No. 587 Squadron RAF
Military unit
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
No. 587 Squadron RAF was an anti-aircraft co-operation squadron of the Royal Air Force from 1943 to 1946.
Active1 December 1943 – 15 June 1946
Country
United Kingdom
United KingdomBranch
Royal Air Force
Royal Air ForceRoleanti-aircraft co-operation
| 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)[1][2] |
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.[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
| 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 |