No. 257 Squadron RAF facts for kids
Quick facts for kids No. 257 (Burma) Squadron RAF |
|
|---|---|
| Active | 18 August 1918 - 30 June 1919 17 May 1940 - 5 March 1945 1 September 1946 - 31 March 1957 1 July 1960 – 31 December 1963 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Air Force |
| Nickname(s) | Burma |
| Motto(s) | Burmese: Thay myay gyee shin shwe hti ("Death or glory") |
| post 1950 aircraft insignia |  |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Robert Stanford Tuck |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge | A Chinthe sejant |
| Squadron Codes | ML (May 1940 - Jun 1940) DT (Jun 1940 - May 1941) FM (May 1941 - Mar 1945) A6 (Sep 1946 - 1951) |
No. 257 Squadron RAF was a special flying group in the Royal Air Force (RAF). It was active during the First World War, the Second World War, and also the Cold War. The squadron was finally closed down in December 1963.
Contents
History of No. 257 Squadron
World War I Service
No. 257 Squadron first started on August 18, 1918, in Dundee. It was made up of two smaller groups, Nos. 318 and 319 Flights. The squadron used special planes called seaplanes and flying boats. These planes could land on water. They flew missions from Dundee to look for enemy submarines. This continued until the end of the First World War. The squadron was then closed on June 30, 1919.
World War II Operations
The squadron was started again on May 17, 1940. This time, it was at RAF Hendon and became a Fighter Squadron. They first flew Supermarine Spitfire planes. Soon after, they moved to RAF Northolt and began flying Hawker Hurricanes. These planes were important during the Battle of Britain. No. 257 Squadron was part of No. 11 Group RAF during this time.
The squadron stayed in south-east England during the Battle of Britain. In March, they started flying missions over France. They also flew at night to protect against enemy planes. In July 1942, they switched to Hawker Typhoon planes. These planes began flying low-level patrols in September. Their job was to stop enemy fighter-bombers.
The squadron also flew escort missions, protecting other planes. In July 1943, they began attacking enemy targets. By January 1944, they were using their planes to drop bombs. As part of the Second Tactical Air Force, they moved to France in July. Their role was to support the Allied armies from the air. By October, they were in Belgium. From there, they attacked enemy transport and targets on the battlefield. The squadron was closed down on March 5, 1945.
During the Second World War, the squadron was a special "gift squadron" from Burma. The lion-like creature in its badge, called a chinthe, is a symbol from Burma.
Post-War Activities
On September 1, 1946, the squadron was started for a third time. It was at RAF Church Fenton and was a fighter squadron. They flew Gloster Meteor planes until January 1955. After that, they changed to Hawker Hunter planes. On March 31, 1957, the squadron was closed down again.
On June 28, 1949, two Meteor planes from the squadron crashed. They were flying from RAF Finningley as part of a NATO exercise. This exercise was to test Britain's air defenses. Both pilots, Flying Officer A H Turner and Warrant Officer Levene, safely ejected from their planes. One plane crashed near Doncaster, and the other near Retford. A third Meteor also had to land quickly because of a problem with its landing gear. Luckily, no one on the ground was hurt.
Missile Defence Role
The squadron was formed again on July 1, 1960. This time, it was at RAF Warboys in Cambridgeshire. It became an air defence unit. This meant they used Bristol Bloodhound missiles to protect the skies. The squadron continued this role until December 31, 1963. On that day, the squadron was closed down for the fourth and final time.
See also
