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No. 299 Squadron RAF

No. 299 Squadron RAF
Active4 Nov 1943 – 15 Feb 1946
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
RoleSpecial Operations
Transport
Part ofNo. 38 Group RAF[1]
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldryNo badge authorised[2]
Squadron CodesX9 (Jan 1944 – Feb 1946)[3][4]
5G (Jan 1944 – Feb 1946)[5][6]

No. 299 Squadron was a Royal Air Force squadron during the Second World War and was part of No. 38 Group.

History

Short Stirlings of Nos. 196 and 299 Squadrons RAF lining the runway at RAF Keevil on the evening of 5 June 1944 before emplaning paratroops of the 5th Parachute Brigade Group for the invasion of Normandy

No. 299 Squadron was formed on 4 November 1943 form 'C' flight of 297 Squadron at RAF Stoney Cross, Hampshire as a special operations squadron. It became operational in April 1944 dropping SOE agents. During the Normandy landing the squadron first delivered paratroopers, and then returned to air-tow 16 Airspeed Horsa gliders across the English 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 the Arnhem landing (Operation Market Garden), and the Rhine crossing (Operation Varsity). It was also involved in supply-dropping to resistance forces in Norway until the end of the war. On 7 October 1945, it lost five of its members in the crash of a Short Stirling IV in Rennes (Brittany).[7] At the end of the Second World War the squadron disbanded at RAF Shepherds Grove, Suffolk on 15 February 1946.[8][9]

Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated by no. 299 Squadron RAF, data from[2][8][9]
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

Bases and airfields used by no. 299 Squadron RAF, data from[2][8][9]
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

Officers commanding no. 299 Squadron, data from[2]
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

References

Notes

  1. ^ Delve 1994, pp. 69–70, 81.
  2. ^ a b c d Rawlings 1982, p. 197.
  3. ^ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 115.
  4. ^ Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 117.
  5. ^ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 48.
  6. ^ Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 57.
  7. ^ "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]
  8. ^ a b c Halley 1988, p. 354.
  9. ^ a b c Jefford 2001, p. 86.

Bibliography

  • Bowyer, Michael J.F.; Rawlings, John D.R. (1979). Squadron Codes, 1937–56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 0-85059-364-6.
  • Delve, Ken (1994). The Source Book of the RAF. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-85310-451-5.
  • 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. ISBN 1-84037-281-8.
  • 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.
  • 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.
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