No. 1586 Flight RAF

No. 1586 Flight RAF

A Halifax similar to those flown by 1586 Flt.
Active 4 November 1943 – 7 November 1944[1]
Role Special Duties
Garrison/HQ RAF Derna
RAF Brindisi[1]
Equipment Handley Page Halifax II
Consolidated Liberator III
Consolidated Liberator IV HAR.10
Hawker Hurricane IID[1]
Insignia
Identification
symbol
GR

No. 1586 (Polish Special Duties) Flight was first formed at RAF Derna, in Libya on 4 November 1943, equipped with Handley Page Halifax II special duties aircraft. The flight was disbanded on 7 November 1944 at RAF Brindisi to resume operations as No. 301 Squadron RAF.[1]

The origin of 1586 flight was the remnants of 301 (Polish) Squadron after disbandment by the Polish HQ due to lack of staff and trained crews. Remaining crews and aircraft formed C Flight of 138 Squadron, which was temporarily re-named as 301 Squadron Special Duties Flight RAF, before becoming 1586 Flight.[1]

Missions flown by the flight included partisan supply drops and agent insertion.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Lake, Alan. Flying units of the RAF. Shrewsbury: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1 84037 086 6. 
  • Lake, Alan. "Flying Units of the RAF".Airlife Publishing. Shrewsbury. 1999. ISBN 1 84037 086 6