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- No. 578 Squadron Royal Air Force during the Second World War -


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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945

No. 578 Squadron Royal Air Force



   578 Squadron was formed in January 1944, flying Halifax mkIII

They flew from the following airfields:

  • Snaith. from 14 January 1944 to 6th Feb. 1944
  • Burn. from 6th Feb. 1944 to 15 April 1945.


 

14th Jan 1944 Detachment

21st Jan 1944 Ops

30th Mar 1944 Aircraft Lost

21st Jul 1944 

22nd Feb 1945 578 Squadron Halifax lost


If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.



Logbooks



Do you have a WW2 Flying Log Book in your possession?

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Those known to have served with

No. 578 Squadron Royal Air Force

during the Second World War 1939-1945.

  • Barton VC. Cyril Joe. (d.31st March 1944)
  • Blake P.. Sgt. (d.2st Feb 1945)
  • Blundell L. Sergeant
  • Callingham J. Flight Seargeant
  • Coram T S. Pilot Officer
  • Holdstock Reginald Thomas William. F/Sgt.
  • Inge C. Sargeant
  • Maton Ronald J.. (d.31st Mar 1944)
  • McLean Daniel. Flying Officer
  • Morgan Leonard Robert. Sgt. (d.24th March 1944)
  • Pink Philip Claude. Flt.Sgt. (d.21st Jul 1944)
  • Pope DFC. Percy William S. Sqd.Ldr.
  • Ridley J A. Sargeant (d.11th September 1944)
  • Rix James A. Sergeant
  • Roberts DFM. Reginald Leonard Arthur. Sgt.
  • Tregoning J M. Flight Seargeant
  • Ward DFM, George Dudley. Sgt.
  • Westmoreland DFC. George. Flt/Lt.
  • Williams William Henry George. F/O. (d.22nd Jan 1944)

The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List

Records of No. 578 Squadron Royal Air Force from other sources.



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Want to know more about No. 578 Squadron Royal Air Force?


There are:2004 items tagged No. 578 Squadron Royal Air Force available in our Library

  These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War.


Ronald J. Maton 578 Sqd. (d.31st Mar 1944)

Ronald Maton was a Wireless Operator in 578 Squadron, stationed at RAF Burn. He was killed on 31st March 1944 at Silverstone, whilst returning from raid on Nuremburg.

David Rogers



Sargeant J A Ridley 578 Squadron (d.11th September 1944)

Handley Page Halifax III, NA568 LK-Q, took off 11th September 1944 16.04 hrs, Op: Gelsenkirchen. The aircraft was hit by flak and crashed 18.30 hrs. in Kirchhellen. All crew survived and made POW except Sgt J A Ridley who sadly was killed. Sgt J A Ridley is buried in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.

Crew:

  • P/O T S Coram RAAF
  • Sgt L Blundell
  • F/S J M Tregoning
  • F/S J Callingham RCAF
  • Sgt C Inge
  • Sgt J A Rix
  • Sgt J A Ridley

  • Ron Rix



    Sargeant C Inge 578 Squadron

    Handley Page Halifax III, NA568 LK-Q, took off 11th September 1944 16.04 hrs, Op: Gelsenkirchen. The aircraft was hit by flak and crashed 18.30 hrs. in Kirchhellen. All crew survived and made POW except Sgt J A Ridley who sadly was killed. Sgt J A Ridley is buried in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.

    Crew:

  • P/O T S Coram RAAF
  • Sgt L Blundell
  • F/S J M Tregoning
  • F/S J Callingham RCAF
  • Sgt C Inge
  • Sgt J A Rix
  • Sgt J A Ridley

  • Ron Rix



    Flight Seargeant J Callingham 578 Squadron

    Handley Page Halifax III, NA568 LK-Q, took off 11th September 1944 16.04 hrs, Op: Gelsenkirchen. The aircraft was hit by flak and crashed 18.30 hrs. in Kirchhellen. All crew survived and made POW except Sgt J A Ridley who sadly was killed. Sgt J A Ridley is buried in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.

    Crew:

  • P/O T S Coram RAAF
  • Sgt L Blundell
  • F/S J M Tregoning
  • F/S J Callingham RCAF
  • Sgt C Inge
  • Sgt J A Rix
  • Sgt J A Ridley

  • Ron Rix



    Flight Seargeant J M Tregoning 578 Squadron

    Handley Page Halifax III, NA568 LK-Q, took off 11th September 1944 16.04 hrs, Op: Gelsenkirchen. The aircraft was hit by flak and crashed 18.30 hrs. in Kirchhellen. All crew survived and made POW except Sgt J A Ridley who sadly was killed. Sgt J A Ridley is buried in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.

    Crew:

  • P/O T S Coram RAAF
  • Sgt L Blundell
  • F/S J M Tregoning
  • F/S J Callingham RCAF
  • Sgt C Inge
  • Sgt J A Rix
  • Sgt J A Ridley

  • Ron Rix



    Sergeant L Blundell 578 Squadron

    Handley Page Halifax III, NA568 LK-Q, took off 11th September 1944 16.04 hrs, Op: Gelsenkirchen. The aircraft was hit by flak and crashed 18.30 hrs. in Kirchhellen. All crew survived and made POW except Sgt J A Ridley who sadly was killed. Sgt J A Ridley is buried in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.

    Crew:

  • P/O T S Coram RAAF
  • Sgt L Blundell
  • F/S J M Tregoning
  • F/S J Callingham RCAF
  • Sgt C Inge
  • Sgt J A Rix
  • Sgt J A Ridley

  • Ron Rix



    Pilot Officer T S Coram 578 Squadron

    Handley Page Halifax III, NA568 LK-Q, took off 11th September 1944 16.04 hrs, Op: Gelsenkirchen. The aircraft was hit by flak and crashed 18.30 hrs. in Kirchhellen. All crew survived and made POW except Sgt J A Ridley who sadly was killed. Sgt J A Ridley is buried in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.

    Crew:

  • P/O T S Coram RAAF
  • Sgt L Blundell
  • F/S J M Tregoning
  • F/S J Callingham RCAF
  • Sgt C Inge
  • Sgt J A Rix
  • Sgt J A Ridley

  • Ron Rix



    Sergeant James A Rix 578 Squadron

    My uncle, James A Rix, flew from RAF Burn with 578 Squadron in 1944.

    Handley Page Halifax III, NA568 LK-Q, took off 11th September 1944 16.04 hrs, Op: Gelsenkirchen. The aircraft was hit by flak and crashed 18.30 hrs. in Kirchhellen. All crew survived and made POW except Sgt J A Ridley who sadly was killed. Sgt J A Ridley is buried in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.

    Crew:

  • P/O T S Coram RAAF
  • Sgt L Blundell
  • F/S J M Tregoning
  • F/S J Callingham RCAF
  • Sgt C Inge
  • Sgt J A Rix
  • Sgt J A Ridley

    I have a copy of the crew photo taken at my uncle's wedding shortly before being shot down. James Rix now lives in Australia with his wife and had 3 daughters

  • Ron Rix



    Sgt. Reginald Leonard Arthur Roberts DFM. No. 578 Squadron

    Reginald Roberts served as a flight engineer with his squadron, which was a heavy bomber (Halifax Mk. III) unit that was part of RAF No. 4 Group. His squadron was initially based at RAF Snaith but later moved to RAF Burn.

    Ron Roberts



    Sgt. George Dudley Ward DFM, 578 Squadron

    My Grandfather, George Ward, was awarded the DFM as he was a Rear Gunner on the Halifax in 578 Squadron. He survived the war and passed away in 2007.

    Emily Lightfoot







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