No. 299 Squadron RAF explained

Unit Name:No. 299 Squadron RAF
Dates:4 Nov 1943 – 15 Feb 1946
Country: United Kingdom
Branch: Royal Air Force
Role:Special Operations
Transport
Command Structure:No. 38 Group RAF
Identification Symbol:No badge authorised
Identification Symbol Label:Squadron Badge heraldry
Identification Symbol 2:X9 (Jan 1944 – Feb 1946)
5G (Jan 1944 – Feb 1946)
Identification Symbol 2 Label:Squadron Codes

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

History

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).[1] At the end of the Second World War the squadron disbanded at RAF Shepherds Grove, Suffolk on 15 February 1946.

Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated by no. 299 Squadron RAF, data from! From !! To !! Aircraft !! Version
November 1943 January 1944 Mks.I and II
January 1944 February 1946 Mk.IV
January 1945 February 1946 Short Stirling Mk.V

Squadron bases

Bases and airfields used by no. 299 Squadron RAF, data from! 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!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

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Écrasement d'un avion de la R.A.F. le 7 octobre 1945 . fr . RAF plane crash 7 October 1945 . wiki-rennes.fr.