thereafter to Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
and Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
and the squadron began missions in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. By June 1946 it received also some Dakotas
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...
, but on 1 September 1946 the squadron was disbanded at RAF Aqir, Palestine by being renumbered to No. 113 Squadron RAF
No. 113 Squadron RAF
No. 113 Squadron was a unit of the Royal Air Force that served as a reconnaissance, army cooperation, bomber, fighter, transport and missile operation squadron during its existence.-Formation in World War I as reconnaissance unit:...
.
Aircraft operated
| From | To | Aircraft | Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 1943 | August 1943 | 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.I |
| August 1943 | February 1944 | Short Stirling | Mk.III |
| February 1944 | July 1945 | Short Stirling | Mk.IV |
| May 1945 | September 1946 | 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... |
Mks.III, VII |
| June 1946 | September 1946 | 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... |
C.4 |
| August 1946 | September 1946 | Handley Page Halifax | A.9 |
Squadron Stations
| From | To | Station | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 June 1943 | 23 November 1943 | RAF Chedburgh Chedburgh Chedburgh is a village and civil parish in the St Edmundsbury district of Suffolk in eastern England. Located on the A143 around five miles south-west of Bury St Edmunds, in 2005 its population was 650.... , 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... |
|
| 23 November 1943 | 18 March 1944 | RAF Leicester East RAF Leicester East Royal Air Force Station Leicester East, more commonly known as RAF Leicester East, , was a Royal Air Force airbase, near the village of Stoughton, east southeast of Leicester, Leicestershire... , Leicestershire Leicestershire Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire... |
Det. at 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... |
| 18 March 1944 | 17 October 1944 | RAF Fairford RAF Fairford RAF Fairford is a Royal Air Force station in Gloucestershire, England. It is a standby airfield, not in everyday use. Its most prominent use in recent years has been as an airfield for United States Air Force B-52s during the 2003 Iraq War, Operation Allied Force in 1999, and the first Gulf War in... , Gloucestershire Gloucestershire Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean.... |
|
| 17 October 1944 | December 1945 | RAF Great Dunmow RAF Great Dunmow RAF Station Great Dunmow is a former World War II airfield in Essex, England. The airfield is located approximately mi west of Great Dunmow, north of the A 120; about miles 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... |
|
| December 1945 | 15 January 1946 | El Aouina La Goulette La Goulette is the port of Tunis, the capital of Tunisia. The Kasbah fortress was built in 1535 by Charles I of Spain but was captured by the Ottoman Turks in 1574... , Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area... |
|
| 15 January 1946 | 6 March 1946 | RAF Aqir, Palestine Palestine Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands.... |
|
| 6 March 1946 | 14 June 1946 | RAF Cairo West, Egypt Egypt Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world... |
Det. at RAF Shallufa, Egypt, Apr-Jun 46 |
| 14 June 1946 | 1 September 1946 | RAF Aqir, Palestine |
Commanding officers
| From | To | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 17 June 1943 | 4 October 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... D.H. Lee, 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... |
| 4 October 1944 | 1 July 1945 | W/Cdr. G.T. Wynne-Powell, DFC |
| 1 July 1945 | 27 July 1945 | W/Cdr. G.H. Briggs, DFC |
| 27 July 1945 | September 1945 | W/Cdr. K.R. Slater, 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"... |
| September 1945 | 1946 | W/Cdr. R.I. Alexander, DFC |
| 1946 | September 1946 | W/Cdr. M. Thomas |
See also
- No 38 Group RAF
- List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons
- 620's Air Cadet squadron