of 36 Squadron and the Venturas of 500 Squadron. Early on 19 May the submarine was spotted by a Wellington, which directed the destroyers and as they carried out a sustained series of depth charge attacks that drove the submarine to the surface. The submarine was then bombed by a Ventura of 500 Squadron and shelled by the two destroyers before being sunk by Niblack. The squadron disbanded on 11 July 1944, handing over its Venturas to No. 27 Squadron SAAF. Back in Bomber Command The Squadron was reformed on 1 August 1944 at La Sénia as a bomber squadron, employing many of the personnel of the squadron's previous incarnation. It operated Martin Baltimore light bombers as part of the Desert Air Force, flying from bases in Italy by day and later by night for the remainder of the war in Europe. In September 1945, No. 500 Squadron left Italy and headed for Kenya, being renumbered on arrival 23 October 1945 at RAF Eastleigh to No. 249 Squadron RAF. During World War II the squadron members had been awarded with 1 GC, 2 DSOs, 21 DFCs, 1 bar the DFC, 9 DFMs and one CGM. Beside these, the squadron was mentioned in dispatches 25 times. To Fighter Command The Squadron was reformed again on 10 May 1946 at RAF West Malling, equipped with Mosquito NF.19s and later NF.30s, as a night fighter squadron in the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. Later, following an Air Ministry decision to convert all RAuxAF units to day fighter roles, the squadron became equipped with Meteor F.3s. The squadron disbanded finally on 10 March 1957, along with all other flying squadrons of the RAuxAF. Notable squadron members Daphne Pearson Denis Spotswood Aircraft operated Squadron bases Commanding officers See also List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons Royal Auxiliary Air Force References Notes Bibliography External links Official squadron history Bases of no. 500 squadron History of No.'s 500–520 Squadrons at RAF Web Aircraft and markings of No. 500 squadron on RAF Web 500 Squadron Military units and formations established in 1931 Military units and formations disestablished in 1945 Military units and formations established in 1946 500 Squadron