-
624 Squadron, date of photo estimated - Taken by © Colin Sweett (WMR-80558) 01 Sep 2018
Reference WMO/266206
Edit memorial name, location & address- Metal Metal (any)
- Second World War (1939-1945)
Grants to support the repair and conservation of war memorials are available from the charity War Memorials Trust if it has raised funds. Support is focused on war memorials in Very bad or Poor condition or where there is a serious Concern.
Before applying for a grant you should read the advice available on War Memorials Trust`s website. The What we can and cannot fund helpsheet explains what types of work the charity can fund.
If you believe your project is eligible for a grant you should complete the Pre-application enquiry form. You will need to be registered and logged in to complete this.
The Pre-application enquiry form is a series of questions to see if your project is eligible. If it is, you will need to provide further details and submit current colour photographs of the war memorial in either a png, gif, jpg or jpeg format.
You can save your Pre-application enquiry form as you go along. Once submitted War Memorials Trust will respond.
Please be aware that a summary of your enquiry, without your contact details, will appear on this page once submitted. This ensures others are aware that an enquiry has been made and can read the response to avoid duplicate enquiries. Information provided by you to us will be used for the purpose of managing the grant enquiry, for further details please read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy .
As a charity, War Memorials Trust relies on voluntary donations and every contribution, no matter how large or small, makes a really big difference to our work. Your donation will help protect and conserve war memorials for future generations so please support War Memorials Trust’s work.
IN PROUD MEMORY OF/ 624 (SPECIAL DUTIES) SQUADRON/ RAF/ AIR CREW AND GROUND STAFF OF THE RAF AND/ ALLIED AIR FORCES, SUPPORTING THE LIBERATION OF FRANCE, ITALY AND YUGOSLAVIA/ THE FORERUNNER TO THE SQUADRON, NO 1575 FLIGHT, WAS FORMED IN TEMPSFORD ON 28 MAY 1943 TO SUPPORT SPECIAL/ OPERATIONS EXECUTIVE DUTIES. IN JUNE IT WAS TRANSFERRED TO MAISON BLANCHE IN NORTH AFRICA UNDER THE COMMAND OF/ SQUADRON LEADER JB AUSTIN DFC*. IN SEPTEMBER 1943, ALL PERSONNEL, EQUIPMENT AND AIRCRAFT TRANSFERRED TO BLIDA/ IN ALGERIA WHERE 1575 FLIGHT WAS DISBANDED AND 624 (SPECIAL DUTIES) SQUADRON RAF WAS FORMED UNDER THE COMMAND/ OF WING COMMANDER CSG STANBURY DSO, DFC. THE SQUADRON CONTINUED TO CARRY OUT SPECIAL DUTIES OPERATIONS INTO/ GREECE, ROMANIA, ALBANIA, ITALY, CORSICA, SARDINIA, SOUTHERN FRANCE, YUGOSLAVIA AND CZECHOSLAVAKIA. THESE/ OPERATIONS INCLUDED SUPPLY DROPPING AND THE INSERTION OF AGENTS TO SUPPORT THE PARTISANS AND LOCAL RESISTANCE/ MOVEMENTS. FOR THESE DUTIES THE SQUADRON'S MAIN OPERATIONAL AIRCRAFT WERE THE HANDLEY PAGE HALIFAX MARK II AND V/ AND THE SHORT STIRLING MARK IV. THEIR WORK WAS SO SECRET THAT THEIR FAMILIES DID NOT KNOW WHERE THEY WERE OR WHAT/ THEY WERE DOING; THE ONLY PERSON ON EACH FLIGHT WHO KNEW THE EXACT LOCATION OF THE DROP ZONE WAS THE NAVIGATOR./ ALTHOUGH OPERATIONS CONTINUED FROM BLIDA, DETACHMENTS OPERATED OUT OF PROTVILLE AND SIDI AMOR IN TUNISIA, AND/ TOCRA IN LIBYA. IN NOVEMBER 1943 THE SQUADRON MOVED TO BRINDISI IN ITALY TO CONDUCT OPERATIONS IN NORTHERN ITALY/ AND THE BALKANS BUT RETURNED TO BLIDA IN FEBRUARY 1944 TO CONCENTRATE THERI EFFORTS ON SOUTHERN FRANCE. AFTER A/ SUSTAINED PERIOD OF SUCCESSFUL AND EFFECTIVE OPERATIONS, THE SQUADRON WAS DISBANDED ON 5 SEPTEMBER 1944. / IT WAS BRIEFLY REFORMED IN DECEMBER 1944 WITH ENTIRELY NEW CREWS AND SUPPORTING GROUND PERSONNEL WITH WALRUS FLYING BOATS AND BASED/ IN ITALY CONDUCTING MINE-DETECTION DUTIES. ON 30 NOVEMBER 1945 THE SQUADRON FINALLY DISBANDED./ DONATED BY MEMBERS OF 4624 RAUXAF SQUADRON AND 624 SQUADRON, THEIR ASSOCIATIONS AND SUPPORTERS AND BY THALES
Information Required
Information Required
Information Required
Information Required
Information Required
Information Required
Information Required