No.58 Squadron
- Badge
- On a branch, an owl
- Motto
- Alis nocturnes - On the wings of the night
- Formed
- 08 June 1916
- Disbanded
- 04 June 1976
No 58 Squadron was formed at Cramlington on 8 June 1916 and at first undertook a period of training. It moved to France in January 1918 for bombing duties. It moved to Egypt in May 1919. On 1 February No 58 Squadron was renumbered No 70 Squadron.
On 1 April 1924 the unit reformed as a bomber squadron at RAF Worthy Down. During 1937 the squadron had a number of Ansons added to its strength to give the unit’s personnel experience with more modern aircraft. Having re-equipped with Whitley II aircraft it suffered a chronic serviceability situation such that in April 1939 it had a number of Heyfords loaned to it to allow flying to continue. On the first day of World War Two the unit’s aircraft were involved in a leaflet dropping mission over the Ruhr. Between October 1939 and February 1940 the squadron was loaned to Coastal Command for convoy escort duties. Between April 1940 and April 1942 No 58 Squadron undertook normal bombing operations against Germany. In April 1942 it transferred again to Coastal Command but this time it remained until the end of the war. Anti-submarine and anti-shipping attacks continued throughout the period, in fact the final operational patrol took place on 23 May 1945. Two days later the unit disbanded.
On 1 October 1946 the unit reformed at RAF Benson as a photographic reconnaissance squadron. The unit undertook aerial surveys as well as its normal work. On 30 September 1970 the unit disbanded.
On 1 August 1973 the squadron reformed at RAF Wittering as an operational ground attack training unit.. It finally disbanded on 4 June 1976.
AIRCRAFT
Various types 1916 – 1917
FE2b 1917 - 1918
O/400 1918 – 1920
Vimy 1919 – 1920
1924 – 1925
Virginia 1924 – 1937
Anson I 1937 - 1937
Heyford III 1939 - 1939
Whitley I/II/III/V/VII 1937 - 1942
Halifax II/III 1942 - 1945
Mosquito 16/34/35 1946 - 1954
Anson 19 1946 - 1951
Lincoln 1950 - 1951
Canberra 3/7/9 1953 - 1970
Hunter 9 1973 - 1976
Reference Sources
The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force James J Halley Air Britain (Historians) Ltd 1988
RAF Squadrons Wg Cdr C G Jefford Airlife 2001
Bomber Squadrons of the RAF and their aircraft Phillip J R Moyes Macdonald & Jane’s 1976
Coastal Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their aircraft John D R Rawlings Jane’s Publishing 1982
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