No. 67 Squadron (RAF) during the Second World War

No.67 Squadron was one of the few RAF squadrons to spent almost the entire Second World War fighting over Burma. The squadron formed at Singapore on 12 March 1941, and was fully equipped with Brewster Buffalos by the end of May, but in October it handed its aircraft over to No.488 Squadron, RNZAF, and departed for Burma.

On its arrival in Burma the squadron took over the Buffaloes of No.60 Squadron. The squadron was soon caught up in the Japanese invasion of Burma, and was soon forced to withdraw to India, while at the same time its inadequate Buffalos were replaced with Hawker Hurricanes. The retreat was fairly chaotic, and by the end of March the squadron had virtually ceased to exist.

The survivors slowly regrouped at Alipore during May 1942, where the squadron remained for the next year, performing defensive duties around Calcutta.

The first return to Burma came in June 1943, when the squadron sent detachments closer to the front to provide escorts for Dakota transport aircraft operating over the jungle. In November the squadron returned to Calcutta, where in February 1944 it converted to the Supermarine Spitfire.

In July 1944 the squadron took its Spitfires to the front line, and began a period of combat operations that lasted until May 1945. During this period the squadron carried out a mix of escort duties and ground attack missions, as well as providing some close support for the army. The squadron was disbanded at the end of August 1945.

Location
March-October 1941: Kallang
October-February/ March 1942: Mingaladon
February/March-May 1942: Toungoo, Magwe and Akyab
May 1942-August 1943: Alipore
August-November 1943: Chittagong
November 1943-March 1944: Alipore
March 1944: Amarda Road
March-April 1944: Alipore
April-July 1944: Baigachi
July-November 1944: Comilla
November 1944-January 1945: Double Moorings
January-February 1945: Maunghnama
February-May 1945: Dabaing 2
May-August 1945: Akyab Main

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How to cite this article: Rickard, J (9 June 2009), No. 67 Squadron (RAF): Second World War, http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/RAF/67_wwII.html