No. 123 Squadron RAF
Encyclopedia
No. 123 Squadron of the Royal Air Force
was a British
aircraft squadron in both the First and Second World Wars.
in Lincolnshire, England on 1 February 1918, on the 1 March 1918 it moved to RAF Duxford to begin training as an Airco DH.9
unit using various aircraft. It was to late to see action so was disbanded on 17 August 1918.
The squadron was formed again on the 20 November 1918 at RAF Upper Heyford
as a Canadian-manned unit with the DH.9. It moved to Shoreham in March 1919 and was re-named No. 2 Squadron, Canadian Air Force until it was disbanded in 1920.
with a role to provide escorts and shipping patrols along the Scottish east coast and the Forth estuary. The squadron was also undertook operational training, it took on new pilots and exposed them to operational flying before sending south to squadron in England.
In April 1942 the squadron personnel without any aircraft were shipped to Egypt, although they arrived in June 1942 they did not acquire any aircraft until October when Gloster Gladiator
s were used for training. The squadron moved on to the Persian Gulf and was re-equpped with the Hawker Hurricane
to protect Iranian oilfields against attack. Six months later the squadron moved into the Western Desert of Egypt to undertake convoy patrols. It then changed equipment again and operated the Supermarine Spitfire
in the ground-attack role in Crete as part of Operation Thesis. The squadron did manage to keep hold a number of Hurricanes into 1944 when it was moved again to India in the Chittagong area. It was a busy time for the squadron with ground-attack sorties and bomber escorts and in June 1944 it re-equipped with the American
Republic Thunderbolts and continued in support of the Army operations and escorting Douglas Dakotas on supply mission behind Japanese lines. On 20 June 1945 the squadron disbanded when it was re-numbered as 81 Squadron
.
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
aircraft squadron in both the First and Second World Wars.
First World War
The squadron was formed at RAF WaddingtonRAF Waddington
RAF Waddington is a Royal Air Force station in Lincolnshire, England.-Formation:Waddington opened as a Royal Flying Corps flying training station in 1916 until 1920, when the station went into care and maintenance....
in Lincolnshire, England on 1 February 1918, on the 1 March 1918 it moved to RAF Duxford to begin training as an Airco DH.9
Airco DH.9
The Airco DH.9 - also known after 1920 as the de Havilland DH.9 - was a British bomber used in the First World War...
unit using various aircraft. It was to late to see action so was disbanded on 17 August 1918.
The squadron was formed again on the 20 November 1918 at RAF Upper Heyford
RAF Upper Heyford
RAF Upper Heyford was a Royal Air Force station located north-west of Bicester near the village of Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire, England. The base was brought into use for flying in July 1918 by the Royal Flying Corps. During World War II it was used by many units of the RAF, mainly as a training...
as a Canadian-manned unit with the DH.9. It moved to Shoreham in March 1919 and was re-named No. 2 Squadron, Canadian Air Force until it was disbanded in 1920.
Second World War
In May 1941 the squadron was formed again at RAF Turnhouse in Scotland with Supermarine SpitfireSupermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
with a role to provide escorts and shipping patrols along the Scottish east coast and the Forth estuary. The squadron was also undertook operational training, it took on new pilots and exposed them to operational flying before sending south to squadron in England.
In April 1942 the squadron personnel without any aircraft were shipped to Egypt, although they arrived in June 1942 they did not acquire any aircraft until October when Gloster Gladiator
Gloster Gladiator
The Gloster Gladiator was a British-built biplane fighter. It was used by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy and was exported to a number of other air forces during the late 1930s. It was the RAF's last biplane fighter aircraft and was rendered obsolete by newer monoplane designs even as it...
s were used for training. The squadron moved on to the Persian Gulf and was re-equpped with the Hawker Hurricane
Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
to protect Iranian oilfields against attack. Six months later the squadron moved into the Western Desert of Egypt to undertake convoy patrols. It then changed equipment again and operated the Supermarine Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
in the ground-attack role in Crete as part of Operation Thesis. The squadron did manage to keep hold a number of Hurricanes into 1944 when it was moved again to India in the Chittagong area. It was a busy time for the squadron with ground-attack sorties and bomber escorts and in June 1944 it re-equipped with the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Republic Thunderbolts and continued in support of the Army operations and escorting Douglas Dakotas on supply mission behind Japanese lines. On 20 June 1945 the squadron disbanded when it was re-numbered as 81 Squadron
No. 81 Squadron RAF
No 81 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It flew Fighter aircraft during the Second World War, and reconnaissance aircraft in the Far East after the war, but was disbanded in 1970.-First World War:No...
.
Aircraft operated
| From | To | Aircraft | Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1918 | 1920 | Airco DH.9 Airco DH.9 The Airco DH.9 - also known after 1920 as the de Havilland DH.9 - was a British bomber used in the First World War... |
|
| 1941 | 1941 | Supermarine Spitfire Supermarine Spitfire The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s... |
I |
| 1942 | 1942 | Supermarine Spitfire] | VB |
| 1942 | 1942 | Gloster Gladiator Gloster Gladiator The Gloster Gladiator was a British-built biplane fighter. It was used by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy and was exported to a number of other air forces during the late 1930s. It was the RAF's last biplane fighter aircraft and was rendered obsolete by newer monoplane designs even as it... |
II |
| 1942 | 1945 | Hawker Hurricane Hawker Hurricane The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force... |
IIC |
| 1943 | 1943 | Supermarine Spitfire | VC and IX |
| 1944 | 1945 | Republic Thunderbolt | I and II |