No. 587 Squadron RAF

No. 587 Squadron RAF
Active1 December 1943 – 15 June 1946
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
Roleanti-aircraft co-operation
Insignia
Squadron CodesM4 (Dec 1943 – Jun 1946)[1][2]

No. 587 Squadron RAF was an anti-aircraft co-operation squadron of the Royal Air Force from 1943 to 1946.

History

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The squadron was formed at RAF Weston Zoyland, England on 1 December 1943, from 1600 Flight, 1601 Flight and 1625 Flight for anti-aircraft co-operation duties over Wales and the south east of England. It operated a variety of aircraft. By June 1944 it was part of No. 70 Group RAF, Air Defence of Great Britain.[3]

Due to the ongoing training requirement the squadron was not disbanded at the end of the war and it moved to RAF Tangmere on 1 June 1946 to cover the south coast, but was disbanded shortly afterwards on 15 June 1946.[4]

Aircraft operated

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Aircraft operated by no. 587 Squadron, data from[4][5][6]
From To Aircraft Version
December 1943 February 1944 Airspeed Oxford
December 1943 May 1944 Hawker Henley Mk.III
December 1943 June 1945 Hawker Hurricane Mk.IV
December 1943 August 1945 Miles Martinet
March 1944 June 1945 Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIc
October 1944 June 1946 Vultee Vengeance Mk.IV
April 1945 May 1945 North American Mustang Mk.I
July 1945 June 1946 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.XVI

Squadron bases

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Bases and airfields used by no. 587 Squadron RAF, data from[4][5][7]
From To Base Remark
1 December 1943 10 April 1944 RAF Weston Zoyland, Somerset
10 April 1944 1 October 1944 RAF Culmhead, Somerset Dets. at RAF Pengam Moors, Glamorgan, Wales; RAF Colerne, Wiltshire
and RAF Carew Cheriton, Pembrokeshire, Wales
1 October 1944 1 June 1946 RAF Weston Zoyland, Somerset Dets. at RAF Middle Wallop, Hampshire and RAF Ibsley, Hampshire
1 June 1946 15 June 1946 RAF Tangmere, West Sussex

References

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Citations

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  1. ^ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 74.
  2. ^ Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 89.
  3. ^ [1], accessed September 2020.
  4. ^ a b c Halley 1988, p. 414.
  5. ^ a b Jefford 2001, p. 98.
  6. ^ Rawlings 1982, p. 258.
  7. ^ Rawlings 1982, p. 257.

Bibliography

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  • 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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