The squadron was formed on 7 April 1944 at RAF Downham Market, 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 lb (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 20 September 1945.[3][4][5]
The squadron carried out 2,681 operational sorties with the Mosquito with a loss of 8 aircraft.[6]
This particular aircraft is, according to "Mosquito" by Sharp & Bowyer, ML963, 8K-K "King" of 571 Squadron, the picture having been taken on 30 September 1944, after the aircraft had completed repairs at Hatfield. ML963 was first issued to 109 Squadron on 9 March 1944, going on to 692 Squadron on the 24th of the same month, and then on to 571 on 19 April 1944. It was damaged in action on 12 May 1944 but returned to the Squadron on 23 October of that year. Barry Blunt's history of 571 Squadron says ML963 completed 84 operations with the Squadron, 31 of them to Berlin (one of the others was a low-level sortie to skip-bomb a 4,000 lb bomb into the Bitburg Tunnel, undertaken on New Year's Day, 1945. The crew were Flt Lt Norman J Griffiths & Flg Off WR Ball). Its final sortie came on 10/11 April 1945, when it was abandoned following an engine fire. The crew of F/O R.D. Oliver and F/S L.M. Young both returned safely to the Squadron later that month
Aircraft operatededit
Aircraft operated by no. 571 Squadron RAF, data from[3][4][5]
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985). Orbis Publishing. 1985.
Blunt, Barry (2003). 571 Mosquito Bomber Squadron. Barry Blunt. ISBN0-9520532-7-6.
Bowyer, Chaz (1984). Mosquito Squadron of the Royal Air Force. Shepperton, Surrey, UK: Ian Allan Ltd. ISBN0-7110-1425-6.
Bowyer, Michael J.F.; Rawlings, John D.R. (1979). Squadron Codes, 1937–56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN0-85059-364-6.
Falconer, Jonathan (2003). Bomber Command Handbook, 1939–1945. Stroud, England: Sutton Publishing. pp. 203–204. ISBN0-7509-3171-X.
Flintham, Vic; Thomas, Andrew (2003). Combat Codes: A full explanation and listing of British, Commonwealth and Allied air force unit codes since 1938. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN1-84037-281-8.
Halley, James J. (1988). The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN0-85130-164-9.
Jefford, Wing Commander C.G. (2001). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN1-85310-053-6.
Moyes, Philip J.R. (1976). Bomber Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers) Ltd. ISBN0-354-01027-1.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to No. 571 Squadron RAF.
571 Squadron history on old MOD site
very short 571 Squadron history on new MOD site
January 01, 1970
squadron, second, world, royal, force, pathfinder, squadron, operating, havilland, mosquito, active7, 1944, 1945countryunited, kingdombranchroyal, forcepart, ofno, pathfinder, group, bomber, commandinsigniasquadron, codes8k, 1944, 1945, contents, history, airc. No 571 Squadron RAF was a Second World War Royal Air Force pathfinder squadron operating the de Havilland Mosquito No 571 Squadron RAFActive7 Apr 1944 20 Sep 1945CountryUnited KingdomBranchRoyal Air ForcePart ofNo 8 Pathfinder Group RAF Bomber CommandInsigniaSquadron Codes8K Apr 1944 Sep 1945 1 2 Contents 1 History 2 Aircraft operated 3 Squadron bases 4 Commanding officers 5 References 5 1 Notes 5 2 Bibliography 6 External linksHistory editThe squadron was formed on 7 April 1944 at RAF Downham Market 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 lb 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 20 September 1945 3 4 5 The squadron carried out 2 681 operational sorties with the Mosquito with a loss of 8 aircraft 6 nbsp This particular aircraft is according to Mosquito by Sharp amp Bowyer ML963 8K K King of 571 Squadron the picture having been taken on 30 September 1944 after the aircraft had completed repairs at Hatfield ML963 was first issued to 109 Squadron on 9 March 1944 going on to 692 Squadron on the 24th of the same month and then on to 571 on 19 April 1944 It was damaged in action on 12 May 1944 but returned to the Squadron on 23 October of that year Barry Blunt s history of 571 Squadron says ML963 completed 84 operations with the Squadron 31 of them to Berlin one of the others was a low level sortie to skip bomb a 4 000 lb bomb into the Bitburg Tunnel undertaken on New Year s Day 1945 The crew were Flt Lt Norman J Griffiths amp Flg Off WR Ball Its final sortie came on 10 11 April 1945 when it was abandoned following an engine fire The crew of F O R D Oliver and F S L M Young both returned safely to the Squadron later that monthAircraft operated editAircraft operated by no 571 Squadron RAF data from 3 4 5 From To Aircraft Variant Notes April 1944 September 1945 de Havilland Mosquito Mk XVI Twin engined light bomberSquadron bases editBases and airfields used by no 571 Squadron data from 3 4 5 From To Base Remark 7 April 1944 24 April 1944 RAF Downham Market Norfolk Det at RAF Graveley Huntingdonshire 24 April 1944 20 July 1945 RAF Oakington Cambridgeshire 20 July 1945 20 September 1945 RAF Warboys HuntingdonshireCommanding officers editOfficers commanding no 571 Squadron RAF data from 7 From To Name April 1944 November 1944 W Cdr J M Birkin DSO DFC AFC November 1944 March 1945 W Cdr R J Gosnell DSO DFC March 1945 September 1945 W Cdr R W Bray DFCReferences editNotes edit Bowyer amp Rawlings 1979 p 65 Flintham amp Thomas 2003 p 61 a b c Moyes 1976 pp 268 269 a b c Halley 1988 p 412 a b c Jefford 2001 p 98 Falconer 2003 p 255 Bowyer 1984 p 119 Bibliography edit The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft Part Work 1982 1985 Orbis Publishing 1985 Blunt Barry 2003 571 Mosquito Bomber Squadron Barry Blunt ISBN 0 9520532 7 6 Bowyer Chaz 1984 Mosquito Squadron of the Royal Air Force Shepperton Surrey UK Ian Allan Ltd ISBN 0 7110 1425 6 Bowyer Michael J F Rawlings John D R 1979 Squadron Codes 1937 56 Cambridge UK Patrick Stephens Ltd ISBN 0 85059 364 6 Falconer Jonathan 2003 Bomber Command Handbook 1939 1945 Stroud England Sutton Publishing pp 203 204 ISBN 0 7509 3171 X Flintham Vic Thomas Andrew 2003 Combat Codes A full explanation and listing of British Commonwealth and Allied air force unit codes since 1938 Shrewsbury Shropshire UK Airlife Publishing Ltd ISBN 1 84037 281 8 Halley James J 1988 The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force amp Commonwealth 1918 1988 Tonbridge Kent UK Air Britain Historians Ltd ISBN 0 85130 164 9 Jefford Wing Commander C G 2001 RAF Squadrons a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912 Shrewsbury Shropshire UK Airlife Publishing Ltd ISBN 1 85310 053 6 Moyes Philip J R 1976 Bomber Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft London Macdonald and Jane s Publishers Ltd ISBN 0 354 01027 1 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to No 571 Squadron RAF 571 Squadron history on old MOD site very short 571 Squadron history on new MOD site squadron histories for nos 541 598 sqn on RafWeb s Air of Authority A History of RAF Organisation Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title No 571 Squadron RAF amp oldid 992470874, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
