No. 587 Squadron (RAF): Second World War

Aircraft - Locations - Group and Duty - Books

No.587 Squadron was an anti-aircraft co-operation unit that served in the south-west of England and southern Wales from late in 1943 until the end of the war.

The squadron was formed at Weston Zoyland on 1 December 1943, but operated a large number of detachments using airfields close to the various anti-aircraft batteries they were operating with. The squadron was formed from Nos.1600,1601 and 1625 Flights, and inherited their mix of Henleys, Martinets, Oxfords and Hurricanes. The Henleys went in May 1944. Vultee Vengeances arrived in October 1944, and in December the Martinets and Oxfords went. The Hurricanes and Vengeances remained in use until the end of the war, and the Hurricanes were then replaced with Spitfires.

The squadron was used to help anti-aircraft batteries calibrate their guns and radar equipment, towing targets and providing aircraft to fly known courses and speeds. It was disbanded on 15 June 1946.

Aircraft
December 1943-May 1944: Hawker Henley III
December 1943-December 1944: Miles Martinet I
December 1943-December 1944: Oxford I and II
December 1943-June 1945: Hawker Hurricane IIC and IV
October 1944-June 1946: Vultee Vengeance IV
July 1945-June 1946: Supermarine Spitfire XVI

Location
December 1943-April 1944: Weston Zoyland
April-October 1944: Culmhead
October 1944-June 1946: Weston Zoyland
June 1946: Tangmere

Squadron Codes: M4

Duty
December 1943-June 1946: Anti-aircraft co-operation

Books

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