No. 245 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It flew as an anti-submarine squadron during World War I and as a fighter squadron during World War II. After the war it was first a jet-fighter squadron and its last role was as a radar-calibration unit.
No. 245 (Northern Rhodesian) Squadron RAF
Active
20 August 1918 – 19 May 1919 30 October 1939 – 10 August 1945 10 August 1945 – 3 June 1957 21 August 1958 – 18 April 1963[1]
Latin: Fugo Non Fugio ("I put to fight, I do not flee")[2]
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldry
In front of a fountain, an eagle volant The eagle symbolises readiness to attack and the fountain the sea over which No. 245 Squadron flew many patrols[3]
No. 245 Squadron was formed on 20 August 1918 from No. 426 and No. 427 Flight at Fishguard. It flew Short 184 on anti-submarine patrols over the southern Irish Sea. The squadron disbanded on 19 May 1919.[1][2][3]
World War IIEdit
As No. 245 (Northern Rhodesian) Squadron, the squadron was reformed at RAF Leconfield on 30 October 1939[1][2][3] equipped with Bristol Blenheim light bombers, and from January 1940, Fairey Battle light bombers. Both of these types were replaced by Hurricanes in March 1940 and in May it moved to RAF Drem in Scotland. However, during the Dunkirk evacuation it operated a detachment from RAF Hawkinge,[1][2][3] but in July it was transferred to RAF Aldergrove[8] in Northern Ireland, where it remained throughout the Battle of Britain on defensive duties. In July 1941 it moved to RAF Ballyhalbert and remained there until September 1941, when it returned to England and began offensive sweeps. On 19 August 1942, the squadron took part in a preparatory attack as part of the Dieppe Raid. Ten aircraft took off at 0445 from RAF Shoreham. Three aircraft failed to return, and of the remaining seven, only one was serviceable.[9] In January 1943 it moved to Scotland again, where it began converting to Typhoons, taking these back down south in March to RAF Westhampnett. The squadron was then allocated to the 2nd Tactical Air Force on its formation in June 1943 and soon began attacking enemy lines of communication and other suitable targets in preparation for Operation Overlord. From April it began using rocket projectiles and on 27 June 1944, it moved onto the continent, from where it continued to support the Allied advance[10] through France, the Low Countries and into Germany.[11] The squadron disbanded at Schleswig in Germany on 10 August 1945.[1][3][12]
PostwarEdit
That same 10 August 1945 at RAF Colerne, No. 504 Squadron RAF was re-numbered as No. 245 to form part of the RAF's first jet fighter equipped wing. It was equipped with Hawker Hunters when disbanded at RAF Stradishall on 3 June 1957. On 21 August 1958 No. 527 Squadron RAF was renumbered at RAF Watton as No 245 squadron. It was now employed on radar calibration duties with Canberra B.2s, moving to RAF Tangmere on 25 August 1958 and remained there until it was disbanded by being renumbered to No. 98 Squadron RAF on 18 April 1963.
Bowyer, Michael J.F. and John D.R. Rawlings. Squadron Codes, 1937–56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd., 1979. ISBN0-85059-364-6.
Flintham, Vic and Andrew Thomas. Combat Codes: A full explanation and listing of British, Commonwealth and Allied air force unit codes since 1938. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd., 2003. ISBN1-84037-281-8.
Golley, John. The Day of the Typhoon: Flying with the RAF Tankbusters in Normandy. Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd., 1986. ISBN0-85059-758-7.
Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1981–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. ISBN0-85130-164-9.
Jefford, C.G. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 2001. ISBN1-84037-141-2.
Rawlings, John D.R. Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Jane's Publishing Company Ltd., 1982. ISBN0-7106-0187-5.
Rawlings, John D.R. Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers) Ltd., 1978. ISBN0-354-01028-X.
Robinson, Anthony. RAF Squadrons in the Battle of Britain. London: Arms and Armour Press Ltd., 1987 (republished 1999 by Brockhampton Press, ISBN1-86019-907-0.).
External linksEdit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to No. 245 Squadron RAF.
