No. 81 Squadron RAF facts for kids
Quick facts for kids No. 81 Squadron RAF |
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|---|---|
| Active | 7 January 1917 – 4 July 1918 25 November 1918 – 1 February 1920 1 December 1939 – 15 June 1940 29 July 1941 – 20 June 1945 20 June 1945 – 30 June 1946 1 September 1946 – 16 January 1970 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Flying Corps (1917–1918) Royal Air Force (1918, 1939–1970) |
| Motto(s) | Latin: Non Solum Nobis ("Not for us alone") |
| Battle honours | France & Low Countries, 1939-40 Russia, 1941 |
| Insignia | |
| Identification symbol |
Badge: An erect dagger in front of a mullet. |
No. 81 Squadron was a special group of planes and pilots in the Royal Air Force (RAF). They flew Fighter aircraft during the Second World War. After the war, they used reconnaissance aircraft to gather information, especially in the Far East. The squadron was officially stopped in 1970.
Contents
History of No. 81 Squadron
Early Years: First World War
No. 81 Squadron first started on January 7, 1917. Back then, it was part of the Royal Flying Corps. It was formed at Gosport in the UK. This squadron was a training unit, meaning it helped teach new pilots.
Unlike many other training squadrons, No. 81 Squadron did not go into active fighting during the First World War. It was officially stopped on July 4, 1918.
The squadron was started again on November 25, 1918. This time, it was made up of Canadian pilots and was called No. 1 Squadron, Canadian Air Force. It was stopped again on February 1, 1920.
Second World War: Fighting for Freedom
No. 81 Squadron was formed for a third time on December 1, 1939. This was at the start of the Second World War. They were a communication squadron in France, flying small de Havilland Tiger Moth planes. Their job was to help with messages and transport.
However, as German forces advanced, the squadron had to leave France. It was stopped on June 15, 1940.
Helping the Soviet Union
After Germany invaded the Soviet Union, the UK decided to send help. No. 81 Squadron was started again on July 29, 1941, at RAF Leconfield. This time, they flew powerful Hawker Hurricane fighter planes.
In September, the squadron flew their Hurricanes from a ship called HMS Argus. They landed at an airfield near Murmansk in the Soviet Union. Their missions included defending the area and protecting Soviet bombers. Their main job was to train Soviet pilots to fly the Hurricane. After a few weeks, the Hurricanes were given to the Soviets, and the squadron returned to the UK in November.
Fighting in Europe and North Africa
Back in the UK, No. 81 Squadron received new Supermarine Spitfire planes. They became ready for action on February 1, 1942, at RAF Turnhouse in Edinburgh. In May, they moved to RAF Hornchurch near London.
Their first mission was on June 1, protecting Hurricane planes that were bombing Bruges. Later, in October, the squadron moved to Gibraltar. On November 8, 19 Spitfires flew to a newly captured airfield in Algiers, North Africa.
After Germany surrendered in North Africa, the squadron moved to Malta. This was to prepare for the Invasion of Sicily. They then moved to Italy in September. However, they were sent to Egypt in November to get ready for deployment to the Far East.
While fighting in the Mediterranean, they often faced German planes from Jagdgeschwader 53. This German group had an ace of spades symbol on their planes. No. 81 Squadron felt they had beaten their enemy, so they started putting the same symbol on their own planes!
Operations in Asia
In December 1943, No. 81 Squadron arrived in Alipore, India. They were now flying more advanced Spitfire VIII planes. They started missions in January, flying fighter and ground attack missions. They supported important battles like the Second Battle of Arakan and the Battle of Imphal.
The squadron moved to Ceylon in August and was stopped on June 20, 1945. On the same day, another squadron, 123 Squadron, was renamed No. 81 Squadron. This new No. 81 Squadron flew P-47 Thunderbolt planes.
In October, the squadron went to Java during the Indonesian War of Independence. They flew missions to gather information and protect Allied convoys. They also attacked airfields and ammunition dumps held by nationalists. On June 30, 1946, the squadron was stopped again.
Post-War: Reconnaissance Missions
No. 81 Squadron was formed for the last time on September 1, 1946. This time, it was a photo-reconnaissance squadron in the Far East. They flew de Havilland Mosquito PR.34s and Spitfire PR.19s.
In August 1947, they added fighter-reconnaissance Spitfires and became involved in the Malayan Emergency. They started using Meteor PR.10 jets in September 1953. No. 81 Squadron flew the very last operational Spitfire mission for the RAF on April 1, 1954. They also flew the last operational Mosquito mission on December 15, 1955.
They received some Percival Pembroke planes for survey missions in 1956. In 1958, they began using the English Electric Canberra jet. They flew their last Meteor mission on July 7, 1961. The squadron continued to use the Canberra until it was officially stopped on January 16, 1970. This was part of Britain's plan to reduce its military bases East of Suez.
From 1947 to 1970, the squadron was based at RAF Seletar and RAF Tengah in Singapore. They also had a small group at RAF Kai Tak in Hong Kong from 1947 to 1954.
Squadron Insignia and Motto
The official symbol, or insignia, of No. 81 Squadron shows a sword on a red star. According to Alan McGregor Peart, a pilot who served with the squadron in World War 2, the squadron didn't have a formal symbol until 1943.
The members of the squadron decided to create one. They chose the red star to remember their time helping the Soviet Union. The sword was borrowed from the First Army in North Africa. This represented the squadron's missions in that area.
The squadron's motto is Non Solum Nobis. This is a Latin phrase that means "Not for us alone." It shows their dedication to helping others.
