No. 213 Squadron
Aircraft: Hurricane Mk.I
Motto: Irritatus lacessit crabro – ‘The hornet attacks when roused’
Badge: A hornet. The squadron was known as ‘The Hornets’ when serving at Dunkirk in World War One so adopted the hornet as its badge.
Stations:
- Exeter – 18 June 1940
- Tangmere – 7 September 1940
History:
No. 213 Squadron was formed on 1 April 1918, from No. 13 (Naval) Squadron of the former Royal Naval Air Service, a Camel fighter squadron based at Bergues in Flanders. As part of No. 61 Wing, it was engaged in fighter patrols and escort work with Bombing and reconnaissance aircraft from the Dunkirk Airfields until the end of the war. In March 1919 it returned to the UK where it disbanded on 31 December 1919.
On 8 March 1937, No. 213 was reformed as a fighter squadron at Northolt with Gauntlets and moved to Yorkshire in July. In January 1938, Hurricanes began to arrive and the squadron was fully equipped by the beginning of March. On the outbreak of war, flew fighter patrols and in May 1940 , sent a detachment to France to assist the hard-pressed squadrons of Air Component of the BEF for a few days, the whole squadron moving south early in June. For the first part of the Battle of Britain, it was based in south-west England but moved to Tangmere early in September.
No. 219 Squadron
Aircraft: Blenheim Mk.IF
Motto: From dusk to dawn
Badge: A death’s head hawk moth – symbolising the squadron’s operational role.
Stations:
- Catterick – 4 October 1939
- Redhill – 12 October 1940
History:
No. 219 Squadron was formed in August 1918 at Westgate from units of the seaplane station there and at nearby Manston. No. 442 Flight flew seaplanes from Westgate while Nos 555 and 556 Flights used DH9s at Manston, covered by No. 470 Flight’s Camels. On 7 February the squadron was disbanded.
On 4 October 1939, No. 219 was reformed at Catterick with Blenheim fighters for shipping protection duties and became operational on 21 February 1940. It soon became fully employed on night patrols and based detachments at various points for night defence. In October 1940, the squadron moved south to protect London and began to convert to Beaufighters.
No. 222 Squadron
Aircraft: Spitfire Mk.I
Motto: Pambili bo (Zulu) – ‘Go straight ahead’
Badge: A wildebeeste in full course. The wildebeeste comes from the armorial bearings of Natal, the squadron being the Natal gift squadron; the wildebeeste also symbolises speed.
Stations:
Kirton in Lindsay – 4 June 1939
Hornchurch – 29 August 1940
History:
No. 222 Squadron was formed at Thasos on 1 April 1918, from A and Z Squadrons of the former No. 2 Wing, RNAS when the Royal Air Force was formed. Renumbered No. 62 Wing and consisting of Nos 478, 479 and 480 Flights, the squadron was given the task of maintaining raids on Turkish targets in Macedonia and Thrace, operating from island in the Northern No. 234 Squadron was formed in August 1918 from Nos 350, 351, 352 and 353 Flights at the seaplane station at Tresco, Isles of Scilly, and flew anti-submarine patrols over the approaches to the English Channel until the Armistice, disbanding on 15 May 1919.
On 5 October 1939, No. 222 reformed at Duxford as a shipping protection squadron and received Blenheims but in March 1940 it re-equipped with Spitfires as a day fighter unit. In May 1940 it moved to Essex to help cover the Dunkirk evacuation before returning to Lincolnshire and at the end of August again came back to the London area for the last part of the Battle of Britain.
No. 229 Squadron
Aircraft: Hurricane Mk.I
Motto: Be bold
Badge: A boar’s head erased, pierced by a sword. The badge indicates triumph over a powerful and ferocious enemy.
Stations:
- Wittering – 26 June 1940
- Northolt – 9 September 1940
History:
No. 229 Squadron was formed on 20 August 1918 at Great Yarmouth from Nos 428, 429, 454 and 455 Flights of the former RNAS station there. It flew coastal patrols until the end of the war and was disbanded on 31 December 1919.
