History of 578 Squadron RAF
578 Squadron RAF was only in existence for 14 months during World War II but in that period it became one of the most distinguished and highly decorated in the RAF's Bomber Command.
578 Sqn was formed on the 14th January 1944 from 51 Squadron's 'C' Flight and was originally based at Snaith in Yorkshire. Using their Handley Page Halifax four engined bombers they flew their first operation against the German capital Berlin on the 20th January.
Shortly afterwards they moved to a permanent home at RAF Burn, near Selby in Yorkshire. The squadron remained here until the 15th March 1945 when the unit was disbanded. The final mission was flown on the 13th of March when fourteen aircraft from 578 joined 345 other raiders attacking Wuppertal.
During their short history the squadron:
- Took part in 161 operations
- Flew 2,722 sorties
- Attacked 107 targets
- Dropped 9,676 tons of bombs
- Flew 109 Halifax aircraft operationally, 72 of these aircraft were destroyed in action.
- Had 219 airmen killed in action
- Had 60 airmen taken as Prisoners of War
The founding Commanding Officer was Wing Commander David Scott Shearman Wilkerson who was known to his crews as 'Wilkie'. A former scout leader David Wilkerson was adored and highly respected by the men under his command and he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) for his leadership qualities as well as the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and the American Silver Star by the American air force for his bravery in the air. Tragically Wilkerson was killed on a training flight when his 'Baltimore' aircraft crashed on takeoff on the 15th September 1944. Wilkerson was 27 years old and he is now buried in the cemetery at Selby.
On the night of the 30/31st March 1944 22 year old Pilot Officer Cyril Joe Barton and his crew flew as part of a mission to bomb Nuremburg in Germany. Barton had named his aircraft 'Excalibur' reflecting the registration of his Halifax which was 'LK - E'.
On the way to the target German nightfigher aircraft attacked Barton's aircraft destroying the radio as well as the aircraft's internal intercom. An engine was also put out of action as was the rear gun turret; the aircraft also began to leak fuel. In the confusion the Wireless Operator, the Bomb Aimer and the Navigator bailed out. Barton flew on, releasing the bombs himself and navigating by the stars and a small chart on his knee. On the way home Barton's aircraft was again attacked by nightfighters and then, having made it back to the English coast near Sunderland they were shot at by friendly anti-aircraft fire. With the fuel almost exhausted Barton ordered the three remaining crew members to the rear of the aircraft to prepare for a crash landing. They came down at the village colliery at Ryhope, near Sunderland. The crew were all survived. Barton was fatally injured but his sole concern was for his crew. He died soon after the crash.
Barton was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest award for military personnel, for pressing on with the mission, his concern for his crew and for avoiding civilian casualties in Ryhope. Barton is buried in Kingston upon Thames while his VC is on display at the RAF museum in Hendon. (www.rafmuseum.org)
On the night of the 15/16th March 1944, a 578 Sqn Halifax piloted by Flight Sergeant Harry Walter Hill from Lee in south east London was hit by flak (ground based anti-aircraft fire) knocking out the artificial horizon (an instrument in the cockpit) and one of the engines as well as causing a fuel leak. The aircraft limped back to the UK where Flt Sgt Hill ordered the crew to bail out. Sergeant J. Robinson the Wireless Operator and Flt Sgt W A Ballard, the rear gunner elected to stay with the pilot but unfortunately the aircraft crashed, killing all on board near Biggin Hill airfield. Harry Hill was 23 when he died and is buried at Hither Green.
578 Squadron's crest and the crest which we now use was sanctioned by King George VI in March 1945, shortly before the squadron was disbanded. It was highly unusual for a unit to achieve this honour in such a short period of time.
Owing to its bombing prowess 578 Sqn quickly became known as the 'accuracy squadron' which is reflected in its (and our) crest and motto - 'Accuracy' The badge is that of an arrow, having hit the target, cleaved in two by another. The idea came from the father of one of 578's commanding officers, Wing Commander James and reflects ancient Greek archery competitions where the penultimate archer to shoot scores a bullseye. The final archer, determined to improve on the bullseye splits his rival's arrow in half.
Memorials to the squadron can be found at (amongst other places), Burn village, Selby Abbey, Ryhope, Balkhome (near the home airfield where two 578 Halifaxes collided in mid air with the loss of all fourteen airmen) and at the entrance to Silverstone racetrack.