No. 264 Squadron RAF
Encyclopedia
No. 264 Squadron RAF also known as No 264 (Madras Presidency) Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force
formed from two former Royal Naval Air Service
flights, No. 439 and No. 440, on 27 September 1918 at Souda Bay
, Crete
to perform anti-submarine patrols. It operated the Short 184 floatplanes on patrols in the Aegean. It was disbanded on 1 March 1919.
On 8 December 1939 the squadron was reformed at Martlesham Heath
to bring the Boulton Paul Defiant
fighter into service. Operations began in March 1940 when the squadron started convoy patrols. After initial successes the Luftwaffe soon realised that the Defiant was vulnerable to frontal attack, and the squadron started to have heavy losses of aircraft and crew. At the end of May 1940 the squadron was withdrawn from operations as a day-fighter squadron and began to train in the night-fighter role. It was called into action again in the day fighting role at the height of the Battle of Britain
but again suffered losses and returned to the night-fighter role. After a number of moves around England, including Luton Airport . In May 1942 the squadron moved to RAF Colerne
to operate the de Havilland Mosquito II
, later trading them in for the later Mark VI. The Mosquitos were operated as night-fighters in the west of England and on day patrols in the Bay of Biscay and western approaches.
In 1943 after concentrating on night intruder missions it operated in support of the Bomber Command to attack enemy night-fighters attacking bomber formations. In 1944 it re-equipped with the newer Mosquito XIII
and returned to defensive roles. In June it carried out patrols over the Normandy beaches until it returned to night-patrols from western England in the western approaches. As the Allied forces advanced the squadron became part of the 2nd Tactical Air Force providing night patrols. By the end of the war it was carrying out patrols over Berlin from its base at Twente
in the Netherlands. It was disbanded at Twente on 25 August 1945.
The squadron was reformed for the third time on 20 November 1945 at RAF Church Fenton
when 125 Squadron
was renumbered. It operated the de Havilland Mosquito NF30 and NF36
in the night fighter role as part of the peacetime Fighter Command. By 1951 it was based at RAF Linton-on-Ouse
and while there its Mosquitos were replaced by the Gloster Meteor NF11
.
On 30 September 1957 the squadron was disbanded at RAF Leeming
when it was re-numbered 33 Squadron
.
The squadron was in existence again between 1958 and 1962 at RAF North Coates as the first squadron to operates the Bristol Bloodhound I ground-to-air missile.
The squadron motto was We Defy.
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...
formed from two former Royal Naval Air Service
Royal Naval Air Service
The Royal Naval Air Service or RNAS was the air arm of the Royal Navy until near the end of the First World War, when it merged with the British Army's Royal Flying Corps to form a new service , the Royal Air Force...
flights, No. 439 and No. 440, on 27 September 1918 at Souda Bay
Souda Bay
Souda Bay is a bay and natural harbour on the northwest coast of the Greek island of Crete. The bay is about 15 km long and only two to four km wide, and a deep natural harbour. It is formed between the Akrotiri peninsula and Cape Drapano, and runs west to east...
, Crete
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
to perform anti-submarine patrols. It operated the Short 184 floatplanes on patrols in the Aegean. It was disbanded on 1 March 1919.
On 8 December 1939 the squadron was reformed at Martlesham Heath
Martlesham Heath
Martlesham Heath village is situated 6 miles east of Ipswich, in Suffolk, England. This was an ancient area of heathland and latterly the site of Martlesham Heath Airfield...
to bring the Boulton Paul Defiant
Boulton Paul Defiant
The Boulton Paul Defiant was a British interceptor aircraft that served with the Royal Air Force early in the Second World War. The Defiant was designed and built by Boulton Paul Aircraft as a "turret fighter", without any forward-firing guns. It was a contemporary of the Royal Navy's Blackburn Roc...
fighter into service. Operations began in March 1940 when the squadron started convoy patrols. After initial successes the Luftwaffe soon realised that the Defiant was vulnerable to frontal attack, and the squadron started to have heavy losses of aircraft and crew. At the end of May 1940 the squadron was withdrawn from operations as a day-fighter squadron and began to train in the night-fighter role. It was called into action again in the day fighting role at the height of the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
but again suffered losses and returned to the night-fighter role. After a number of moves around England, including Luton Airport . In May 1942 the squadron moved to RAF Colerne
RAF Colerne
RAF Colerne now known as Colerne Airfield or AEF Colerne is a former World War II RAF Fighter Command and Bomber Command airfield located on the outskirts of the village of Colerne, Wiltshire...
to operate the de Havilland Mosquito II
De Havilland Mosquito
The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
, later trading them in for the later Mark VI. The Mosquitos were operated as night-fighters in the west of England and on day patrols in the Bay of Biscay and western approaches.
