No. 273 Squadron RAF
| No. 273 Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
| Active | 30 July 1918 – 5 July 1919 1 August 1939 – 30 April 1946 |
| Country |
 United Kingdom
|
| Branch |
 Royal Air Force
|
| Motto(s) |
Toujours Prêt ("Always Ready") |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge | Black widow spider on background including Asian fylfot |
| Squadron Codes | MS (Mar 1944 - Mar 1946) |
No. 273 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force squadron formed as reconnaissance unit in World War I and initially a torpedo bomber and reconnaissance unit in World War II, based out of China Bay, Ceylon (Sri Lanka). In mid 1944 the squadron was re-equipped with Spitfire Mk VIIIs and flew and fought out of airfields in India and Burma. Following the end of the war, the squadron was moved first to Siam (Thailand), and then later, French Indo-China (Vietnam). It was re-equipped with Spitfire Mk XIVs in November 1945.
No. 273 Squadron Royal Flying Corps was formed on 30 July 1918 and operated DH.4s, DH.9s and Sopwith Camels from Burgh Castle on reconnaissance missions. It also operated from Covehithe airfield, previously an RNAS night airfield. The squadron disbanded on 5 July 1919 at Great Yarmouth.
The squadron reformed on 1 August 1939 at China Bay in Ceylon as a torpedo bomber squadron operating the Vickers Vildebeest. In March 1942 it equipped with the Fairey Fulmars and lost an aircraft during the Japanese attack on Ceylon. It re-equipped with Hurricanes in August 1942 and then the Supermarine Spitfire Mk VIII in March 1944.
From March 1944 pilots were given the new Spitfire Mk VIII to fly, and the squadron was moved up to British India to join in the war against the Japanese imperial forces. From May 1944 through to the end of the war, it was recorded that 14 pilots were killed.
The period March - early July 1944, was the period in which the major Japanese attacks (Operation U-Go) against Imphal and Kohima were beaten back by Allied Indian and British forces, greatly assisted by the Third Tactical Air Force (TAF). The monsoon rains then followed, so that the next major round of strategic land battles commenced in late 1944 and early 1945. The Allied 14th Army pushed into Central Burma in January/February 1945, with their initial principal objectives being Meiktila and Mandalay. Mandalay fell towards the end March 1945, and the next imperative was to capture Rangoon before the monsoon rains started in earnest.
...
Wikipedia