No. 209 Squadron RAF facts for kids

Quick facts for kids No. 209 (Hong Kong) Squadron RAF
Official squadron badge of No. 209 Squadron RAF
Active	1 February 1917 – 1 April 1918 (RNAS) 1 April 1918 – 24 June 1919 (RAF) 15 January 1930 – 1 January 1955 1 November 1958 – 31 December 1968
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Air Force
Role	Ground support (World War I) Maritime patrol (World War II & Korea) Liaison and transport (Malaya)
Nickname(s)	Hong Kong
Motto(s)	Might and Main
Battle honours	Western Front (1917–1918) Ypres (1917) Somme (1918) Channel and North Sea (1939) Atlantic (1939–1941) Bismarck Eastern Waters (1942–1945) Arctic (1941–1942) Korea (1950–1953) *Honours marked with an asterisk are those emblazoned on the Squadron Standard
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldry	An eagle volant recursant descendant in pale, wings overture The red eagle was chosen due to the squadron getting credit for shooting down Manfred von Richthofen (the Red Baron). Approved by King George VI in August 1941.
Squadron Codes	FK WQ (Sep 1939 – Mar 1942; 1950 – 1951)

Number 209 Squadron was a famous unit of the British Royal Air Force (RAF). It started on February 1, 1917, as No. 9 Squadron of the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) in France. This squadron played a big part in both World Wars, the Korean War, and the Malayan Emergency. The squadron stopped using its number in 1968. Today, its number, badge, and motto are still used by 209 (West Bridgford) Squadron ATC in Nottinghamshire, which is part of the RAF Air Cadets.

Squadron History: From World War I to Today

Starting Up and World War I Missions

The squadron officially became a Royal Air Force unit on April 1, 1918. This happened when No. 9 Squadron RNAS was renamed No. 209 Squadron. All RNAS squadrons had 200 added to their numbers to become RAF squadrons. During World War I, 209 Squadron flew Sopwith Camels. These planes were used for fighting enemy aircraft and supporting soldiers on the ground along the Western Front.

The squadron's badge shows a red eagle falling. This symbol remembers a famous event: a pilot from 209 Squadron, Roy Brown, was given credit for shooting down Baron Manfred von Richthofen. He was also known as "The Red Baron," a very famous German pilot. After the war, on June 24, 1919, the squadron was officially closed down in the UK.

Between the World Wars: Flying Boats

No. 209 Squadron started up again on January 15, 1930. It was based at RAF Mount Batten in Plymouth, a base for flying boats. These are planes that can land on and take off from water. The squadron first used Blackburn Iris flying boats, then Blackburn Perths.

In July 1936, the squadron received enough Short Singapore Mk.IIIs to be fully equipped. It moved to RAF Kalafrana, Malta for three months in September 1937. By December 1938, No. 209 began using another type of flying boat, the Supermarine Stranraer.

World War II: Patrolling the Seas

Lerwick L7265, ‘WQ-Q’ of 209 Squadron. Taking off from Loch Ryan, March 1941

When World War II began, No. 209 Squadron moved to Invergordon. Its job was to patrol the North Sea between Scotland and Norway. From October 1939, it patrolled the Atlantic Ocean from Oban. The squadron got new planes twice: first Saro Lerwicks in December 1939, then Consolidated Catalinas in April 1941.

American military staff helped the squadron learn about the new Catalinas. They even flew on patrols, even though the U.S. was a neutral country at the time. The squadron flew anti-submarine patrols over the Atlantic from RAF Castle Archdale in Northern Ireland. They used a special air path called the Donegal Corridor over neutral Ireland. During this time, in May 1941, a patrol from No. 209 (with an American crew member) found the famous German battleship Bismarck.

In August 1941, the squadron moved to Iceland for two months. From March 1942 to July 1945, No. 209 was based in East Africa. It flew patrols over the Indian Ocean. It also had smaller bases in places like South Africa, Madagascar, and the Seychelles to cover a wider area. In July 1945, the squadron moved to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). Here, it used recently acquired Short Sunderland MkVs to attack Japanese ships along the coast from Burma (now Myanmar) to Malaya.

After the Wars: Hong Kong and Korea

After Japan surrendered in August 1945, a small group from the squadron went to Hong Kong in September. The rest of the squadron followed in October. In April 1946, the squadron moved to Singapore. A part of the squadron stayed at RAF Kai Tak and later became No. 88 Squadron.

The main base for No. 209 Squadron was set up at RAF Seletar on Singapore Island on May 18, 1946. On January 23, 1947, the squadron was given the special name "City of Hong Kong" Squadron.

The squadron took part in Operation Firedog missions during the Malayan Emergency, starting on July 7, 1948. In September 1950, during the Korean War, the squadron's planes moved to Iwakuni, Yamaguchi, Japan. From September 15, they patrolled off the Korean coast. On January 1, 1955, No. 209 Squadron joined with No. 205 Squadron.

Transport Role and Final Disbandment

On November 1, 1958, No. 267 Squadron at RAF Kuala Lumpur was renamed 209 Squadron. This new 209 Squadron flew Scottish Aviation Pioneers and Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneers. Their job was to carry people and supplies and help with communication in Malaysia. No. 209 Squadron was finally closed down on December 31, 1968, at RAF Seletar.

Notable Personnel

Here are some of the important people who served with No. 9 Naval Squadron or No. 209 Squadron:

• Fred Everest Banbury – 1917–1918
• Arthur Roy Brown
• Stearne Tighe Edwards
• Air chief marshal Robert Foster – 1918
• John Hales
• Oliver Colin LeBoutillier
• Wilfrid May
• Air vice-marshal Francis Mellersh
• John Paynter – 1917
• Oliver Redgate – 1917–1918
• Merrill Samuel Taylor – 1917–1918

Aircraft Used by the Squadron

A Saro Lerwick in the markings of No. 209 squadron RAF

Squadron Bases and Locations

See also

• List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons