RAF No 245 Squadron

No 245 (Northern Rhodesian) Squadron

Motto: Fugo Non Fugio (I put to fight, I do not flee)

Formed on 20 August 1918 from No's 426 & 427 Flights at Fishguard, its Short 184s flew anti-submarine patrols over the southern Irish Sea. It disbanded on 19 May 1919.

The squadron reformed at Leconfield on 30 October 1939 equipped with Blenheim fighters and from January 1940, Battles. Both of these types were replaced by Hurricanes in March 1940 an in May it moved to Drem in Scotland. However, during the Dunkirk evacuation it operated a detachment from Hawkinge but in July it was transferred to Aldergrove in Northern Ireland, where it remained throughout the Battle of Britain on defensive duties.

In July 1941 it moved to Ballyhalbert and remained there until September 1941, when it returned to England and began offensive sweeps In January 1943, it moved to Scotland, again, where it began converting to Typhoons, taking these back down south in March. The squadron was allocated to the 2nd Tactical Air Force on its formation in June and soon began attacking enemy lines of communication and other suitable targets in preparation for Operation Overlord. From April it began using rocket projectiles in on 27 June 1944, it moved onto the continent, from where it continued to support the Allied advance through France, the Low Countries and into Germany. The squadron disbanded in Germany on 10 August 1945.

Meanwhile at Colerne, No 504 Squadron was re-numbered as No 245, becoming part of the first jet fighter wing in the RAF. It remained a part of Fighter Command's frontline being progressively equipped with Meteor F Mk 3s, Mk 4s, Mk 8s and finally Hunter F Mk 4s until disbanding at Stradishall on 3 June 1957. From 11 February 1949 No 266 Squadron was linked to it, this association ending on 13 July 1952. The squadron reformed on 21 August 1958, when No 527 Squadron at Watton was renumbered. It was now employed on radar calibration duties with Canberra B Mk 2s, moving the Tangmere on 25 August 1958 and remained there until disbanding by being renumbered as No 98 Squadron on 18 April 1963

Squadron Codes used: -

DX Allocated Apr 1939 - Sep 1939, Mar 1940 - Jun 1941
MR Jun 1941 - 1951