No. 299 Squadron RAF
No. 299 Squadron RAF | |
---|---|
Active | 4 Nov 1943 – 15 Feb 1946 |
Country | ![]() |
Branch | ![]() |
Role | Special Operations Transport |
Part of | No. 38 Group RAF[1] |
Insignia | |
Squadron Badge heraldry | No badge authorised[2] |
Squadron Codes | X9(Jan 1944 – Feb 1946)[3][4] 5G(Jan 1944 – Feb 1946)[5][6] |
No. 299 Squadronwas aRoyal Air Forcesquadron during the Second World War and was part ofNo. 38 Group.
History
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4e/Stirlings_ready_for_Operation_Tonga_at_RAF_Keevil_June_1944_IWM_CH_13298.jpg/220px-Stirlings_ready_for_Operation_Tonga_at_RAF_Keevil_June_1944_IWM_CH_13298.jpg)
No. 299 Squadron was formed on 4 November 1943 form 'C' flight of297 SquadronatRAF Stoney Cross,Hampshireas aspecial operationssquadron. It became operational in April 1944 droppingSOEagents. During the Normandy landing the squadron first delivered paratroopers, and then returned to air-tow 16Airspeed Horsagliders across theEnglish Channel.The squadron continued operations with resupply drops until 10 June when it returned to SOE duties. In between the SOE duties the squadron air-towed Horsa gliders for theArnhemlanding (Operation Market Garden), and theRhinecrossing (Operation Varsity). It was also involved in supply-dropping to resistance forces inNorwayuntil the end of the war. On 7 October 1945, it lost five of its members in the crash of aShort StirlingIV inRennes(Brittany).[7] At the end of theSecond World Warthe squadron disbanded atRAF Shepherds Grove,Suffolkon 15 February 1946.[8][9]
Aircraft operated
[edit]From | To | Aircraft | Version |
---|---|---|---|
November 1943 | January 1944 | Lockheed Ventura | Mks.I and II |
January 1944 | February 1946 | Short Stirling | Mk.IV |
January 1945 | February 1946 | Short Stirling | Mk.V |
Squadron bases
[edit]From | To | Base |
---|---|---|
4 November 1943 | 15 March 1944 | RAF Stoney Cross,Hampshire |
15 March 1944 | 9 October 1944 | RAF Keevil,Wiltshire |
9 October 1944 | 25 January 1945 | RAF Wethersfield,Essex |
25 January 1945 | 15 February 1946 | RAF Shepherds Grove,Suffolk |
Commanding officers
[edit]From | To | Name |
---|---|---|
4 November 1943 | 28 December 1943 | W/Cdr.R.W.G. Kitley |
28 December 1943 | 19 September 1944 | W/Cdr. P.B.N. Davis,DSO |
19 September 1944 | 1 November 1944 | W/Cdr. P.N. Jennings (acting after KIA of W/Cdr. Davis over Arnhem) |
1 November 1944 | 31 December 1944 | W/Cdr. C.B.R. Colenso,DFC |
31 December 1944 | September 1945 | W/Cdr. P.N. Jennings |
September 1945 | 15 February 1946 | W/Cdr. R.N. Stidolph |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^Delve 1994,pp. 69–70, 81.
- ^abcdRawlings 1982,p. 197.
- ^Bowyer & Rawlings 1979,p. 115.
- ^Flintham & Thomas 2003,p. 117.
- ^Bowyer & Rawlings 1979,p. 48.
- ^Flintham & Thomas 2003,p. 57.
- ^"Écrasement d'un avion de la R.A.F. le 7 octobre 1945"[RAF plane crash 7 October 1945].wiki-rennes.fr(in French).[better source needed]
- ^abcHalley 1988,p. 354.
- ^abcJefford 2001,p. 86.
Bibliography
[edit]- Bowyer, Michael J.F.; Rawlings, John D.R. (1979).Squadron Codes, 1937–56.Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd.ISBN0-85059-364-6.
- Delve, Ken (1994).The Source Book of the RAF.Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing.ISBN1-85310-451-5.
- 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.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, 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.ISBN1-85310-053-6.
- Rawlings, John D.R. (1982).Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft.London: Jane's Publishing Company Ltd.ISBN0-7106-0187-5.
External links
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)