No. 160 Squadron RAF
| No. 160 Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
| Active | 16 Jan 1942 – 30 Sep 1946 |
| Country |
 United Kingdom
|
| Branch |
 Royal Air Force
|
| Part of | No. 222 Group RAF, South East Asia Command |
| Motto(s) |
Singhalese: Api soya paragasamu (Translated: "We seek and strike") |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge heraldry | A Sinhalese lion rampant holding a Sinhalese sword |
| Squadron Codes | BS (Dec 1944 – Oct 1946) |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Bomber | Consolidated Liberator |
| Patrol | Consolidated Liberator |
| Reconnaissance |
Consolidated Liberator Avro Lancaster |
| Transport | Consolidated Liberator |
No. 160 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force unit during World War II, when it flew for four years in a number of roles including heavy bomber, minelaying, reconnaissance, special operations and transport unit in the Middle East and South-East Asian theatre of World War II.
No. 160 Squadron was originally proposed on 9 May 1918 as a bomber squadron for deployment to France with DH.9As on 7 October, shortly afterwards amended to 20 October, but formation had not yet taken place when these plans were cancelled on 4 July. The formation was then rescheduled to take place on 20 September at Bristol (Filton) for deployment to France on 20 November, but this plan in its turn was suspended on 29 July and cancelled altogether on 17 August. The squadron thus never effectively formed during World War I.
No. 160 Squadron RAF was formed at RAF Thurleigh, Bedfordshire on 16 January 1942 as a heavy bomber/reconnaissance unit equipped with Consolidated Liberator aircraft. The squadron was posted to India on 12 February 1942, but without its aircraft and crews, who remained in England for training at RAF Polebrook, Northamptonshire. In June 1942 the crews and aircraft moved to the Middle East for bomber operations alongside No. 159 squadron. Whilst being based in Egypt and Palestine the squadron flew missions against targets in Libya and Crete. From November 1942 the squadron's crew and aircraft gradually moved to India, this being completed early February 1943, first mission was flown on 6 February over the Bay of Bengal. The squadron moved to Ceylon on 19 February, being based first at Ratmalana and later at Sigiriya, Kankesanturai and Minneriya. At first the squadron was involved in reconnaissance missions and minelaying and later became involved in dropping supplies to units operating behind enemy lines. When the war ended 160 squadron returned to Kankesanturai and served for a while in the transport role.
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