No. 205 Squadron RAF
| No. 205 Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Active | 2 Aug 1915 (RNAS) – Oct 1915 31 Dec 1916 – 1 Apr 1918 1 Apr 1918 (RAF) – 22 Jan 1920 15 Apr 1920 – 1 Apr 1923 8 Jan 1929 – 31 Mar 1942 23 Jul 1942 – 31 Oct 1971 |
| Country |
 United Kingdom |
| Branch |
 Royal Air Force
|
| Role | Maritime Reconnaissance |
| Motto(s) |
Malay: Pertama di Malaya ("First in Malaya") |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
H M Cave-Browne-Cave |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge heraldry | A kris and a trident in saltire The badge points to two aspects of the squadron's history, the trident referring to its RNAS origins and the kris to its association with Malaya |
| Squadron Codes |
KM (Apr 1939 – Sep 1939 Allocated, no confirmation of use) FV (Sep 1939 – Mar 1942) |
No. 205 Squadron was a Royal Air Force unit formed on 1 April 1918. Prior to this it had existed as No. 5 Squadron of the Royal Naval Air Service(RNAS). In 1929, it became the first RAF squadron to be permanently based in Singapore, taking as its motto Pertama di Malaya ("First in Malaya"). No. 205 Squadron operated during World War II and the Cold War before disbanding on 31 October 1971.
No. 5 Squadron of the Royal Naval Air Service was formed at Dover on 2 August 1915 from elements of No. 4 Squadron RNAS, which had relocated to Eastchurch. However, in October 1915, No. 5 Squadron ceased to exist as it was absorbed into RNAS Dover.
On 31 December 1916, 'B' Squadron of No. 5 (Naval) Wing was redesignated No. 5 (Naval) Squadron. It operated Sopwith 1½ Strutters, making bombing raids on Belgian ports and German airfields. In August 1917, the squadron was equipped with DH.4s. No. 5 (Naval) Squadron was attached to 5th Brigade of the Royal Flying Corps in February 1918. On 1 April 1918, at Bois de Roche, France (some sources say Petite-Synthe), it transferred to the Royal Air Force and was redesignated No. 205 Squadron RAF. No. 205 Squadron's operations continued with raids against ports and attacks on German airfields until the end of the war. In September 1918, it was re-equipped with DH.9As.
It produced at least three notable aces, in Euan DicksonCharles Philip Oldfield Bartlett, and Walter Naylor.
The squadron relocated to La Louveterie in Belgium following the end of hostilities before moving to Hucknall Airfield in March 1919, where it was first reduced to cadre status and disbanded on 22 January 1920.
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