No. 67 Squadron RAF
Encyclopedia
The name No. 67 Squadron has been used by the Royal Flying Corps
and the Royal Air Force
for two quite different units.
— formed at Point Cook in January 1916, — was referred to by British authorities from 16 March 1916 to Feb 1918 as "No. 67 Squadron RFC" to avoid confusion with No. 1 Squadron, RFC
, not to mention No. 1 Squadron, RNAS
, and because the AFC was in any case not recognised as being independent of the RFC. Early in 1918 this recognition was belatedly granted, and thereafter the unit was known in all quarters by its original designation. The unit itself never regarded itself as part of the RFC, and never used its official RFC number - it is considered as the "ancestor" of No. 1 Squadron RAAF
and has no real connection with the later RAF unit.
In particular, at the time of the formation of the RAF in April 1918 there was no "No. 67 Squadron RFC" to become an RAF unit of that number. Hence the first No. 67 Squadron RAF was the one formed during the second world war - and described hereunder.
The true origins of No. 67 Squadron RAF date from its so-called "re-formation" during World War II
at Kallang Airport
in Malaya on 12 March 1941. It was equipped with the Brewster Buffalo
, an aeroplane that was outclassed in Europe, but considered adequate to build up the defences in Asia. In October, it handed on its aircraft to No. 488 Squadron RNZAF
and moved to Burma, taking on instead the Buffaloes of No. 60 Squadron RAF
. The inadequacy of the Buffaloes led to their replacement with Hawker Hurricane
s in February 1942, but the Japanese offensive could not be halted and by March 1942 the squadron "ceased to be effective".
The squadron re-assembled at Alipore
and formed part of the defence of Calcutta, converting to Spitfires
in February 1944. The squadron disbanded officially on 23 August 1945 at Akyab, but kept its aircraft till the end of the month.
first from RAF Wattisham
and later from Gutersloh
as part of RAF Germany. After a short return to the UK in April 1952, being stationed at RAF Duxford on 21 April 1952, the squadron moved again to Germany in May 1952 when it moved base to Wildenrath
and re-equipped there in May 1953 with North American Sabres
. In July 1955 the squadron moved to another base again, RAF Bruggen
and the Sabres were exchanged for Hunters
. On 31 May 1957 the squadron disbanded and has not been active since.
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
and the Royal Air Force
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...
for two quite different units.
World War I
During the First World War, No. 1 Squadron, Australian Flying CorpsRoyal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
— formed at Point Cook in January 1916, — was referred to by British authorities from 16 March 1916 to Feb 1918 as "No. 67 Squadron RFC" to avoid confusion with No. 1 Squadron, RFC
No. 1 Squadron RAF
No. 1 Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It operated the Harrier GR9 from RAF Cottesmore until 28 January 2011.The squadron motto is In omnibus princeps , appropriate for the RAF's oldest squadron and one that has been involved in almost every major British military operation since...
, not to mention No. 1 Squadron, RNAS
No. 201 Squadron RAF
No. 201 Squadron of the Royal Air Force, until March 2010, operated the Nimrod MR2, based at RAF Kinloss, Moray. It is the only squadron affiliated with Guernsey, in the Channel Islands. This affiliation started in 1935 and is commemorated in the museum on Castle Cornet. Its history goes even...
, and because the AFC was in any case not recognised as being independent of the RFC. Early in 1918 this recognition was belatedly granted, and thereafter the unit was known in all quarters by its original designation. The unit itself never regarded itself as part of the RFC, and never used its official RFC number - it is considered as the "ancestor" of No. 1 Squadron RAAF
No. 1 Squadron RAAF
No. 1 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force squadron based at RAAF Amberley. The squadron is currently being re-equipped with F/A-18F Super Hornet multi-role fighters.-World War I:...
and has no real connection with the later RAF unit.
In particular, at the time of the formation of the RAF in April 1918 there was no "No. 67 Squadron RFC" to become an RAF unit of that number. Hence the first No. 67 Squadron RAF was the one formed during the second world war - and described hereunder.
