No. 1435 Squadron (RAF) during the Second World War

No.1435 Squadron was formed as a defensive fighter squadron on Malta, before becoming a fighter-bomber squadron operating over Italy and the Balkans.

The squadron's unusual designation was originally an unofficial one. A night fighter flight had been operating on Malta as No.1435 Flight. Soon after this was disbanded a new day fighter Spitfire flight began operations (23 July 1942), using pilots and aircraft from No.603 Squadron. The flight soon expanded to squadron size, and was unofficially given the title No.1435 Squadron. Rather unusually this unofficial designation was later approved by the Air Ministry and was used for the rest of the squadron's existence.

During 1942 the squadron served as a defensive fighter squadron helping protect Malta. During this period the squadron was helped by parties from the army, including the 2nd Bn Royal Irish Fusiliers until 3 December 1942 and the 4th Bn the Buffs after that date.

In January 1943 it became a fighter-bomber squadron, and went onto the offensive, flying sweeps across Sicily.

In October 1943 the squadron moved to the mainland of Italy and joined the Balkan Air Force. The squadron was based in southern Italy and helped provide local air defence as well as flying ground attack missions in Albania and Yugoslavia, supporting local partisans. In September 1944 a detachment even moved onto the island of Vis in the Adriatic, remaining there until April 1945.

In February 1945 the main part of the squadron moved north to Falconara to remain within range of the front line in Italy, and from then until late April took part in the final battles of the Italian campaign. It was withdrawn in April 1945 and disbanded on 9 May 1945.

Location
August 1942-October 1943: Luqa
October-November 1943: Grottaglie
November 1943-May 1944: Brindisi
May-June 1944: Grottaglie
June-July 1944: Brindisi
July 1944-February 1945: Grottaglie
February-April 1945: Falconara
April-May 1945: Gragnano

Duty
1942: Defence fighter duties, Malta
1943-October 1943: Fighter-bomber squadron, Sicily
October 1943-February 1945: Fighter-bomber squadron Balkan Air Force
February 1945-May 1945: Fighter-bomber squadron, Northern Italy

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How to cite this article: Rickard, J (27 June 2012), No. 1435 Squadron (RAF): Second World War, http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/RAF/1435_wwII.html