No. 571 Squadron RAF was a Second World War Royal Air Force pathfinder squadron operating the de Havilland Mosquito.
History The squadron was formed on 7 April 1944 at RAF Downham Market, Norfolk to operate the de Havilland Mosquito XVI as part of the No. 8 (Pathfinder) Group. The main squadron role was to carry out independent raids on German industrial targets using 4,000 lb (1,814 kg) "Cookie" bombs. The squadron moved to RAF Oakington on 22 April 1944 and then, after having flown its last operational mission on 26/27 April 1945, to RAF Warboys on 20 July 1945. No. 571 Squadron was disbanded at Warboys on 20 September 1945.
The squadron carried out 2,681 operational sorties with the Mosquito with a loss of 8 aircraft.
Aircraft operated +Aircraft operated by no. 571 Squadron RAF, data from From To Aircraft Variant Notes April 1944 September 1945 de Havilland Mosquito Mk.XVI Twin-engined light bomber
Squadron bases +Bases and airfields used by no. 571 Squadron, data from From To Base Remark 7 April 1944 24 April 1944 RAF Downham Market, Norfolk Det. at RAF Graveley, Huntingdonshire 24 April 1944 20 July 1945 RAF Oakington, Cambridgeshire 20 July 1945 20 September 1945 RAF Warboys, Huntingdonshire
Commanding officers +Officers commanding no. 571 Squadron RAF, data from From To Name April 1944 November 1944 W/Cdr. J.M. Birkin, DSO, DFC, AFC November 1944 March 1945 W/Cdr. R.J. Gosnell, DSO, DFC March 1945 September 1945 W/Cdr. R.W. Bray, DFC
References
Notes
Bibliography
External links
571 Squadron history on old MOD site very short 571 Squadron history on new MOD site squadron histories for nos. 541–598 sqn on RafWeb's Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation