No. 257 Squadron was formed at Dundee on 18 August 1918[1] from Nos. 318 and 319 Flights. It flew both seaplanes and flying boats on anti-submarine patrols from Dundee until the end of the First World War and disbanded there on 30 June 1919.[2]
In World War II
Robert Stanford Tuck in a 257 sqn Hurricane
The squadron was re-formed on 17 May 1940 at RAF Hendon[1] as a Fighter Squadron, equipped with Spitfires. The squadron became operational at RAF Northolt, where the squadron flew Hurricanes in the Battle of Britain, during which it was part of No. 11 Group RAF. The squadron was based in south-east England throughout the Battle of Britain and in March began taking part in sweeps over France. Night fighter patrols were also flown and in July 1942 converted to Typhoons which began low-level patrols in September to intercept enemy fighter-bomber raids. Escort missions were also flown and in July 1943, it began offensive operations. The squadron started fighter-bombing sorties in January 1944, and as part of Second Tactical Air Force moved to France in July to provide air support for the Allied armies. By October it was based in Belgium for attacks on enemy transport and battlefield targets. The Squadron disbanded on 5 March 1945.[2]
During the Second World War the squadron was the Burma gift squadron; the chinthe in its logo is a Burmese effigy.[3]
Post War
On 1 September 1946 the squadron was re-formed at RAF Church Fenton[4] as a fighter squadron, flying Gloster Meteors until January 1955. It then converted to Hawker Hunters. On 31 March 1957 the squadron was disbanded for the third time.[2]
On 28 June 1949, two Meteors from the Squadron - operating out of RAF Finningley to participate in a nine-day NATO operation called EXERCISE FOIL, designed to test Britain's air defences - collided. Both pilots ejected. One was Flying-Officer A H Turner; the second Warrant Officer Levene. One aircraft crashed at Hatfield Moor, Lindholme, near Doncaster, and the second on a country estate near Retford called Serlby Park. A third Meteor, flown by F/O Hawes, also force-landed at Finningley due to undercarriage failure returning from the same mission to intercept 'enemy' USAF B-29s over the North Sea. There were no ground casualties.
On Bloodhounds
The squadron re-emerged on 1 July 1960 at RAF Warboys[4] as an air defence unit using Bristol Bloodhound missiles till 31 December 1963, when the squadron was disbanded for the fourth, and final time.[2]
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.).
Wikimedia Commons has media related to No. 257 Squadron RAF.
March 24, 2023
squadron, flying, squadron, royal, force, active, during, first, world, second, world, also, cold, finally, disbanded, december, 1963, burma, squadron, rafactive18, august, 1918, june, 191917, 1940, march, 19451, september, 1946, march, 19571, july, 1960, dece. No 257 Squadron RAF was a flying squadron of the Royal Air Force active during the First World War the Second World War and also the Cold War It was finally disbanded in December 1963 No 257 Burma Squadron RAFActive18 August 1918 30 June 191917 May 1940 5 March 19451 September 1946 31 March 19571 July 1960 31 December 1963CountryUnited KingdomBranchRoyal Air ForceNickname s BurmaMotto s Burmese Thay myay gyee shin shwe hti Death or glory post 1950 aircraft insigniaCommandersNotablecommandersRobert Stanford TuckInsigniaSquadron BadgeA Chinthe sejant 1 Squadron CodesML May 1940 Jun 1940 DT Jun 1940 May 1941 FM May 1941 Mar 1945 A6 Sep 1946 1951 Contents 1 History 1 1 In World War I 1 2 In World War II 1 3 Post War 1 4 On Bloodhounds 2 See also 3 References 3 1 Notes 3 2 BibliographyHistory EditIn World War I Edit No 257 Squadron was formed at Dundee on 18 August 1918 1 from Nos 318 and 319 Flights It flew both seaplanes and flying boats on anti submarine patrols from Dundee until the end of the First World War and disbanded there on 30 June 1919 2 In World War II Edit Robert Stanford Tuck in a 257 sqn Hurricane The squadron was re formed on 17 May 1940 at RAF Hendon 1 as a Fighter Squadron equipped with Spitfires The squadron became operational at RAF Northolt where the squadron flew Hurricanes in the Battle of Britain during which it was part of No 11 Group RAF The squadron was based in south east England throughout the Battle of Britain and in March began taking part in sweeps over France Night fighter patrols were also flown and in July 1942 converted to Typhoons which began low level patrols in September to intercept enemy fighter bomber raids Escort missions were also flown and in July 1943 it began offensive operations The squadron started fighter bombing sorties in January 1944 and as part of Second Tactical Air Force moved to France in July to provide air support for the Allied armies By October it was based in Belgium for attacks on enemy transport and battlefield targets The Squadron disbanded on 5 March 1945 2 During the Second World War the squadron was the Burma gift squadron the chinthe in its logo is a Burmese effigy 3 Post War Edit On 1 September 1946 the squadron was re formed at RAF Church Fenton 4 as a fighter squadron flying Gloster Meteors until January 1955 It then converted to Hawker Hunters On 31 March 1957 the squadron was disbanded for the third time 2 On 28 June 1949 two Meteors from the Squadron operating out of RAF Finningley to participate in a nine day NATO operation called EXERCISE FOIL designed to test Britain s air defences collided Both pilots ejected One was Flying Officer A H Turner the second Warrant Officer Levene One aircraft crashed at Hatfield Moor Lindholme near Doncaster and the second on a country estate near Retford called Serlby Park A third Meteor flown by F O Hawes also force landed at Finningley due to undercarriage failure returning from the same mission to intercept enemy USAF B 29s over the North Sea There were no ground casualties On Bloodhounds Edit The squadron re emerged on 1 July 1960 at RAF Warboys 4 as an air defence unit using Bristol Bloodhound missiles till 31 December 1963 when the squadron was disbanded for the fourth and final time 2 See also EditRobert Stanford TuckReferences EditNotes Edit a b c Halley 1988 p 324 a b c d Jefford 2001 p 81 Rawlings 1978 p 363 a b Halley 1988 p 325 Bibliography Edit 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 Wikimedia Commons has media related to No 257 Squadron RAF Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title No 257 Squadron RAF amp oldid 1145977848, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
