The Royal Air Force - History Section

Royal Air Force History

History of No. 165 Squadron.

Motto: "Infesa virtuti invidia" ("Envy is the foe of honour").
Badge:A double-headed affrontée, the necks crossed spouting fire.

No.165 Squadron was formed on 1 June 1918 as a nucleus but did not become effective before being disbanded again on 4 July 1918. It reformed on 6 April 1942 at Ayr with Spitfires as a fighter squadron and became operational on defensive duties on 1 May. In August, it moved to south-east England to take part in sweeps over northern France until returning to Scotland in March 1943. At the beginning of July it came south again and in August joined the Kenley Wing for bomber escort missions over the Continent for a month before transfering to the south-west. Escorts, convoys patrols, sweeps over northwest France and local air defence occupied No.165 until after the invasion, the squadron then moving to Kent to help combat flying-bomb attacks and provide escort for bomber forces. In Mid December 1944, it moved to East Anglia where conversion to Mustangs was completed in February 1945 and long-range missions began. With the end of the war in Europe, the squadron moved to Dyce to re-equip with Spitfires and prepare for its transfer to Norway in Mid-June. There it provided air defence for six months until the Royal Norwegian Air Force had reorganised after its return home from exile. Returning to the UK in January 1946, the squadron disbanded on 1 September 1946, passing its aircraft to No.66 Squadron.

A Supermarine Spitfire IX in 165 Squadron markings

Date Last Updated : Thursday, January 22, 2009 3:29 PM

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