No. 134 Squadron RAF

No. 134 Squadron RAF
Active 1 March 1918 – 4 July 1918
31 July 1941 – 10 March 1946
Country United Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
Motto(s) Latin: Per ardua volabimus
("We shall fly through hardships")
Insignia
Squadron Badge A gauntlet closed.
Squadron Codes G (Aug 1941 - Nov 1941)
GQ (1942 - Jun 1945)

No. 134 Squadron RAF was a part of the Royal Air Force which was formed as a light bomber unit in World War I and reformed as a fighter squadron in World War II.

History

Formation and World War I

No. 134 Squadron Royal Flying Corps was formed on 1 March 1918 and became a unit of the Royal Air Force a month later, but it disbanded on 17 August 1918.

Reformation in World War II

The squadron reformed from a nucleus provided by 17 Squadron in July 1941 as a fighter unit equipped with Hawker Hurricanes stationed at RAF Leconfield. It was then based near Murmansk to train Russian pilots until the Hurricanes were handed over to the Russian Navy.

Back in the UK the Squadron was re-assembled at RAF Catterick on 7 December 1941, moved to Northern Ireland for two months and returned to RAF Baginton (in Warwickshire) to prepare to move overseas once again. It then operated in Egypt until November 1943 when it moved to India and Burma. The squadron converted to the P-47 Thunderbolt and disbanded by being renumbered 131 Squadron.

Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated by No. 134 Squadron RAF[1]
From To Aircraft Variant
Jun 1941 Mar 1942 Hawker Hurricane IIB
Dec 1941 Feb 1942 Supermarine Spitfire VA
Dec 1941 Feb 1942 Supermarine Spitfire IIA
Jan 1942 Feb 1942 Hawker Hurricane IIB
Jan 1942 Mar 1943 Supermarine Spitfire VB
Jan 1943 Oct 1943 Hawker Hurricane IIB
Mar 1943 Apr 1943 Hawker Hurricane IIC
Jun 1943 Aug 1943 Supermarine Spitfire VB & VC
Sep 1944 Jan 1945 Republic P-47 Thunderbolt I
Sep 1944 Jan 1945 Republic P-47 Thunderbolt II

References

  1. C.G.Jefford (1988). RAF Squadrons. UK Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
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