No. 571 Squadron RAF

No. 571 Squadron RAF
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]

No. 571 Squadron RAF was a Second World War Royal Air Force pathfinder squadron operating the de Havilland Mosquito.

1 History
2 Aircraft operated
3 Squadron bases
4 Commanding officers
5 References
- 5.1 Notes
- 5.2 Bibliography
6 External links

History

The squadron was formed on the 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 lbs. (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 the 20 September 1945.^[3]^[4]^[5]

The squadron carried out 2,681 operational sorties with the Mosquito with a loss of 8 aircraft.^[6]

Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated by no. 571 Squadron RAF, data from^[3]^[4]^[5]
From	To	Aircraft	Variant	Notes
April 1944	September 1945	de Havilland Mosquito	Mk.XVI	Twin-engined light bomber

Squadron bases

Bases and airfields used by no. 571 Squadron, data from^[3]^[4]^[5]
From	To	Base	Remark
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

Commanding officers

Officers commanding no. 571 Squadron RAF, data from^[7]
From	To	Name
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

References

Notes

Bibliography

External links

Commons has media related to No. 571 Squadron RAF.

571 Squadron history on old MOD site
very short 571 Squadron history on new MOD site
squadron histories for nos. 541–598 sqn on RafWeb's Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation

Currently active

Inactive

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Australian Flying Corps (AFC) units attached
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No. 571 Squadron RAF