No. 171 Squadron RAF
Encyclopedia
No. 171 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force
Squadron that was a coastal reconnaissance and radio countermeasures unit in World War II
.
Formation in World War II
The squadron formed in 15 June 1942 at Gatwick and equipped with
Tomahawk and then Mustang
aircraft, it was disbanded in December 1942 and then reformed on 8 September 1944 at North Creake
, equipped with Stirling III
and then Halifax
Radio Countermeasures aircraft. It finally disbanded on 27 July 1945.
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
Squadron that was a coastal reconnaissance and radio countermeasures unit in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Formation in World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
The squadron formed in 15 June 1942 at Gatwick and equipped withTomahawk and then Mustang
P-51 Mustang
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
aircraft, it was disbanded in December 1942 and then reformed on 8 September 1944 at North Creake
North Creake
North Creake is a village and civil parish in the north west of the English county of Norfolk.It covers an area of and had a population of 414 in 184 households as of the 2001 census....
, equipped with Stirling III
Short Stirling
The Short Stirling was the first four-engined British heavy bomber of the Second World War. The Stirling was designed and built by Short Brothers to an Air Ministry specification from 1936, and entered service in 1941...
and then Halifax
Handley Page Halifax
The Handley Page Halifax was one of the British front-line, four-engined heavy bombers of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. A contemporary of the famous Avro Lancaster, the Halifax remained in service until the end of the war, performing a variety of duties in addition to bombing...
Radio Countermeasures aircraft. It finally disbanded on 27 July 1945.
Aircraft operated
| From | To | Aircraft | Variant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 1942 | Dec 1942 | CurtissTomahawk | I |
| Sep 1942 | Dec 1942 | P-51 Mustang P-51 Mustang The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts... |
IA |
| Sep 1944 | Jan 1945 | Short Stirling Short Stirling The Short Stirling was the first four-engined British heavy bomber of the Second World War. The Stirling was designed and built by Short Brothers to an Air Ministry specification from 1936, and entered service in 1941... |
III |
| Oct 1944 | Jul 1945 | Handley Page Halifax Handley Page Halifax The Handley Page Halifax was one of the British front-line, four-engined heavy bombers of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. A contemporary of the famous Avro Lancaster, the Halifax remained in service until the end of the war, performing a variety of duties in addition to bombing... |
III |