No. 577 Squadron RAF
{{Short description|Former flying squadron of the Royal Air Force}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2015}}
{{Infobox military unit|
|unit_name= No. 577 Squadron RAF
|image=
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|dates= 1 December 1943 – 15 June 1946
|country= {{flagicon|UK}} United Kingdom
|allegiance=
|branch= 23px Royal Air Force
|type=
|role= anti-aircraft co-operation unit
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|identification_symbol=
|identification_symbol_label= Squadron Badge heraldry
|identification_symbol_2= 3Y (Dec 1943 – Jun 1946){{Harvnb|Bowyer|Rawlings|1979|p=119.}}{{Harvnb|Flintham|Thomas|2003|pp=56–57.}}
|identification_symbol_2_label= Squadron Codes
}}
No. 577 Squadron was an anti-aircraft co-operation unit of the Royal Air Force formed during World War II and active from December 1943 till June 1946 in the defence of the Midlands.
History
577 squadron was formed on 1 December 1943 at RAF Castle Bromwich from elements of nos.6, 7 and 8 anti-aircraft cooperation units (AACU).{{Harvnb|Sturtivant|Hamlin|2007|pp=62–64.}} It operated a varied lot of aircraft on airfields and bases all over the Midlands and Wales. On 15 June 1946 the squadron disbanded at Castle Bromwich.{{Harvnb|Rawlings|1982|p=257.}}{{Harvnb|Halley|1988|p=414.}}{{Harvnb|Jefford|2001|p=98.}}
Aircraft operated
| class="wikitable"
|+Aircraft operated by no. 577 Squadron RAF, data from ! From !! To !! Aircraft !! Version | |||
| December 1943 | July 1945 | Hawker Hurricane | Mk.IV |
| December 1943 | June 1946 | Airspeed Oxford | Mks.I, II |
| May 1944 | July 1945 | Hawker Hurricane | Mk.IIc |
| November 1944 | July 1945 | Bristol Beaufighter | Mk.I |
| April 1945 | June 1946 | Vultee Vengeance | Mk.IV |
| June 1945 | August 1945 | Supermarine Spitfire | Mk.Vb |
| June 1945 | June 1946 | Supermarine Spitfire | LF.16e |
| Avro Anson | Mk.I |
Squadron bases
| class="wikitable"
|+Bases and airfields used by no. 577 Squadron RAF, data from ! From !! To !! Base !! Remark | |||
| 1 December 1943 | 15 June 1946 | RAF Castle Bromwich, Warwickshire | Dets. at RAF Wrexham, Wrexham; RAF Sealand, Flintshire; RAF Montford Bridge, Shropshire; RAF Shobdon, Herefordshire; RAF Bodorgan, Anglesey; RAF Ipswich, Suffolk; RAF Mona, Anglesey; RAF Fairwood Common, Glamorgan; RAF Woodvale, Merseyside; RAF Atcham, Shropshire; RAF Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria and RAF Hawarden, Cheshire |
References
=Notes=
{{reflist|2}}
=Bibliography=
{{refbegin}}
- {{cite book |last=Bowyer |first=Michael J.F. |first2=John D.R. |last2=Rawlings |title=Squadron Codes, 1937–56 |location=Cambridge, UK |publisher=Patrick Stephens Ltd. |year=1979 |isbn=0-85059-364-6 }}
- {{cite book |last1=Flintham |first1= Vic |first2= Andrew |last2=Thomas |title=Combat Codes: A Full Explanation and Listing of British, Commonwealth and Allied Air Force Unit Codes since 1938 |location=Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK |publisher=Airlife Publishing Ltd. |year=2003 |isbn=1-84037-281-8}}
- {{cite book |last=Halley |first=James J. |title=The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918–1988 |year=1988 |location=Tonbridge, Kent, UK |publisher=Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd.|isbn=0-85130-164-9 }}
- {{cite book |last= Jefford |first= C.G. |title= RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912 |year=2001 |edition=2nd |publisher=Airlife Publishing Ltd. |location=Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK |isbn=1-85310-053-6 }}
- {{cite book |last=Rawlings |first= John D.R. |title=Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft |location=London |publisher= Jane's Publishing Company Ltd. |year= 1982 |isbn=0-7106-0187-5}}
- {{cite book |last=Sturtivant |first= Ray, ISO |first2=John |last2=Hamlin |title=RAF Flying Training And Support Units since 1912|location= Tonbridge, Kent, UK |publisher= Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. |year= 2007 |isbn=0-85130-365-X}}
{{refend}}
{{RAF squadrons}}
{{Royal Air Force}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:No. 577 Squadron Raf}}
Category:Aircraft squadrons of the Royal Air Force in World War II