No. 595 Squadron RAF
Active1 December 1943 – 11 February 1949
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
TypeInactive
RoleAnti-aircraft co-operation
Last BaseRAF Pembrey
Motto(s)Latin: Servi Ballistae
(Translation: "Serve the gun")[1]
Insignia
Squadron BadgeIn front of two blunt arrows in saltire, a bat (unofficial)
Squadron Codes7B (Dec 1943 – Feb 1949)[2][3]

No. 595 Squadron RAF was a squadron of the Royal Air Force from 1943 to 1949.

History

The squadron was formed at RAF Aberporth, Wales on 1 December 1943, from nos. 1607, 1608, 1609 and 1621 Flight for anti-aircraft co-operation duties over central and northern Wales. It operated a variety of aircraft in this role. Due to the ongoing training requirement the squadron was not disbanded at the end of the Second World War and on 27 April 1946 it moved to RAF Fairwood Common, then on 22 October 1946 to RAF Pembrey. The squadron was disbanded at Pembrey on 11 February 1949 when it was renumbered to No. 5 Squadron RAF.

Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated by no. 595 Squadron RAF, data from[4][5][6]
From To Aircraft Version
December 1943 June 1944 Hawker Henley Mk.III
December 1943 July 1944 Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIc
December 1943 February 1949 Miles Martinet
April 1944 February 1949 Airspeed Oxford
June 1944 March 1945 Hawker Hurricane Mk.IV
November 1944 July 1945 Vultee A-31 Vengeance Mk.IV
December 1944 1945 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Vb
December 1944 July 1945 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.XII
July 1945 1948 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX
September 1945 February 1949 Supermarine Spitfire LF.XVIe
December 1946 October 1948 de Havilland Vampire F.1
June 1948 February 1949 Supermarine Spitfire F.21

Squadron bases

data from[4][5][7]
From To Base Remark
1 December 1943 27 April 1946 RAF Aberporth, Ceredigion Dets. at RAF Manorbier, Pembrokeshire; Fairwood Common, Gower;
RAF Poulton, Cheshire; RAF Wrexham, Wrexham and RAF Brawdy, Pembrokeshire at various times[6]
27 April 1946 22 October 1946 RAF Fairwood Common, Gower
22 October 1946 11 February 1949 RAF Pembrey, Carmarthenshire

See also

References

Notes

  1. ^ RAF/RCAF Bat-Patches
  2. ^ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 25.
  3. ^ Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 60.
  4. ^ a b Rawlings 1982, p. 258.
  5. ^ a b Halley 1988, p. 415.
  6. ^ a b Jefford 2001, p. 99.
  7. ^ Jefford 2001, pp. 98–99.

Bibliography

  • Bowyer, Michael J.F.; Rawlings, John D.R. (1979). Squadron Codes, 1937–56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 0-85059-364-6.
  • 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.

External links

Royal Air Force flying squadrons
Royal Air Force
Categories