| No. 271 Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
| Active | 27 September 1918 – 9 December 1918 1 May 1940 – 1 December 1946[1] |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Air Force |
| Motto(s) | Death and Life |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron codes | BJ (May 1940 – January 1944) YS and L7 (January 1944 – December 1946)[2] |
No. 271 Squadron of theRoyal Air Force was operational for two periods; a few brief months between 27 September 1918 and 9 December 1918 operatingflying boats to protect shipping from GermanU-boats, and between 28 March 1940 and 1 December 1946 as a transport squadron.
271 Squadron was formed from Flights 357, 358, and 367 based at the formerRoyal Naval Air Service station ofOtranto in southernItaly. All had been equipped with flying boats or seaplanes, mostly theFelixstowe F.3 and possibly someShort 184s. The mission was to protect shipping from German U-boats; after the Armistice, the unit was quickly disbanded.[3]
In May 1940, the squadron was created from the former 1680 Flight atRAF Doncaster, in a transport role. Equipment mostly consisted of theHandley Page Harrow, supplemented with theBristol Bombay and civil airliners impressed into military service, including theHandley Page H.P.42s fromImperial Airways.[2]
Among the early tasks of the squadron was the support of RAF units inFrance, and the evacuation of them once the fall of France became inevitable. Following that, they worked mostly within the UK, moving equipment and supplies, especially when RAF fighter squadrons moved airfields. For a while the Squadron operated a detached flight atRAF Wick running a regular service toReykjavík inIceland usingde Havilland DH.91 Albatross aircraft, but when both were lost this was abandoned, the detached flight instead acquiringde Havilland Dominies, which were used to supply remote Scottish communities.[4]
From 1942 they began an association with theairborne forces and this role would show an increasing prominence in the Squadron's mission. Airborne training flights were a commonplace task during 1942 and 1943. The Squadron was transferred to the newly formedRAF Transport Command in March 1943, and was re-equipped withDouglas Dakotas from August, although a flight of Harrows were retained as air ambulances.[2]
The squadron took part in the invasion of Normandy in 1944; onD-Day it dropped men of the 3rd Parachute Brigade and towedAirspeed Horsa gliders. Further support for the Allied landings and the battle for France followed, including support for theBattle of Arnhem duringOperation Market Garden.[3] During this operation, one of the squadron's pilotsFlight LieutenantDavid Lord was awarded a posthumousVictoria Cross for gallantry in continuing his mission after his aircraft had been severely damaged and crashed soon after killing Lord and all his crew except one.[5] This was the only award of the Victoria Cross to a member of Transport Command.[4] Another pilot of the squadron who was awarded theDistinguished Flying Cross during Operation Market Garden was the post-war entertainerJimmy Edwards.[4]
After the war, the Squadron continued its supply role for a time, before being renumbered as77 Squadron on 1 December 1946.[3]
