The squadron was formed at RAF Hendon on 1 February 1944 from elements of 512 Squadron. Just two weeks later it moved to RAF Broadwell to work-up as a tactical transport squadron with the Douglas Dakota, the military transport version of the Douglas DC-3 airliner. The squadron's first operations were leaflet raids on France, on the eve of D-Day it dropped the 5th Para brigade into the invasion drop zone (Operation Tonga)[6]. On 6 June it towed 21 gliders into France. In the next few weeks it started a casualty evacuation service from France back to England. In September 1944 it was heavily involved in operations at Arnhem, suffering casualties.[6]
After the end of the war the squadron began flying to and from India from RAF Melbourne in Yorkshire and later from RAF Blakehill Farm. In January 1946 it moved to RAF Bari in Italy to operate a air service between Italy, Austria, Romania, Greece and Bulgaria. It was eventually disbanded at RAF Kabrit, Egypt on 15 August 1946.[3][7]
Aircraft operated
| From | To | Aircraft | Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 1944 | August 1946 | Douglas Dakota | Mk.III |
| June 1944 | May 1945 | Avro Anson | Mk.I |
| March 1945 | August 1946 | Douglas Dakota | Mk.IV |
Squadron bases
| From | To | Base | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 February 1944 | 14 February 1944 | RAF Hendon, Middlesex | |
| 14 February 1944 | 5 August 1945 | RAF Broadwell, Oxfordshire | Dets. at B.56/Evere and B.70/Deurne, Belgium |
| 5 August 1945 | 16 November 1945 | RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire | |
| 16 November 1945 | 11 January 1946 | RAF Blakehill Farm, Wiltshire | |
| 11 January 1946 | 26 July 1946 | RAF Bari, Italy | |
| 26 July 1946 | 15 August 1946 | RAF Kabrit, Egypt |
Commanding Officers
| From | To | Name |
|---|---|---|
| February 1944 | December 1944 | W/Cdr. T.A. Jefferson, AFC |
| December 1944 | July 1945 | W/Cdr. E.C. Deanesly, DFC |
| July 1945 | August 1946 | W/Cdr. B.L. Duigan, DSO, DFC |
575 Squadron
History
The squadron was formed at RAF Hendon on 1 February 1944 from elements of 512 Squadron. Just two weeks later it moved to RAF Broadwell to work-up as a tactical transport squadron with the Douglas Dakota, the military transport version of the Douglas DC-3 airliner. The squadron's first operations were leaflet raids on France, on the eve of D-Day it dropped the 5th Para brigade into the invasion drop zone (Operation Tonga)[6]. On 6 June it towed 21 gliders into France. In the next few weeks it started a casualty evacuation service from France back to England. In September 1944 it was heavily involved in operations at Arnhem, suffering casualties.[6]
After the end of the war the squadron began flying to and from India from RAF Melbourne in Yorkshire and later from RAF Blakehill Farm. In January 1946 it moved to RAF Bari in Italy to operate a air service between Italy, Austria, Romania, Greece and Bulgaria. It was eventually disbanded at RAF Kabrit, Egypt on 15 August 1946.[3][7]
Aircraft operated
| From | To | Aircraft | Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 1944 | August 1946 | Douglas Dakota | Mk.III |
| June 1944 | May 1945 | Avro Anson | Mk.I |
| March 1945 | August 1946 | Douglas Dakota | Mk.IV |
Squadron bases
| From | To | Base | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 February 1944 | 14 February 1944 | RAF Hendon, Middlesex | |
| 14 February 1944 | 5 August 1945 | RAF Broadwell, Oxfordshire | Dets. at B.56/Evere and B.70/Deurne, Belgium |
| 5 August 1945 | 16 November 1945 | RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire | |
| 16 November 1945 | 11 January 1946 | RAF Blakehill Farm, Wiltshire | |
| 11 January 1946 | 26 July 1946 | RAF Bari, Italy | |
| 26 July 1946 | 15 August 1946 | RAF Kabrit, Egypt |
Commanding Officers
| From | To | Name |
|---|---|---|
| February 1944 | December 1944 | W/Cdr. T.A. Jefferson, AFC |
| December 1944 | July 1945 | W/Cdr. E.C. Deanesly, DFC |
| July 1945 | August 1946 | W/Cdr. B.L. Duigan, DSO, DFC |
Errol Wood
Another member of 575 Suadron
F/O Erroll Wood was flying as wing man to Sqn Ldr Wright on the evening of Operation Rob Roy (don't have the plane number or crew names, ). Erroll's plane was also shot down over Normanday and crashed somewhere near Giberville as well. He and his crew were captured that evening and held initially in France, spending two weeks in the Gestapo Prison at Chartres and thence moved to Paris before transportation by train to Germany. Train transport from Paris was by cargo wagon, the journey lasted approximately 3 weeks stopping for a period at Belsau Concentration Camp before arriving at Stalag Luft III in early August 1944. During his time at Stalag Luft III he was promoted to F/LT and was finally liberated. He returned to active service flying DC-3 on the India route to Mauripur. He migrated to Australia in 1950 and remained in the Active Reserve until compulsory retirement
These sites cover the ox18 area of Oxfordshire England, including the following villages, OX18, Alvescot, Bampton, Black Bourton, Burford, Broadwell, Carterton, Clanfield, Kelmscott, Kencot, Langford, Lechlade, RAF Broadwell, Shilton, Parish Pump, Oxfordshire Events,
