358 Squadron RAF

358 Squadron was formed on November 8, 1944 at Kolar, India.

The original crews were mainly from the 1673 Heavy Conversion Unit (HCU).

It flew its first (and only) bombing mission on Jan. 13, 1945. It was then assigned to "Special Duties" (SD). It dropped agents and supplies behind the enemy lines, and after VJ day, supplies to POW camps.

It was disbanded on Nov. 21, 1945.

Wartime Bases were:

• Kolar: Nov. 8, 1944 to Jan. 2, 1945
• Digri: Jan. 3, 1945 to Feb. 9, 1945
• Jessore: Feb. 10, 1945 to Nov. 18, 1945
• Bishnupur: Nov. 19, 1945 to Nov. 21, 1945

Aircraft types flown:

• Liberator VI: November 1944 to November 1945

Other Information:

• Liberators listed as serving with 358 Squadron (Includes the "fates" of the aircraft.)
• A listing of some of the Canadians who served on 358 Squadron
• The story of F/O H. V. Smith's crash in Siam (original version)
• The story of F/O H. V. Smith's crash in Siam (updated version -- .pdf file)
• The Flying log of F/O H. V. Smith
• A Painting of F/O H. V. Smith’s battle with the Oscars

Transcripts of Operational Records

Most of the transcripts of the form 540's and 541's have been done -- but they still are at a very "preliminary stage"; as typed with few corrections to the transcripts. The transcripts are based on the records held by the National Archives, Kew. The records for 358 Squadron are in Air 27/ 1765 to 1769.
It should be noted that there are many inconsistencies in the spelling of name, initials and service numbers in the original records. The discrepancies are so numerous, it is considered impossible to correct these.

November 1944, Form 540
December 1944, Form 540
January 1945, Form 540	January 1945, Form 541
February 1945, Form 540	February 1945, Form 541
March 1945, Form 540	March 1945, Form 541
April 1945, Form 540	April 1945, Form 541
May 1945, Form 540	May 1945, Form 541
June 1945, Form 540	June 1945, Form 541
July 1945, Form 540	July 1945, Form 541
August 1945, Form 540	August 1945, Form 541
September 1945, Form 540	September 1945, Form 541
October 1945, Form 540	October 1945, Form 541
November 1945, Form 540	November 1945, Form 541

358 Squadron Forms 540 and 541, November 1944 to November 1945
This is a pdf file which contains all of the above doucments in one file.
(After Oct. 2012, all updates will be in this file only.)

The various "Section Reports" from 1945 which are in the "Appendices" of the Squadron's records have been transcribed.
There are some "questions" on a couple of them, and on a few records, area of the text could not be read.
Each month has a different number of reports, as there seems no consistency on which reports were placed in the records.

January 45 Appendices	February 45 Appendices
March 45 Appendices	April 45 Appendices
May 45 Appendices	June 45 Appendices
July 45 Appendices	August 45 Appendices
September 45 Appendices	October 45 Appendices

The 358 Squadron Records at Kew are amazing in the documents they contain.
There are a number of microfilm rolls which are labeled "Appendices" which contain documents other than the "Section Reports".
Some of these files are the "Operation Orders" and "Sortie Reports", and I have transcribed a number of them (but in "as typed" state).
Operation Orders and Sortie Reports for January, 1945.

Operation Orders and Sortie Reports for February, 1945.

Operation Orders and Sortie Reports for March, 1945.
Operation Orders and Sortie Reports for April, 1945.

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Updated: July 29,, 2013