| No. 587 Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1 December 1943 – 15 June 1946 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Air Force |
| Role | anti-aircraft co-operation |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Codes | M4 (Dec 1943 – Jun 1946) |
No. 587 Squadron RAF was an anti-aircraft co-operation squadron of the Royal Air Force from 1943 to 1946.
History
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.
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.
Aircraft operated
| 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
| 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
Citations
- Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 74.
- Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 89.
- , accessed September 2020.
- ^ Halley 1988, p. 414.
- ^ Jefford 2001, p. 98.
- Rawlings 1982, p. 258.
- Rawlings 1982, p. 257.
Bibliography
- 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.
External links
- Short 587 Squadron history on new MOD site
- Squadron histories for nos. 541–598 sqn on RafWeb's Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation
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