History of No.'s 241–245 Squadrons at RAF Web
October 14, 2023
squadron, squadron, squadron, royal, force, flew, anti, submarine, squadron, during, world, fighter, squadron, during, world, after, first, fighter, squadron, last, role, radar, calibration, unit, northern, rhodesian, squadron, rafactive20, august, 1918, 1919,. No 245 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force It flew as an anti submarine squadron during World War I and as a fighter squadron during World War II After the war it was first a jet fighter squadron and its last role was as a radar calibration unit No 245 Northern Rhodesian Squadron RAFActive20 August 1918 19 May 1919 30 October 1939 10 August 1945 10 August 1945 3 June 1957 21 August 1958 18 April 1963 1 CountryUnited KingdomBranchRoyal Air ForceNickname s Northern RhodesianMotto s Latin Fugo Non Fugio I put to fight I do not flee 2 InsigniaSquadron Badge heraldryIn front of a fountain an eagle volantThe eagle symbolises readiness to attack and the fountain the sea over which No 245 Squadron flew many patrols 3 post 1950 aircraft insigniaSquadron CodesDX Mar 1940 Jun 1941 4 5 MR Jun 1941 1951 6 7 Contents 1 History 1 1 World War I 1 2 World War II 1 3 Postwar 2 References 2 1 Notes 2 2 Bibliography 3 External linksHistory EditWorld War I Edit No 245 Squadron was formed on 20 August 1918 from No 426 and No 427 Flight at Fishguard It flew Short 184 on anti submarine patrols over the southern Irish Sea The squadron disbanded on 19 May 1919 1 2 3 World War II Edit As No 245 Northern Rhodesian Squadron the squadron was reformed at RAF Leconfield on 30 October 1939 1 2 3 equipped with Bristol Blenheim light bombers and from January 1940 Fairey Battle light bombers Both of these types were replaced by Hurricanes in March 1940 and in May it moved to RAF Drem in Scotland However during the Dunkirk evacuation it operated a detachment from RAF Hawkinge 1 2 3 but in July it was transferred to RAF Aldergrove 8 in Northern Ireland where it remained throughout the Battle of Britain on defensive duties In July 1941 it moved to RAF Ballyhalbert and remained there until September 1941 when it returned to England and began offensive sweeps On 19 August 1942 the squadron took part in a preparatory attack as part of the Dieppe Raid Ten aircraft took off at 0445 from RAF Shoreham Three aircraft failed to return and of the remaining seven only one was serviceable 9 In January 1943 it moved to Scotland again where it began converting to Typhoons taking these back down south in March to RAF Westhampnett The squadron was then allocated to the 2nd Tactical Air Force on its formation in June 1943 and soon began attacking enemy lines of communication and other suitable targets in preparation for Operation Overlord From April it began using rocket projectiles and on 27 June 1944 it moved onto the continent from where it continued to support the Allied advance 10 through France the Low Countries and into Germany 11 The squadron disbanded at Schleswig in Germany on 10 August 1945 1 3 12 Postwar Edit That same 10 August 1945 at RAF Colerne No 504 Squadron RAF was re numbered as No 245 to form part of the RAF s first jet fighter equipped wing It was equipped with Hawker Hunters when disbanded at RAF Stradishall on 3 June 1957 On 21 August 1958 No 527 Squadron RAF was renumbered at RAF Watton as No 245 squadron It was now employed on radar calibration duties with Canberra B 2s moving to RAF Tangmere on 25 August 1958 and remained there until it was disbanded by being renumbered to No 98 Squadron RAF on 18 April 1963 References EditNotes Edit a b c d e Jefford 2001 p 79 a b c d Halley 1988 p 313 a b c d e Rawlings 1978 p 346 Bowyer and rawlings p 31 Flintham and Thomas 2003 p 69 Bowyer and rawlings p 73 Flintham and Thomas 2003 p 90 Robinson 1999 p 276 Youngs Kelvin Aircrew Remembered Aviation Personal Histories and Databases Aircrew Remembered site Retrieved 16 August 2018 Golley 1986 The Day of the Typhoon squadron history on RAFweb Archived from the original on 7 June 2007 Retrieved 17 April 2007 Halley 1988 p 314 Bibliography Edit Bowyer Michael J F and John D R Rawlings Squadron Codes 1937 56 Cambridge UK Patrick Stephens Ltd 1979 ISBN 0 85059 364 6 Flintham Vic and Andrew Thomas Combat Codes A full explanation and listing of British Commonwealth and Allied air force unit codes since 1938 Shrewsbury Shropshire UK Airlife Publishing Ltd 2003 ISBN 1 84037 281 8 Golley John The Day of the Typhoon Flying with the RAF Tankbusters in Normandy Wellingborough Northamptonshire UK Patrick Stephens Ltd 1986 ISBN 0 85059 758 7 Halley James J The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force amp Commonwealth 1981 1988 Tonbridge Kent UK Air Britain Historians Ltd 1988 ISBN 0 85130 164 9 Jefford C G RAF Squadrons a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912 Shrewsbury Shropshire UK Airlife Publishing 2001 ISBN 1 84037 141 2 Rawlings John D R Coastal Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft London Jane s Publishing Company Ltd 1982 ISBN 0 7106 0187 5 Rawlings John D R Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft London Macdonald and Jane s Publishers Ltd 1978 ISBN 0 354 01028 X Robinson Anthony RAF Squadrons in the Battle of Britain London Arms and Armour Press Ltd 1987 republished 1999 by Brockhampton Press ISBN 1 86019 907 0 External links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to No 245 Squadron RAF History of No s 241 245 Squadrons at RAF Web Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title No 245 Squadron RAF amp oldid 1111219151, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