World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
at Kallang Airport
Kallang Airport
The Kallang Airport , also known as the Kallang Aerodrome, Kallang Airfield and RAF Kallang, opened in 1937 as Singapore's first purpose-built civil airport, together with an anchorage for seaplanes. Land was reclaimed in the Kallang Basin to turn the swampy area into a circular-shaped airfield and...
in Malaya on 12 March 1941. It was equipped with the Brewster Buffalo
Brewster Buffalo
The Brewster F2A Buffalo was an American fighter aircraft which saw limited service early in World War II. Though the Buffalo won a competition against the Grumman F4F Wildcat in 1939 to become the US Navy's first monoplane fighter aircraft, it turned out to be a big disappointment...
, an aeroplane that was outclassed in Europe, but considered adequate to build up the defences in Asia. In October, it handed on its aircraft to No. 488 Squadron RNZAF
No. 488 Squadron RNZAF
488 Squadron was the name given to two distinct Royal New Zealand Air Force squadrons during the Second World War. Both were formed under Article XV of the Empire Air Training Scheme and served under the operational command of the Royal Air Force....
and moved to Burma, taking on instead the Buffaloes of No. 60 Squadron RAF
No. 60 Squadron RAF
No. 60 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was formed in 1916 at Gosport. It is currently part of the Defence Helicopter Flying School based at RAF Shawbury in Shropshire....
. The inadequacy of the Buffaloes led to their replacement with 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...
s in February 1942, but the Japanese offensive could not be halted and by March 1942 the squadron "ceased to be effective".
The squadron re-assembled at Alipore
Alipore
Alipore is headquarters of South 24 Parganas district and a neighbourhood in South Kolkata in the Indian state of West Bengal.Alipore, Kolkata, not to be confused with Alipore, Gujarat, is one of the poshest and costliest localities in Kolkata, along with the area Ballygunge...
and formed part of the defence of Calcutta, converting to Spitfires
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 February 1944. The squadron disbanded officially on 23 August 1945 at Akyab, but kept its aircraft till the end of the month.
The Jet Age
On 1 September 1950 the squadron reformed as a jet fighter-bomber unit, flying Vampire FB.5sDe Havilland Vampire
The de Havilland DH.100 Vampire was a British jet-engine fighter commissioned by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Following the Gloster Meteor, it was the second jet fighter to enter service with the RAF. Although it arrived too late to see combat during the war, the Vampire served...
first from RAF Wattisham
RAF Wattisham
RAF Wattisham was a Royal Air Force station located in East Anglia just outside the village of Wattisham, south of Stowmarket in Suffolk, England. During the Cold War it was a major front-line air force base...
and later from Gutersloh
Gütersloh
Gütersloh is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, in the area of Westphalia and the administrative region of Detmold. Gütersloh is the administrative centre for a district of the same name and has a population of 96,320 people.- Geography :...
as part of RAF Germany. After a short return to the UK in April 1952, being stationed at RAF Duxford on 21 April 1952, the squadron moved again to Germany in May 1952 when it moved base to Wildenrath
Wildenrath
Wildenrath is a township within the municipality of Wegberg in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The town is situated on the Bundesstraße 221 between Wassenberg and Arsbeck on the edge of the Maas-Schwalm-Nette Nature Park and close to the border with the Netherlands.For 40 years, the town was the...
and re-equipped there in May 1953 with North American Sabres
F-86 Sabre
The North American F-86 Sabre was a transonic jet fighter aircraft. Produced by North American Aviation, the Sabre is best known as America's first swept wing fighter which could counter the similarly-winged Soviet MiG-15 in high speed dogfights over the skies of the Korean War...
. In July 1955 the squadron moved to another base again, RAF Bruggen
RAF Bruggen
The former Royal Air Force Station Brüggen, more commonly known as RAF Brüggen, in Germany was a major station of the Royal Air Force until 15 June 2001. It was situated next to the village of Elmpt, approximately west of Düsseldorf near the German-Netherlands border. The base was named after...
and the Sabres were exchanged for Hunters
Hawker Hunter
The Hawker Hunter is a subsonic British jet aircraft developed in the 1950s. The single-seat Hunter entered service as a manoeuvrable fighter aircraft, and later operated in fighter-bomber and reconnaissance roles in numerous conflicts. Two-seat variants remained in use for training and secondary...
. On 31 May 1957 the squadron disbanded and has not been active since.