No. 232 Squadron RAF
| No. 232 Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
| Active | 20 Aug 1918 - 5 Jan 1919 17 Jul 1940 - 26 Feb 1942 10 Apr 1942 - 31 Oct 1944 15 Nov 1944 - 6 Jan 1945 6 Jan 1945 – 15 Aug 1946 |
| Country |
 United Kingdom
|
| Branch |
 Royal Air Force
|
| Motto(s) | Strike |
| Engagements | Battle of Britain |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge heraldry | A dragon-ship under sail, oars in action |
| Squadron Codes | EF (Jul 1940 - Jul 1941, Apr 1942 - Oct 1944) |
No. 232 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was active in both World War I and World War II in a variety of roles, having seen action as an anti-submarine patrol, fighter and transport squadron.
The squadron was formed on 20 August 1918 from No's 333, 334 and 335 Flights at Royal Naval Air Station RNAS Felixstowe and equipped with Felixstowe F.2 and Felixstowe F.3 flying boats. It carried out anti-submarine patrols over the North Sea until the end of the war. It disbanded on 5 January 1919 at Felixtowe.
Reformed from 'B' Flight of No. 3 Squadron RAF at RAF Sumburgh on 17 July 1940 as a Hawker Hurricane unit, it remained in Scotland on defensive duties until April 1941, when it was earmarked for the Middle East. On 10 May its ground echelon was embarked but the aircrew were carrying out ferrying duties, consequently the ground echelon was disembarked and the squadron moved to RAF Ouston, where it continued its defensive role.
In November the squadron finally departed for the Middle East, but on arriving in South Africa, it was diverted to the Far East following the Japanese invasion of Malaya. Although the ground echelon arrived in Singapore, by the time the air echelon, aboard HMS Indomitable, was within flying off range, there were no airfields left in British hands, so the squadron flew off to Java on 27 January 1942. Both echelons met up again on 2 February at Palembang in Sumatra, but a further withdrawal to Java was required following the Japanese invasion of Sumatra. By mid February 1942, the situation regarding serviceability was so grave, that No 232 was merged with No 242 and its ground crews were evacuated to Ceylon. Here they were re-allocated to other units and No 232 ceased to exist on 26 February.
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