No. 118 Squadron RAF facts for kids
Quick facts for kids No. 118 Squadron RAF |
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|---|---|
| Active | 1 January 1918 - 7 September 1918 20 February 1941 - 10 March 1946 10 May 1951 - 22 August 1957 1 September 1959 – 31 August 1962 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Air Force |
| Motto(s) | Latin: Occido redeoque ("I kill and return") |
No. 118 Squadron was a special group of planes and pilots in the British Royal Air Force (RAF). It was first created in 1918. Later, it became a fighter squadron during the Second World War. They flew famous planes like the Spitfire and Mustang.
In the 1950s, the squadron used jet fighters as part of RAF Germany. After that, they flew Bristol Sycamore helicopters in Northern Ireland. The squadron finally stopped operating in 1962.
Contents
Squadron's Story: What They Did
Early Days: First World War
No. 118 Squadron started on 1 January 1918. It was part of the Royal Flying Corps at RAF Catterick in North Yorkshire. The plan was for it to become a night bomber unit. For training, they used planes like the Airco DH.6 and Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2.
The squadron moved around a few times. They were meant to get large Handley Page O/400 bombers. Then, the plan changed to Vickers Vimy planes. But they never received any new aircraft. The squadron was then closed down on 7 September 1918.
Fighting in the Second World War
The squadron started again on 20 February 1941. This time, it was at RAF Filton near Bristol. They became a fighter squadron with Supermarine Spitfire Mk.I planes. Soon, they also got Spitfire Mk.IIs.
By March, they began patrolling to protect ships. In April, they moved to RAF Ibsley. From there, they flew missions to protect other planes attacking ships. They also flew defensive patrols and sweeps over northern France.
Spitfire Missions and Challenges
In September 1941, the squadron got newer Spitfire Mk Vbs. They kept protecting ships and bombers over the English Channel. On 12 February 1942, they tried to stop German battleships. These ships, the Scharnhorst, Gneisenau, and Prinz Eugen, were sailing through the Channel. The squadron helped bombers search for the German ships.
In August 1942, the squadron moved to RAF Tangmere. They helped with the Dieppe Raid. This was a big attack on German forces in France. The squadron flew four missions that day. They claimed to have destroyed two German Dornier Do 217 bombers.
The squadron moved to RAF Zeals in August. Then, in January 1943, they went to RAF Coltishall. From there, they flew missions over Belgium, the Netherlands, and the North Sea. A main job was protecting light bombers. These bombers were attacking targets in the Netherlands. They often faced strong German attacks.
One very tough fight happened on 3 May 1943. Spitfires from 118 Squadron and others protected Lockheed Ventura bombers. The bombers were attacking a power station in Amsterdam. German defenses were ready for them. Over 70 German fighters attacked. 118 Squadron claimed two German Focke-Wulf Fw 190s. But the bombers suffered heavy losses.
Defending and Long-Range Flights
The squadron moved to RAF Peterhead in Scotland in September. They defended northern Scotland. They also had a small group of planes at RAF Skeabrae in the Orkney Islands. In February 1944, the squadron got even newer Spitfire IXs. They moved to RAF Detling in Kent.
But on 10 March, they moved back to Skeabrae. They stayed in the Orkney Islands for four months. In July 1944, they moved south again. They flew escort missions over Normandy from RAF Detling.
By the end of August, they were at RAF Westhampnett. In September, they moved to RAF Manston. They flew missions to protect large bombers from RAF Bomber Command. The Spitfire was not ideal for these long flights. So, in January 1945, the squadron got longer-range North American Mustang planes. They continued these missions until the war in Europe ended.
During the war, the squadron claimed 29 enemy aircraft destroyed. They also likely destroyed nine more and damaged 27. On 10 March 1946, the squadron was closed down.
After the War: Jets and Helicopters
The squadron started up again on 10 May 1951. It became a fighter-bomber squadron in RAF Germany. They flew de Havilland Vampire jets from RAF Fassberg. This base was close to the border with East Germany. The Vampire jets were getting old. So, in November 1953, the squadron received de Havilland Venom jets.
By 1955, even the Venom jets were outdated. So, in March, the squadron moved to RAF Jever. There, they started flying fast Hawker Hunter jets. These were pure day-fighter planes. They kept the Hunters until 22 August 1957. Then, the squadron was closed down again. This happened because of a big plan to change the military.
Helicopters in Northern Ireland
On 1 September 1959, the squadron was reformed one last time. This was to help with a campaign of attacks in Northern Ireland. A small group of Bristol Sycamore helicopters from another squadron became 118 Squadron. They were based at RAF Aldergrove.
They flew their Sycamore helicopters to support the police, the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC). They carried out short transport and scouting missions. They also tried out new ways to control traffic. On 31 August 1962, the attacks ended. So, the squadron was closed down for good.
Aircraft They Flew
Here are the different types of aircraft No. 118 Squadron used:
- Airco DH.6 - 1918
- Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2 - 1918
- Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2b - 1918
- Supermarine Spitfire I - 1941
- Supermarine Spitfire IIA - March 1941 to September 1941
- Supermarine Spitfire VB - September 1941 to January 1944
- Miles Martinet - at least one used as a target tug in January 1943
- Supermarine Spitfire VI - one or two used September 1943
- Supermarine Spitfire IX - January 1944 to March 1944
- Supermarine Spitfire V - March 1944 to July 1944
- Supermarine Spitfire VII - March 1944
- Supermarine Spitfire IX - July 1944 to January 1945
- North American Mustang - January 1945 to March 1946
- De Havilland Vampire FB.5 - May 1951 to November 1953
- De Havilland Venom FB.1 - November 1953 to March 1955
- Hawker Hunter F.4 - March 1955 to July 1957
- Bristol Sycamore HR.14 - September 1959 to August 1962