On 6 October 1939, No. 229 reformed at Digby as a Fighter squadron. Equipped initially with blenheims for shipping protection duties, it began convoy patrols on 21 December but also carried out night training and radar trials. In March 1940, the squadron was re-equipped with hurricanes and soon after the German invasion of France in May 1940, sent one flight to reinforce the French-based fighter squadrons for eight days. After flying defensive patrols over the East Coast, No. 229 moved to Northolt in September and remained there for the rest of the Battle of Britain.
No. 232 Squadron
Aircraft: Hurricane Mk.I
Motto: Strike
Badge: A dragon-ship, under sail, oars in action. The dragon-ship comes from the Arms of Lerwick and indicates the squadron’s association with Shetland and the Western Isles.
Stations:
- Sumburgh – 17 July 1940
- Castletown – 18 September 1940
- Skitten – 13 October 1940
- Drem – 24 October 1940
History:
No. 232 Squadron was formed on 20 August 1918 from Nos 333, 334, and 335 Flights of the seaplane station at Felixstowe, and was engaged in anti-submarine patrols until the Armistice. The squadron disbanded on 5 January 1919.
On 17 July 1940, B Flight of No. 3 Squadron at Sumburgh was redesignated No. 232 Squadron. Hurricanes were flown on defensive duties in the north of Scotland and on 16 December it was brought up to full strength.
No. 234 Squadron.
Aircraft: Spitfire Mk.I
Motto: Ignem mortemque despuimus – ‘We spit fire and death’
Badge: A dragon rampant, flames issuing from the mouth. The dragon indicates the fighting role and the flames associate with the name Spitfire.
Stations:
- St Eval – 18 June 1940
- Middle Wallop – 13 August 1940
- St Eval – 11 September 1940
History:
No. 234 Squadron was formed in August 1918 from Nos 350, 351, 352 and 353 Flights at the seaplane station at Tresco, Isles of Scilly, and flew anti-submarine patrols over the approaches to the English Channel until the Armistice, disbanding on 15 May 1919.
On 30 October 1939, No. 234 was reformed at Leconfield as a fighter squadron. Originally intended for shipping protection duties, it flew a mixture of Blenheims, Battles and Gauntlets until March 1940, when it began to receive Spitfires, becoming operational on 11 May. Throughout the Battle of Britain, it was based in southern England.
No. 235 Squadron
Aircraft: Blenheim Mk.IVF
Motto: Jaculamur humi – ‘We strike them to the ground’
Badge: A double Wyvern spouting fire.
Stations:
- Bircham Newton 24 June 1940
History:
No. 235 Squadron was formed in August 1918 from Nos 424 and 425 Flights at the seaplane station at Newlyn in Cornwall for anti-submarine patrols. It flew these until the Armistice and disbanded on 22 February 1919.
On 30 October 1939, No. 235 reformed at Manston as a fighter squadron and received Battles for training purposes in December. In February 1940, it equipped with Blenheims and was transferred from Fighter to Coastal Command on 27 February 1940 for fighter-reconnaissance duties. When the German invasion of the Low Countries began in May 1940, the squadron flew patrols over Holland and during the Battle of Britain was engaged in convoy protection and reconnaissance missions over the North Sea.
No. 236 Squadron
Aircraft: Blenheim Mk.IVF
Motto: Speulati nuntiate – ‘Having watched, bring word’
Badge: In front of a fountain, a mailed fist grasping a winged sword.
Stations:
- Middle Wallop – 14 June 1940
- Thorney Island – 4 July 1940
- St Eval – 8 August 1940
History:
No. 236 Squadron was formed at Mullion in August 1918 from Nos 493, 515 and 516 Flights as a coastal reconnaissance unit with DH6s and for the remaining months of the war flew anti-submarine patrols off south-west England. It disbanded on 15 May 1919.
On 31 October 1939, No. 236 Squadron reformed at Stradishall in Fighter Command and received Blenheim fighters in December. It moved to North Coates at the end of February 1940 to join Coastal Command, but reverted to Fighter Command in April on arrival at Speke. During May and June the squadron flew defensive patrols over shipping in the English Channel and on 4 July rejoined Coastal Command for fighter and reconnaissance duties.
