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 No. 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 it 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 No. 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 No. 298 Squadron's 'C' Flight was split off to form No. 644 Squadron.During the Normandy landings, 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. The squadron moved in March 1945 to RAF Woodbridge, England to air-tow gliders for the Rhine crossing. After Operation Varsity the squadron flew normal supply and transport duties.