No. 126 Squadron RAF

No. 126 (Persian Gulf) Squadron RAF
Active 1 March 1918 – 17 August 1918
28 June 1941 – 10 March 1946
Country United Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
Motto(s) "Foremost in attack"
Insignia
Squadron Badge A Maltese Cross under a laurel wreath.
Squadron Codes V (Jun 1942 – Dec 1942)
MK (Dec 1942 – May 1943)
5J (Apr 1943 – Mar 1946)

No. 126 (Persian Gulf) Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron formed to be a day bomber unit in World War I and reformed as a fighter unit in World War II.

History

Formation and World War I

No. 126 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 in 1941 as a fighter unit equipped with Hawker Hurricanes and was stationed in Malta to provide air defence for the island. It was re-equipped with Spitfires and then operated from Sicily and Italy. It moved to the UK in April 1944 and was disbanded on 10 March 1946 after a period equipped with the Mustang.

Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated by no. 126 Squadron RAF[1]
From To Aircraft Variant
Jun 1941 Mar 1942 Hawker Hurricane IIA
Jun 1941 Mar 1942 Hawker Hurricane IIB
Mar 1942 Mar 1944 Supermarine Spitfire VB
Mar 1942 Mar 1944 Supermarine Spitfire VC
Mar 1943 Nov 1943 Supermarine Spitfire IX
Apr 1944 Dec 1944 Supermarine Spitfire IXB
Dec 1944 Apr 1946 North American P-51 Mustang II
Aug 1945 Mar 1946 North American P-51 Mustang IV
Feb 1946 Mar 1946 Supermarine Spitfire LF XVIE

References

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