No. 357 Squadron RAF
| No. 357 Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1 February 1944 โ 15 November 1945 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Air Force |
| Role | special operations |
| Part of | No. 231 Group RAF, South East Asia Command[1] |
| Motto(s) | Latin: Mortem hostibus (Translation: "We bring death to the enemy")[2][3] |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge heraldry | A crocodile[2][3] |
| Squadron Codes | No specific identity markings are known to have been carried[4] |
No. 357 Squadron was a
South-East Asian theatre
.
History
The squadron was formed on 1 February 1944 at
Batu Pahat and Kota Tinggi
and covering 3,500 air miles with a flying times of over 22 hours - near the aircraft's maximum range.
Also early in 1945, the Hudsons were replaced by Douglas Dakotas, and "C" Flight was equipped with Westland Lysanders joined the squadron. The squadron disbanded on 15 November 1945.
Aircraft operated
| From | To | Aircraft | Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 1944 | March 1944 | Consolidated Catalina | Mk.IV |
| February 1944 | December 1944 | Lockheed Hudson | Mk.IIIa |
| February 1944 | December 1944 | Consolidated Liberator | Mk.III |
| September 1944 | October 1945 | Consolidated Liberator | Mk.VI |
| December 1944 | November 1945 | Douglas Dakaota | Mks.III, IV |
| January 1945 | March 1945 | Stinson Sentinel | |
| March 1945 | November 1945 | Westland Lysander | Mk.IIIa |
Squadron bases
| From | To | Base | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 February 1944 | 15 September 1945 | Digri, British India |
Dets. at British India
|
| 15 September 1945 | 15 November 1945 | RAF Jessore , Bengal, British India |
Dets. at Burma , Burma
and RAF Mingaladon |
Commanding officers
| From | To | Name |
|---|---|---|
| February 1944 | December 1944 | W/Cdr. J.R. Moore
|
| December 1944 | July 1945 | W/Cdr. L.M. Hodges, DSO, DFC |
| July 1945 | November 1945 | W/Cdr. P.R. Gaskell, DFC |
References
Citations
- ^ Delve 1994, pp. 77, 84.
- ^ a b c d Rawlings 1982, p. 204.
- ^ a b c d Halley 1988, p. 386.
- ^ a b Rawlings 1982, p. 205.
- ^ a b Jefford 2001, p. 94.
Bibliography
- Delve, Ken (1994). The Source Book of the RAF. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-85310-451-5.
- Gwynne-Timothy, John R.W. (1991). Burma Liberators: RCAF in SEAC. Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Next Level Press. ISBN 1-895578-02-7.
- Halley, James J. (1988). The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918โ1988. 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.
- O'Brien, Terence (1987). The Moonlight War: the Story of Clandestine Operations in South-East Asia, 1944-5. London: Collins. ISBN 0-00-217803-6.
- Oughton, James D.; Hamlin, John; Thomas, Andrew (2007). The Liberator in Royal Air Force and Commonwealth Service. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 978-0-85130-362-8.
- 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.
External links
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