No. 620 Squadron RAF

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No 620 Squadron RAF
No 38 Group RAF, Transport Command[2]
Motto(s)Latin: Dona ferentes adsumus
(Translation: "We are coming bringing gifts")[3]
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldryIn front of a demi-pegasus couped, a flash of lightning[3][4]
Squadron CodesQS (Jun 1943 – 1946)[5][6]
D4 (Nov 1943 – 1946)[7][8]

No 620 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force during World War II. During its existence it served as a bomber squadron, airborne forces and a transport squadron.

History

No 620 Squadron was formed at

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.[3]

Throughout Operation Varsity in March 1945 the squadron towed 30 gliders, carrying anti tank and artillery weapons to their destination near the Rhine.

After

RAF Aqir, Palestine by being renumbered to No. 113 Squadron RAF
.

Aircraft operated

Stirling Mk.IVs of 620 Squadron, RAF during Operation Market Garden in September 1944
Aircraft operated by No. 620 Squadron RAF[4][10][11]
From To Aircraft Version
June 1943 August 1943 Short Stirling 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 Mks.III, VII
June 1946 September 1946
Douglas Dakota
 C.4
August 1946 September 1946 Handley Page Halifax A.9

Squadron Stations

Stations and airfields used by No. 620 Squadron RAF[3][4][10]
From To Station Remark
17 June 1943 23 November 1943 RAF Chedburgh, Suffolk
23 November 1943 18 March 1944 RAF Leicester East, Leicestershire Det. at RAF Hurn, Dorset
18 March 1944 17 October 1944 RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire
17 October 1944 December 1945 RAF Great Dunmow, Essex
December 1945 15 January 1946 El Aouina, Tunisia
15 January 1946 6 March 1946
RAF Aqir, Palestine
6 March 1946 14 June 1946 RAF Cairo West, Egypt Det. at RAF Shallufa, Egypt, Apr–Jun 46
14 June 1946 1 September 1946 RAF Aqir, Palestine

Commanding officers

Officers commanding No. 620 Squadron RAF[12][13]
From To Name
17 June 1943 4 October 1944
W/Cdr. D.H. Lee, DFC
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
September 1945 1946 W/Cdr. R.I. Alexander, DFC
1946 September 1946 W/Cdr. M. Thomas

See also

References

Notes

  1. ^ Delve 1994, pp. 69–70.
  2. ^ Delve 1994, p. 81.
  3. ^ a b c d Rawlings 1982, p. 241.
  4. ^ a b c Halley 1988, p. 437.
  5. ^ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, pp. 86–87.
  6. ^ Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 99.
  7. ^ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 32.
  8. ^ Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 68.
  9. ^ Ward & Smith 2009, p. 306
  10. ^ a b Jefford 2001, p. 102.
  11. ^ Rawlings 1982, pp. 241–242.
  12. ^ Rawlings 1982, p. 242.
  13. ^ "620 Squadron History". 38 Group. 2007. Retrieved 19 October 2015.

Bibliography

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