No. 578 Squadron RAF

No. 578 Squadron RAF was a heavy bomber squadron of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.

History
578 Squadron was formed at RAF Snaith, East Riding of Yorkshire on 14 January 1944 from 'C' flight of No. 51 Squadron RAF, equipped with Halifax Mk.III bombers, as part of No. 4 Group RAF in Bomber Command. It transferred to RAF Burn, North Yorkshire in February, and was disbanded there on 15 April 1945. The squadron carried out 2,721 operational sorties with the Halifax for a loss 40 aircraft.

Notable squadron members
The first commanding officer was W/Cdr. D.S.S. Wilkerson, DSO, DFC and the aircrew included Pilot Officer Cyril Joe Barton, VC.

Notable aircraft
Two of the Halifaxes of 578 squadron passed the century mark and flew more than 100 operational sorties: