No. 258 Squadron RAF
Encyclopedia
RAF 258 Squadron was a Royal Air Force squadron during World War I and World War II.
No. 258 Squadron was first formed 25 July 1918 from 523, 525 and 529 Special Duties Flights at Luce Bay near Stranraer, Scotland under the control of No. 25 Group. It was equipped with De Havilland DH.6 biplanes and carried out anti-submarine patrols over the Irish Sea. It was disbanded on 5 March 1918.
The squadron was reformed on 20 November 1940 at RAF Leconfield
, Yorkshire as a fighter squadron equipped with Hawker Hurricanes. First based at RAF Acklington
they relocated to the Isle of Man and then in April 1941 to RAF Kenley
to fly sweeps over France. In October they were stood down to prepare for a move to the Far East. After a few days in Singapore they were withdrawn to Sumatra and then Java, where they suffered many losses either killed or captured by the Japanese. The survivors transferred their aircraft to No. 605 squadron and most attempted to escape by ship to Australia, but unfortunately all the ships were sunk en route with no survivors.
The squadron was again reformed 1 Mar 1942 from G Squadron at Ratmalana Airport
, near Colombo, Ceylon but suffered severe losses during the Japanese carrier strike
on 5 April 1942. After a spell in Burma (under Neil Cameron
) the squadron was withdrawn to be re-equipped with American Republic P-47 Thunderbolts. In June 1945 it then began training for the invasion of Malaya but on the Japanese surrender the squadron was finally disbanded on 31 December 1945.
The squadron was largely manned by RNZAF pilots from New Zealand.
No. 258 Squadron was first formed 25 July 1918 from 523, 525 and 529 Special Duties Flights at Luce Bay near Stranraer, Scotland under the control of No. 25 Group. It was equipped with De Havilland DH.6 biplanes and carried out anti-submarine patrols over the Irish Sea. It was disbanded on 5 March 1918.
The squadron was reformed on 20 November 1940 at RAF Leconfield
RAF Leconfield
The former RAF Leconfield, or 'Leconfield Camp' was a Royal Air Force airbase in Leconfield , East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The site is now used by the MoD Defence School of Transport Leconfield .-History:...
, Yorkshire as a fighter squadron equipped with Hawker Hurricanes. First based at RAF Acklington
RAF Acklington
The former Royal Air Force Station Acklington, commonly known as RAF Acklington, was a Royal Air Force airfield airbase situated near Acklington, in Northumberland, England....
they relocated to the Isle of Man and then in April 1941 to RAF Kenley
RAF Kenley
The former Royal Air Force Station Kenley, more commonly known as RAF Kenley was a station of the Royal Flying Corps in World War I and the RAF in World War II. It is located near Kenley, London, England.-History:...
to fly sweeps over France. In October they were stood down to prepare for a move to the Far East. After a few days in Singapore they were withdrawn to Sumatra and then Java, where they suffered many losses either killed or captured by the Japanese. The survivors transferred their aircraft to No. 605 squadron and most attempted to escape by ship to Australia, but unfortunately all the ships were sunk en route with no survivors.
The squadron was again reformed 1 Mar 1942 from G Squadron at Ratmalana Airport
Ratmalana Airport
Ratmalana Airport , formally known as Colombo Airport, is a major domestic airport and military base in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It was once Colombo's international airport, until the current Bandaranaike International Airport opened in the 1960s...
, near Colombo, Ceylon but suffered severe losses during the Japanese carrier strike
Indian Ocean raid
The Indian Ocean raid was a naval sortie by the Fast Carrier Strike Force of the Imperial Japanese Navy from 31 March-10 April 1942 against Allied shipping and bases in the Indian Ocean. It was an early engagement of the Pacific campaign of World War II...
on 5 April 1942. After a spell in Burma (under Neil Cameron
Neil Cameron, Baron Cameron of Balhousie
Marshal of the Royal Air Force Neil Cameron, Baron Cameron of Balhousie, KT, GCB, CBE, DSO, DFC was a senior officer in the Royal Air Force...
) the squadron was withdrawn to be re-equipped with American Republic P-47 Thunderbolts. In June 1945 it then began training for the invasion of Malaya but on the Japanese surrender the squadron was finally disbanded on 31 December 1945.
The squadron was largely manned by RNZAF pilots from New Zealand.