No. 63 Squadron

Motto: "Pone nos ad hostem" ("Follow us to find the enemy").
Badge: Badge: A dexter arm in bend couped below the elbow grasping in the hand a battle axe. This squadron chose a battle axe held by a strong arm as being indicative of leading into battle - a sentiment amplified by the motto.
Authority: King George VI, December 1938.

No. 63 Squadron, RFC, was formed at Stirling, Scotland, on 31st August 1916. It was originally intended that the squadron was to go to France as a day-bomber unit and it was equipped accordingly with DH4s. However, at the last moment the destination was altered to Mesopotamia, and it was re-equipped with RE8s for army co-operation duties. It eventually arrived in Mesopotamia in August 1917, and during the remainder of the war played a prominent part in the air operations against the Turkish Army in that country. Disbanded in 1920, No. 63 re-formed at Andover as a bomber squadron in February 1937, and in May 1937, was the first to receive the Fairey Battle. It subsequently undertook development trials of the Battle and, early in 1939, was detailed for aircrew training duties and had some Anson aircraft added to its strength. Following the outbreak of World War 2 it served for a while as an elementary flying training unit at Benson and then, in April 1940, lost its separate identity and became part of No. 12 OTU.

Bomber Command WWII Bases:

• Abingdon : Sep 1939
• Benson : Sep 1939-Apr 1940

Bomber Command WWII Aircraft:

• Fairey Battle : Jun 1937-Apr 1940

Code Letters:

• During the 1938 Munich crisis No.63 was allotted the code letters "NE". Its WW2 codes are not known.

No operational mission with Bomber Command were flown.

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