RAF 624 (Special Duties ) Squadron

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This web sit is dedicated to the Un-sung heroes of RAF 624 ( Special Duties ) Squadron formally 1575 flight.

Who from May 1943 until Sep 1944 night after night flew over occupied Europe at less that 500 feet  delivering supplies and agents to the resistance groups in France & Poland. It missions where top secret and each aircraft operated completely on it own for the entire duration of a mission.  The low level night flying in heavy bomber aircraft took a large toll in crews as can be seen in the Role of Honour section of this site. However their missions where vitally important in order to keep supplies flowing to the resistance workers on the ground so that they could carry out their vital job during the liberation of Europe of causing as much disruption as possible behind the German line. These activities caused vital troops to be kept away from the front line, destroyed vital communication and infrastructure as well as disrupting the flow of enemy troops and equipment around Europe.

 

As one old member of the Maquis said during a reunion in 2005 “It was only the sound of the Halifax aircraft coming over at night that kept there spirits up when they were being hunted down and tortured. For they new then that each aircraft would bring them more guns and ammunition with which they could fight to liberate there country and free there families”

 

The document below marked “Secret” show just how important the work being carried out by 624 squadron was to the war effort.

 

 

The French Government also recognised to vital role that 624 squadron had played  in helping with the liberation of France by awarding a number of crew with the their highest military honours, which are shown below.

 

The following medals were awards to Les Peers.

The French Legion of Honour, The French War Cross with Palm & The Volunteer for Combat Medal.

 

 

 

 

Unlike most RAF squadrons 624 was never given a officially squadron crest. Due to the very limited time that 624 squadron existed. However in 2005 a number of the remaining members of the squadron felt that situation should be rectified and created the crest shown below

 

 

Reference is made around the S.O.E ( Special Operations Executive ). This was a branch of the UK Army who were responsible for co-ordinating all activities with foreign resistance workers.

The area in the middle, represents a compass needle which has been modified to look like a container on a parachute.

The significance of this is the fact the aircraft of 624 squadron operated on there own each night and had to find an individual field where they were to drop the supply canisters to the waiting resistance works with only a map and compass.

The Latin phase around the bottom “Diu Noctuque Caeloque” means “ By Day and by Night”. This is in recognition that many of the flight undertaken by 624 squadron lasted up to 10 hours much of which was over enemy territory and always on their own.

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