No. 298 Squadron RAF
No. 298 Squadron RAF
No. 298 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force unit in World War II. It started as a special operations squadron, later becoming a transport unit, and it was part of No. 38 Group RAF. The squadron’s motto was Silent We Strike, and its badge shows a hand holding a dagger. Its codes were 8A (A Flight) and 8T (B Flight) from May 1944 to June 1945.
Formation and early history
The squadron formed on 24 August 1942 at RAF Thruxton from the nucleus of No. 297 Squadron, using Armstrong Whitworth Whitley aircraft for special operations. The role was not needed, so the formation was suspended and the squadron was disbanded on 19 October 1942.
Re-formation and World War II actions
It re-formed on 4 November 1943 at RAF Tarrant Rushton from A Flight of No. 295 Squadron, now flying Handley Page Halifax aircraft. It trained to air-tow the General Aircraft Hamilcar glider but began operations in February 1944 in its original role, dropping SOE agents.
On 16 March 1944 C Flight split off to form No. 644 Squadron. During the Normandy landings, No. 298 air-towed both the Airspeed Horsas and Hamilcars to landing zones. There was an unusual operation parachuting jeeps from a Halifax. The squadron then returned to SOE duties. Between operations, it also air-towed gliders for Arnhem (Operation Market Garden).
Rhine crossing and later duties
In March 1945 the squadron moved to RAF Woodbridge to air-tow gliders for the Rhine crossing (Operation Varsity). After Varsity, it carried out normal supply and transport duties. In July 1945 the squadron moved to Raipur, British India, to provide transport support to the Army. In March 1946 it conducted rice-drop sorties from RAF Meiktila, Burma, to aid starving people in the jungle.
Disbandment
The squadron disbanded at Mauripur, Sindh (now Masroor, Pakistan) on 21 December or 30 December 1946.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 08:21 (CET).