No. 587 Squadron RAF
Appearance
No. 587 Squadron RAF | |
---|---|
Active | 1 December 1943 – 15 June 1946 |
Country | |
Branch | |
Role | anti-aircraft co-operation |
Insignia | |
Squadron Codes | M4 (Dec 1943 – Jun 1946)[1][2] |
No. 587 Squadron RAF was an anti-aircraft co-operation squadron of the Royal Air Force from 1943 to 1946.
History
[edit]The squadron was formed at RAF Weston Zoyland, England on 1 December 1943, from 1600 Flight, 1601 Flight and 1625 Flight for anti-aircraft co-operation duties over Wales and the south east of England. It operated a variety of aircraft. By June 1944 it was part of No. 70 Group RAF, Air Defence of Great Britain.[3]
Due to the ongoing training requirement the squadron was not disbanded at the end of the war and it moved to RAF Tangmere on 1 June 1946 to cover the south coast, but was disbanded shortly afterwards on 15 June 1946.[4]
Aircraft operated
[edit]From | To | Aircraft | Version |
---|---|---|---|
December 1943 | February 1944 | Airspeed Oxford | |
December 1943 | May 1944 | Hawker Henley | Mk.III |
December 1943 | June 1945 | Hawker Hurricane | Mk.IV |
December 1943 | August 1945 | Miles Martinet | |
March 1944 | June 1945 | Hawker Hurricane | Mk.IIc |
October 1944 | June 1946 | Vultee Vengeance | Mk.IV |
April 1945 | May 1945 | North American Mustang | Mk.I |
July 1945 | June 1946 | Supermarine Spitfire | Mk.XVI |
Squadron bases
[edit]From | To | Base | Remark |
---|---|---|---|
1 December 1943 | 10 April 1944 | RAF Weston Zoyland, Somerset | |
10 April 1944 | 1 October 1944 | RAF Culmhead, Somerset | Dets. at RAF Pengam Moors, Glamorgan, Wales; RAF Colerne, Wiltshire and RAF Carew Cheriton, Pembrokeshire, Wales |
1 October 1944 | 1 June 1946 | RAF Weston Zoyland, Somerset | Dets. at RAF Middle Wallop, Hampshire and RAF Ibsley, Hampshire |
1 June 1946 | 15 June 1946 | RAF Tangmere, West Sussex |
References
[edit]Citations
[edit]- ^ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 74.
- ^ Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 89.
- ^ [1], accessed September 2020.
- ^ a b c Halley 1988, p. 414.
- ^ a b Jefford 2001, p. 98.
- ^ Rawlings 1982, p. 258.
- ^ Rawlings 1982, p. 257.
Bibliography
[edit]- Bowyer, Michael J.F.; Rawlings, John D.R. (1979). Squadron Codes, 1937–56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 0-85059-364-6.
- Delve, Ken (1994). The Source Book of the RAF. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-85310-451-5.
- 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 & Commonwealth, 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
- Jefford, C.G. (2001). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912 (2nd ed.). Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
- Rawlings, John D.R. (1982). Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Jane's Publishing Company Ltd. ISBN 0-7106-0187-5.