In 1943 after concentrating on night intruder missions it operated in support of the Bomber Command to attack enemy night-fighters attacking bomber formations. In 1944 it re-equipped with the newer Mosquito XIII
De Havilland Mosquito
The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
and returned to defensive roles. In June it carried out patrols over the Normandy beaches until it returned to night-patrols from western England in the western approaches. As the Allied forces advanced the squadron became part of the 2nd Tactical Air Force providing night patrols. By the end of the war it was carrying out patrols over Berlin from its base at Twente
Twente
Twente is a non-administrative region in the eastern Netherlands. It encompasses the most urbanised and easternmost part of the province of Overijssel...
in the Netherlands. It was disbanded at Twente on 25 August 1945.
The squadron was reformed for the third time on 20 November 1945 at RAF Church Fenton
RAF Church Fenton
RAF Church Fenton is a Royal Air Force airfield at Church Fenton in North Yorkshire, England.- History :Plans for a new airfield adjacent to the village of Church Fenton were announced in June 1935, it was subject to protest from the local population particularly concerning the waste of valuable...
when 125 Squadron
No. 125 Squadron RAF
No. 125 Squadron was a Royal Air Force squadron active during and after World War II.-World War I:Like a number of Squadrons, No. 125 was initially formed during the later months of the first world war but never became operational before the Armistice.-World War II:No...
was renumbered. It operated the de Havilland Mosquito NF30 and NF36
De Havilland Mosquito
The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
in the night fighter role as part of the peacetime Fighter Command. By 1951 it was based at RAF Linton-on-Ouse
RAF Linton-on-Ouse
RAF Linton-on-Ouse is a Royal Air Force station at Linton-on-Ouse near York in Yorkshire, England. It is currently a major flying training centre, one of the RAF's busiest airfields...
and while there its Mosquitos were replaced by the Gloster Meteor NF11
Gloster Meteor
The Gloster Meteor was the first British jet fighter and the Allies' first operational jet. It first flew in 1943 and commenced operations on 27 July 1944 with 616 Squadron of the Royal Air Force...
.
On 30 September 1957 the squadron was disbanded at RAF Leeming
RAF Leeming
RAF Leeming is a Royal Air Force station in North Yorkshire, UK.HRH The Duchess of Cornwall is the Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Leeming. The Station Commander is Group Captain Anthony Innes....
when it was re-numbered 33 Squadron
No. 33 Squadron RAF
No. 33 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Puma HC.1 from RAF Benson, Oxfordshire.-Current role:The squadron is part of the RAF Support Helicopter force, which reports into the Joint Helicopter Command....
.
The squadron was in existence again between 1958 and 1962 at RAF North Coates as the first squadron to operates the Bristol Bloodhound I ground-to-air missile.
The squadron motto was We Defy.
Aircraft operated
- 1918-1919 Short 184
- 1939-1941 Boulton Paul Defiant IBoulton Paul DefiantThe Boulton Paul Defiant was a British interceptor aircraft that served with the Royal Air Force early in the Second World War. The Defiant was designed and built by Boulton Paul Aircraft as a "turret fighter", without any forward-firing guns. It was a contemporary of the Royal Navy's Blackburn Roc...
- 1941-1942 Boulton Paul Defiant IIBoulton Paul DefiantThe Boulton Paul Defiant was a British interceptor aircraft that served with the Royal Air Force early in the Second World War. The Defiant was designed and built by Boulton Paul Aircraft as a "turret fighter", without any forward-firing guns. It was a contemporary of the Royal Navy's Blackburn Roc...
- 1942-1944 de Havilland Mosquito IIDe Havilland MosquitoThe de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
- 1943-1943 de Havilland Mosquito VIDe Havilland MosquitoThe de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
- 1943-1945 de Havilland Mosquito XIIIDe Havilland MosquitoThe de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
- 1945-1946 de Havilland Mosquito NF30De Havilland MosquitoThe de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
- 1946-1952 de Havilland Mosquito NF36De Havilland MosquitoThe de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
- 1951-1954 Gloster Meteor NF11Gloster MeteorThe Gloster Meteor was the first British jet fighter and the Allies' first operational jet. It first flew in 1943 and commenced operations on 27 July 1944 with 616 Squadron of the Royal Air Force...
- 1954-1957 Gloster Meteor NF14Gloster MeteorThe Gloster Meteor was the first British jet fighter and the Allies' first operational jet. It first flew in 1943 and commenced operations on 27 July 1944 with 616 Squadron of the Royal Air Force...
- 1958-1962 Bristol Bloodhound I