| No. 124 (Baroda) Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
| Active |
1 March 1918 – 17 August 1918 10 May 1941 – 1 April 1946 |
| Country |
 United Kingdom |
| Branch |
 Royal Air Force |
| Motto(s) | “Danger is our opportunity” |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Heraldry | A mongoose |
| Squadron Codes |
PX (Apr 1939 - Sep 1939) ON (May 1941 - Sep 1946) |
No. 124 (Baroda) Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron formed to be a light bomber unit in World War I and reformed as a fighter unit in World War II.
History[]
Formation and World War I[]
No. 124 Squadron Royal Flying Corps was formed on 1 February 1918 at RFC Old Sarum and became a unit of the Royal Air Force. After a move to RFC Fowlmere 124 Sqn disbanded on 17 August 1918 having only operated as a training squadron.[1]
Reformation in World War II[]
Around the outbreak of World War II, from April to September 1939, 124 Sqn was allocated a squadron code but the squadron was not stood up. The squadron eventually reformed in 1941 as a fighter unit equipped with Spitfires, stationed at RAF Castletown, to provide air defence for Scapa Flow. It was then moved to RAF Biggin Hill, and later to RAF Manston, where in early 1945 the Squadron was intercepting German reconnaissance aircraft at up to 50,000 ft, using Spitfire VIIs with pressurised cockpits.
From 10 February to 25 April 1945 it was based at RAF Coltishall and RAF Hawkinge, operating as a fighter-bomber squadron flying Spitfire IX HFs where its main duty was to carry out dive-bombing attacks on the V2 launch sites in Holland. The Squadron also flew interdictions, attacking railway and supply lines to the V-2 sites, and bomber escorts.
On 24 August 1945, 124 Squadron moved to RAF Molesworth, for conversion to the Gloster Meteor, the RAF's first jet fighter. In October the unit transferred to RAF Bentwaters, and in February 1946 to RAF Fairwood Common, before being disbanded at RAF Bentwaters on 1 April 1946, becoming No. 56 Squadron RAF.
Aircraft operated[]
A 124 Sqn Spitfire VI at North Weald, in 1942.
Data from:-[1]
| From | To | Aircraft | Squadron code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 1918 | Aug 1918 | Airco DH.9 (proposed) | |
| Feb 1918 | Aug 1918 | miscellaneous training aircraft | |
| Apr 1939 | Sep 1939 | Squadron not stood up | PK |
| May 1941 | Mar 1942 | Supermarine Spitfire Mk.V | ON |
| May 1942 | Feb 1943 | Supermarine Spitfire Mk.VI | ON |
| May 1943 | Jun 1944 | Supermarine Spitfire Mk.VII | ON |
| Jul 1944 | Mar 1945 | Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX | ON |
| Apr 1945 | Apr 1946 | Gloster Meteor F.3 | ON |
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lake, Alan. "Flying Units of the RAF".Airlife Publishing. Shrewsbury. 1999. ISBN 1-84037-086-6
External links[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to No. 124 Squadron RAF. |
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The original article can be found at No. 124 Squadron RAF and the edit history here.