No. 164 Squadron RAF

No. 164 Squadron RAF

Typhoon of No.164 Squadron take off from RAF Thorney Island.
Active June 1, 1918-July 4,1918
April 6, 1942-august 31, 1946
Country  United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
Type Inactive
Role Fighter Squadron
Motto(s) '"Firmes volamos" (Firmly we fly)
Aircraft Spitfire, Hurricane, Typhoon
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldry In front of the rising sun a lion passant guardant
Squadron code FJ

No. 164 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was a fighter squadron during the Second World War composed of Argentine volunteers.

Background

No. 164 Squadron RAF was originally founded on 1 June 1918, but never received aircraft and was disbanded on 4 July 1918. The squadron was reformed at Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, on 6 April 1942, as a fighter squadron initially equipped with Spitfire Mk VAs, becoming operational in early May.

Around 600 Argentine volunteers, mostly of Anglo-Argentine descent, joined the British and Canadian Air Forces, many in the 164 Argentine-British RAF squadron, which motto was Firmes volamos (Determined We Fly) and its insignia was a British lion in front of a rising sun representing Argentina. Some pilots adorned the side of their aircraft with a picture of a popular Argentine cartoon character called Patoruzú, an indigenous man with incredible strength.[1][2]

In January 1943 the squadron moved to South Wales to train as a ground-attack unit, where it was equipped with Hawker Hurricanes. Operations against enemy shipping and coastal targets began in June 1943. Squadron Leader Percy Beake was put in charge of the Squadron in May 1944.[3]

After providing support for the landing forces from southern England, using Hawker Typhoons, the squadron moved to France in July 1944. During the Battle of Normandy, No.164 used its rockets against enemy armour in the battle area and after the breakout moved forward through northern France and Belgium in support of the 21st Army Group.

The squadron was renumbered No. 63 Squadron RAF on 31 August 1946.

Service

Three Hurricane Mark IVs of No. 164 Squadron undergoing servicing at RAF Middle Wallop, Hampshire.
From To Aircraft
April 1942 September 1942 Supermarine Spitfire VA
September 1942 February 1943 Supermarine Spitfire VB
February 1943 May 1943 Hawker Hurricane IID
February 1943 February 1944 Hawker Hurricane IV
January 1944 May 1945 Hawker Typhoon IB
June 1945 July 1946 Supermarine Spitfire IX
July 1946 August 1946 Supermarine Spitfire LF XVIE

See also

References

  1. ↑ Wartime RAF Veterans Flying in From Argentina
  2. ↑ Argentine pilots break silence over World War Two
  3. ↑ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2016/07/14/squadron-leader-percy-beake-fighter-pilot--obituary/

Further reading

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