No. 258 Squadron RAF facts for kids
Quick facts for kids No. 258 Squadron RAF |
|
|---|---|
| Active | 25 July 1918 – 5 March 1918 20 November 1940 - October 1941 1 March 1942 – 31 December 1945 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Air Force |
| Motto(s) | 'In medias re' (In the middle of things) |
| Engagements | Java, Ceylon |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Marshal of the RAF Sir Neil Cameron |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge heraldry | In front of wings elevated and conjoined in base, a panthers face |
| Squadron Codes | FH (Apr 1939 - Sep 1939) ZT (Aug 1944 - Dec 1945) |
No. 258 Squadron was a special group of pilots and planes in the Royal Air Force (RAF) that played important roles in both the First World War and Second World War.
Contents
History of No. 258 Squadron
Early Days: First World War
No. 258 Squadron first started on July 25, 1918. It was formed in Scotland from three smaller groups. The squadron flew De Havilland DH.6 planes, which were biplanes (planes with two sets of wings). Their main job was to patrol over the Irish Sea. They looked for enemy submarines to protect ships. The squadron was then closed down on March 5, 1918.
Reforming for World War II
The squadron was started again on November 20, 1940. This time, it was a fighter squadron based in Yorkshire, England. They flew fast Hawker Hurricanes and were led by Wilfred Clouston. The squadron moved around to different bases, including the Isle of Man. By April 1941, they were getting ready to fly missions against the enemy.
Moving to the Far East
In October 1941, the squadron prepared for a big move to the Far East. After a short stop in Singapore, they went to Sumatra and then Java. Here, they faced tough battles against Japanese forces. Many pilots and planes were lost during these fights. The remaining pilots gave their planes to another squadron. Most tried to escape by ship to Australia. Sadly, all the ships were sunk, and no one survived.
New Start in Ceylon
No. 258 Squadron was formed for a third time on March 1, 1942. This happened in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). However, they faced another big attack from Japanese aircraft carriers on April 5, 1942. The squadron suffered many losses during this surprise attack.
After some time in Burma, where Neil Cameron led them, the squadron got new planes. They were re-equipped with powerful American Republic P-47 Thunderbolts. In June 1945, they began training for a planned invasion of Malaya. But the war ended when Japan surrendered. The squadron was finally closed down on December 31, 1945. Many of the pilots in the squadron were from the Royal New Zealand Air Force.
See also
- List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons
