No. 234 Squadron RAF
| No. 234 (Madras Presidency) Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
| Active | 20 Aug 1918 - 15 May 1919 30 Oct 1939 - 1 Sep 1946 1 Aug 1952 - 15 Jul 1957 22 Oct 1958 - 31 Aug 1992 1 Sep 1992 – 1 Apr 1994 |
| Country |
 United Kingdom
|
| Branch |
 Royal Air Force
|
| Nickname(s) | "The Dragons" |
| Motto(s) |
Latin: Ignem mortemque despuimus ("We spit fire and death") |
| Engagements | Battle of Britain |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge heraldry | A dragon rampant, flames issuing from the mouth The dragon indicates the fighting role and the flames associate with the name Spitfire |
| Squadron Codes |
AZ (May 1940 - Aug 1945) FX (Aug 1945 - Sep 1946) W (Aug 1952 - Jan 1954) |
No. 234 Squadron RAF had a long career within the RAF, being operational on flying boats in World War I and on fighter aircraft in World War II. After the war it remained a fighter unit till 1957. In its last incarnation the squadron was in turn Operational Training Unit (OTU), Tactical Weapon Unit (TWU) and part of No. 4 Flying Training School RAF until lastly disbanded in 1994.
No. 234 Squadron RAF was officially formed on 20 August 1918 at RNAS Tresco in the Scilly Isles from No. 350, 351, 352 and 353 Flights, which had been equipped with amongst others Felixstowe F3's and Curtiss H.12 aircraft since February 1917. The squadron used these to patrol the Western Approaches of the English Channel and gained two DSCs, one DSM and a CGM in doing that. The unit flew its last World War I mission on 10 November 1918 and was disbanded half a year later at Tresco on 15 May 1919.
The squadron was reformed on 30 October 1939 at RAF Leconfield, initially equipped with three Magisters, a Battle and three biplane Gauntlets, soon to be followed by some Blenheims Mk.Ifs, which were used flying on coastal patrols until March 1940. It then began to re-equip with Spitfires and moved to RAF Church Fenton in May 1940 when becoming operational.
In June 1940 the squadron moved to RAF St Eval in Cornwall where it was based before and after the date regarded historically as the start of the Battle of Britain, 10 July. Here the unit's main duties were patrols, scrambles and convoy protection. On 15 August 234 Squadron was posted to RAF Middle Wallop, a part of No. 10 Group RAF flying in defence of Portsmouth, Southampton and other targets along the south coast. As there were fewer raids along the south coast than in the south east, about two thirds of patrols, scrambles and interceptions undertaken were flown in support of No. 11 Group RAF, as far as Kent. The squadron achieved a number of victories, including those of its inspirational force, high scoring Australian Pat Hughes and those of two long-surviving members of The Few, Bob Doe and Keith Lawrence. On the afternoon of 7 September the Luftwaffe made its first heavy daylight raid on London. 234 Squadron was amongst those scrambled to intercept the enemy bomber force as it retired; during the engagement, the squadron lost both Pat Hughes and its CO, Squadron Leader O'Brien. Two days later, the squadron was posted back to its old base at St Eval to be rested, receive replacement aircraft and train new pilots being posted in from OTUs – Operational Training Units; the squadron had lost 18 Spitfires in 4 weeks fighting.
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