No. 126 Squadron RAF

No. 126 (Persian Gulf) Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron formed to be a day bomber unit in World War I and reformed as a fighter unit in World War II.

No. 126 (Persian Gulf) Squadron RAF
Active1 March 1918 – 17 August 1918
28 June 1941 – 10 March 1946
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
Motto(s)"Foremost in attack"[1]
Insignia
Squadron BadgeA Maltese Cross under a laurel wreath.[1]
Squadron CodesV (Jun 1942 – Dec 1942)
MK (Dec 1942 – May 1943)
5J (Apr 1943 – Mar 1946)

History

Formation and World War I

No. 126 Squadron Royal Flying Corps was formed on 1 March 1918 and became a unit of the Royal Air Force a month later, but it disbanded on 17 August 1918.

Reformation in World War II

The squadron reformed in 1941 as a fighter unit equipped with Hawker Hurricanes and was stationed in Malta to provide air defence for the island. It was re-equipped with Spitfires and then operated from Sicily and Italy. It moved to the UK in April 1944 and was disbanded on 10 March 1946 after a period equipped with the Mustang.

Aircraft operated
Aircraft operated by no. 126 Squadron RAF[2]
FromToAircraftVariant
Jun 1941Mar 1942Hawker HurricaneIIA
Jun 1941Mar 1942Hawker HurricaneIIB
Mar 1942Mar 1944Supermarine SpitfireVB
Mar 1942Mar 1944Supermarine SpitfireVC
Mar 1943Nov 1943Supermarine SpitfireIX
Apr 1944Dec 1944Supermarine SpitfireIXB
Dec 1944Apr 1946North American P-51 MustangII
Aug 1945Mar 1946North American P-51 MustangIV
Feb 1946Mar 1946Supermarine SpitfireLF XVIE

References
  1. Pine, L G (1983). A Dictionary of mottoes. London: Routledge & K. Paul. p. 82. ISBN 0-7100-9339-X.
  2. C.G.Jefford (1988). RAF Squadrons. UK Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
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