No. 571 Squadron RAF was a Second World War Royal Air Force pathfinder squadron operating the de Havilland Mosquito.
No. 571 Squadron RAF | |
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Active | 7 Apr 1944 – 20 Sep 1945 |
Country | United Kingdom |
Branch | Royal Air Force |
Part of | No. 8 (Pathfinder) Group, RAF Bomber Command |
Insignia | |
Squadron Codes | 8K (Apr 1944 – Sep 1945)[1][2] |
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]
From | To | Aircraft | Variant | Notes |
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April 1944 | September 1945 | de Havilland Mosquito | Mk.XVI | Twin-engined light bomber |
From | To | Base | Remark |
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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, Huntingdonshire |
From | To | Name |
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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, DFC |
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