No. 128 Squadron (RAF): Second World War

Aircraft - Locations - Group and Duty - Books

No.128 Squadron had two incarnations during the Second World War, first as a fighter squadron in West Africa and then as a night intruder squadron based in Britain.

The first incarnation of the squadron was formed on 7 October 1941 from the Fighter Flight of No.95 Squadron at Hastings, Sierra Leone. Its role was to defend the British West African colony against any possible attacks from the Vicky French at Dakar. The squadron remained in existence until 8 March 1943, by which time the Vichy French position in Africa had collapsed and their air forces at Dakar had joined with the Allies.

No.128 Squadron reformed at Wyton on 5 September 1944 as a Mosquito squadron in No.8 Group, and was part of the Light Night Striking Force. The squadron flew night intruder missions over Germany for the rest of the war, helping to create the 'Mosquito panic' that so badly affected German aircrew in this period.

At the end of the war the squadron joined No.2 Group, surviving until 1 April 1946 when it was renumbered as No.14 Squadron.

Aircraft
October 1941-January 1943: Hawker Hurricane I
November 1942-March 1943: Hawker Hurricane IIB
September-November 1944: de Havilland Mosquito XX
October-November 1944: de Havilland Mosquito 25
November 1944-April 1946: de Havilland Mosquito XVI

Location
October 1941-March 1943: Hastings

September 1944-June 1945: Wyton
June-October 1945: Warboys
October 1945-March 1946: B.58 Melsbroek
March 1946: B.119 Wahn

Squadron Codes: WG, M5

Duty
1941-1943: Fighter Squadron, West Africa
1943-1945: Night Fighter Intruder, UK

Books

 Mosquito Fighter/ Fighter-Bomber Units of World War 2, Martin Bowman. The second of three books looking the RAF career of the Mosquito covers its use as a night fighter, first on the defensive in the skies over Britain, and then as an intruder over Occupied Europe and Germany, and finishing with a look at the "Mosquito Panic" [see more]
cover cover cover
How to cite this article: Rickard, J (13 December 2010), No. 128 Squadron (RAF): Second World War, http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/RAF/128_wwII.html

Help - F.A.Q. - Contact Us - Search - Recent - About Us - Privacy