No. 620 Squadron RAF

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No.620 Squadron's motto was Dona ferentes adsumus (We are bringing gifts) and its badge was a demi pegasus with a bolt of lightning in front

No 620 Squadron was formed at Chedburgh on 17 June 1943 as a heavy bomber squadron equipped with Short Stirlings. It was a part of No.3 Group of Bomber Command and carried out night bombing missions until November 1943 when it moved to Leicester in preparation for airborne forces operations. By March 1944 the squadron had been moved to Fairford to prepare for D-Day and completed many practice missions in Gloucestershire area such a parachuting and glider towing.

On D-Day itself, the squadron took part in Operation Tonga and dropped paratroopers of the 6th Airborne Division near Caen. After these events, the squadron was used to resupply Allied forces in France, mainly the French Resistance.

620 Squadron took part in Operation Market Garden when they towed gliders and dropped paratroopers belonging to the 1st Airborne Division. They also flew operations to resupply the struggling ground forces.

Throughout Operation Varsity, the squadron towed 30 gliders carrying anti tank and artillery weapons to their destination near the Rhine.

After VE Day, the squadron helped to transport POWs, troops and supplies around Europe. The Stirlings which they had used throughout the war began to be replaced by Handley Page Halifaxes and in 1946, the squadron was moved to Palestine to become No. 113 Squadron RAF.