# No. 298 Squadron RAF

No. 298 Squadron was a Royal Air Force special operations squadron during the Second World War. Later in that war it changed to the transport role, disbanding after the end of the hostilities.

## History
### Formation

No. 298 Squadron was formed on 24 August 1942 at RAF Thruxton from a nucleus of 297 Squadron as a special operations squadron, equipped with the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley. The squadron was however not required for operations, so the formation was suspended and the squadron was disbanded on 19 October 1942.

### Gliders and Special Operations

The squadron was re-formed on 4 November 1943 at RAF Tarrant Rushton, from 'A' Flight of 295 Squadron, with the Handley Page Halifax. It trained to air-tow the big General Aircraft Hamilcar glider, but began operations in February 1944 in its original role, dropping SOE agents. On 16 March 1944 298 Squadrons 'C' Flight split off, to form 644 squadron.
During the Normandy landing the squadron air-towed both the Airspeed Horsas and the Hamilcars to landing-zones around the beach head. An unusual operation involved parachuting jeeps which had been carried underneath the Halifax. The squadron then returned again to SOE duties. In between the SOE duties the squadron air-towed Hamilcar and Horsa gliders for the Arnhem landing (Operation Market Garden). The squadron moved in March 1945 to RAF Woodbridge, England to air-tow gliders for the Rhine crossing (Operation Varsity). After Operation Varsity the squadron flew normal supply and transport duties.

### Transport in British India

In July 1945 the squadron moved to Raipur, British India to provide transport support to the Army. In March 1946 the squadron was involved in rice-dropping sorties from Meiktila, Burma to the starving population in the jungle areas. The squadron disbanded at Mauripur, Sindh, British India (Now Pakistan Air Force Base Masroor) on 21 December or 30 December 1946.

## Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated by no. 298 Squadron RAF, data from :
| From | To | Aircraft | Version |
| August 1942 | October 1942 | Armstrong Whitworth Whitley | Mk.V |
| November 1943 | November 1944 | Handley Page Halifax | Mk.V |
| September 1944 | July 1945 | Handley Page Halifax | Mk.III |
| March 1945 | December 1946 | Handley Page Halifax | A.7 |

## Squadron bases

Bases and airfields used by no. 298 Squadron RAF, data from :
| From | To | Base | Remark |
| 24 August 1942 | 19 October 1942 | RAF Thruxton, Hampshire | |
| 4 November 1943 | 21 March 1945 | RAF Tarrant Rushton, Dorset | |
| 21 March 1945 | 24 March 1945 | RAF Woodbridge, Suffolk | |
| 24 March 1945 | 5 July 1945 | RAF Tarrant Rushton, Dorset | |
| 5 July 1945 | 15 July 1945 | en route to British India | |
| 15 July 1945 | 9 December 1945 | RAF Raipur, Chhattisgarh, British India | Dets. at RAF Akyab, Burma and RAF Alipore, Bengal, British India |
| 9 December 1945 | 20 May 1946 | RAF Digri, Sindh, British India | Dets. at RAF Negombo, Ceylon; RAF Meiktila, Burma and RAF Chaklala, Punjab, British India |
| 20 May 1946 | 24 July 1946 | RAF Baroda, Gujarat, British India | |
| 24 July 1946 | 21 December 1946 | RAF Mauripur, Sindh, British India | Det. at RAF Risalpur, North-West Frontier Province, British India |

## Commanding officers

Officers commanding no. 298 Squadron RAF, data from :
| From | To | Name |
| 24 August 1942 | 19 October 1942 | S/Ldr. L.C. Bartram |
| 4 November 1943 | 4 December 1943 | S/Ldr. Buster Briggs |
| 4 December 1943 | January 1945 | W/Cdr. D.H. Duder, DSO, DFC |
| January 1945 | 17 April 1945 | W/Cdr. Law-Wright, DSC, DFC |
| 17 April 1945 | 1945 | W/Cdr. J. Stewart, DFC |
| 1945 | January 1946 | W/Cdr. A.G. Norman, DFC |
| January 1946 | 21 December 1946 | W/Cdr. W.G. Gardiner, DFC, AFC |