avia.wikisort.org - Air_ForcesNo. 621 Squadron RAF was a reconnaissance squadron of the Royal Air Force during World War II, flying from Somaliland and Aden. It was after the war stationed in Egypt and Palestine and tasked with air-sea rescue and was also active in Operation Sunburn, looking for illegal immigrants.
No. 621 Squadron RAF |
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Active | 12 Sep 1943 – 1 Sep 1946 |
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Country | United Kingdom |
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Branch | Royal Air Force |
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Role | Reconnaissance Air-sea rescue |
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Part of | British Forces Aden[1] |
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Motto(s) | Ever Ready to Strike |
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Squadron Badge heraldry | A hooded cobra[2] |
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Military unit
History
No. 621 Squadron RAF was at Port Reitz, Kenya, on 12 September 1943[3] as a general reconnaissance unit. The most unusual sortie flown by the squadron was in November 1943, when it had to look for four thousand stolen camels on behalf of the army.[4] In a more serious series of sorties, the squadron managed to knock out the German submarine U-852, but at the beginning of 1945 activities had dropped so low that the squadron was reduced from 16 to 8 aircraft. In November the squadron converted to Warwicks and started in Operation Sunburn, looking for illegal immigrants into Palestine. In April to squadron moved to Palestine and converted to Lancasters. Shortly after it had completed that conversion the squadron was disbanded at RAF Ein Shemer by being re-numbered to No. 18 Squadron RAF on 1 September 1946.[2][3][5]
The present 621 Volunteer Gliding Squadron has no links with 621 Squadron, and in fact traces its lines back to No. 87 Glider School RAF.[6][7]
Aircraft operated
Aircraft operated by No. 621 Squadron RAF[2][4][5]
From | To | Aircraft | Variant |
September 1943 | January 1945 | Vickers Wellington | Mk.XIII |
January 1945 | December 1945 | Vickers Wellington | Mk.XIV |
March 1945 | November 1945 | Vickers Warwick | GR.5 |
April 1946 | September 1946 | Avro Lancaster | ASR.3 (special air-sea rescue version) |
Squadron bases
Bases and airfields used by No. 621 Squadron RAF[2][4][5]
From | To | Base | Remarks |
12 September 1943 | 4 November 1943 | Port Reitz, Kenya | Detachment at Mogadishu, Italian Somaliland |
4 November 1943 | 5 December 1943 | Mogadishu, Italian Somaliland | Detachments at Scusciuban, Italian Somaliland; Bandar Kassim, Italian Somaliland and RAF Riyan, Aden Protectorate |
5 December 1943 | 12 November 1945 | RAF Khormaksar, Aden | Detachments at Scuscuiban, Italian Somaliland; Bandar Kassim, Italian Somaliland; Riyan, Aden Protectorate; RAF Socotra, Aden Protectorate and Mogadishu, Italian Somaliland |
12 November 1945 | 20 April 1946 | RAF Mersa Matruh, Egypt | Detachments at RAF Aqir, Palestine and RAF Benina, Libya |
20 April 1946 | 6 June 1946 | RAF Aqir, Palestine | |
6 June 1946 | 1 September 1946 | RAF Ein Shemer, Palestine | |
Commanding officers
Officers commanding No. 621 Squadron RAF[4]
From | To | Name |
September 1943 | December 1944 | W/Cdr. P. Green, OBE, AFC |
December 1944 | November 1945 | W/Cdr. F.T. Gardiner, DFC |
November 1945 | February 1946 | S/Ldr. G. Schofield |
February 1946 | September 1946 | W/Cdr. B.E. Peck, DFC |
References
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Delve, Ken (1994). The Source Book of the RAF. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-85310-451-5.
- 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.
- Lake, Alan (1999). Flying units of the RAF. Shrewsbury: Airlife. ISBN 1-84037-086-6.
- 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.
External links
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Currently active | |
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Inactive | |
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Australian Flying Corps units attached to the RAF during the First World War |
- 67 (1 Sqn AFC)
- 68 (2 Sqn AFC)
- 69 (3 Sqn AFC)
- 71 (4 Sqn AFC)
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Commonwealth air force units attached to the RAF during the Second World War | Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) | |
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Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) | |
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Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) | |
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Squadrons formed from non-Commonwealth personnel during the Second World War
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Argentine | |
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Belgian | |
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Czechoslovak | |
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Dutch | |
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French |
- 326
- 327
- 328
- 329
- 340
- 341
- 342
- 343
- 344
- 345
- 346
- 347
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Royal Auxiliary Air Force | Special Reserve | |
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Auxiliary Air Force | |
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Fleet Air Arm of the RAF (1924–1939) |
- 712
- 715
- 718
- 800
- 801
- 802
- 803
- 810
- 811
- 812
- 813
- 814
- 820
- 821
- 822
- 823
- 824
- 825
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Royal Air Force |
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Formations and units | Units |
- Commands
- Groups
- Wings
- Squadrons
- Flights
- Conversion units
- Operational Training units
- Schools / Training units
- Ferry units
- Glider units
- Misc units
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Stations |
- Active
- Former
- Satellite Landing Grounds
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Regiment | |
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Branches and components |
- Air Force Board
- RAF Regiment
- RAF Chaplains Branch
- RAF Intelligence
- RAF Legal Branch
- RAF Medical Services
- Princess Mary's RAF Nursing Service
- RAF Police
- RAF Search and Rescue Force
- RAF Mountain Rescue Service
- RAF Marine Branch
- RAF Ground Trades
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Reserve forces |
- Royal Auxiliary Air Force
- RAF Volunteer Reserve
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Associated civil organisations |
- Air Training Corps
- RAF Association
- RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine
- RAF Benevolent Fund
- RAF Football Association
- RAF Museum
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Equipment | |
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Personnel |
- Officer ranks
- Other ranks
- List of notable personnel
- List of serving senior officers
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Appointments |
- Chief of Air Staff
- Assistant Chief of the Air Staff
- Air Member for Personnel
- Air Secretary
- Air Member for Materiel
- Commandant-General of the RAF Regiment
- Warrant Officer of the RAF
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Symbols and uniform |
- Ensign
- Badge
- Roundels
- Uniform
- Heraldic badges
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