No. 75 Squadron RAF
| No. 75 (New Zealand) Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1 October 1916 – 13 June 1919 15 March 1937 – 4 April 1940 4 April 1940 – 15 October 1945 |
| Country |
 United Kingdom
|
| Allegiance |
 New Zealand
|
| Branch |
 Royal Air Force
|
| Nickname(s) | New Zealand |
| Motto(s) |
Māori: Ake ake kia kaha ("For ever and ever be strong") |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge | In front of two mining hammers in saltire, a tiki |
| Squadron Codes |
FO Oct 1938 - Sep 1939 AA (Apr 1940 - Oct 1945) JN (Feb 1943 - Oct 1945, 'C' Flt only) |
No. 75 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operated as a bomber unit in World War II, before being transferred to the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1945.
Established as a unit of the Royal Flying Corps for Home Defence, it was formed at Goldington on 1 October 1916 with BE2c and later BE2e aircraft, it moved to Elmswell in East Anglia in September 1917, exchanging BE2c for FE2b. Operational flying against day and night raids proved fruitless and the pilots did not engage the enemy. Late in 1917, the Squadron became part of 50 Southern Wing. Minimal records exist to show that the Squadron flew 16 interception sorties between September 1917 to August 1918. In May 1918 the squadron moved to North Weald tasked with night fighting, and it received Avro 504K and Sopwith Pups in October.
After the war, Sopwith Camels arrived (December) and finally Sopwith Snipes (March 1919). Little information has survived about the squadron's early history, however, John Rawling's Fighter Squadrons of the Royal Air Force confirms that it saw no action before being disbanded, still at North Weald, on 13 June 1919.
The squadron reformed as No. 75 (Bomber) Squadron on 15 March 1937 as part of a planned expansion of the RAF. It used B Flight, No. 218 Squadron as cadre, forming at RAF Driffield in Yorkshire. Initial aircraft received were four Vickers Virginia night bombers and two Avro Ansons. Later more Ansons arrived from No. 215 Squadron to give six in each flight. By September Handley Page Harrow heavy bombers replaced the Virginias and the squadron became a long-range bomber unit with six aircraft in each flight and four in reserve, with the squadron code of '75' painted on the fuselage. In July 1938 they moved to RAF Honington and were issued with the aircraft code of 'FO' to replace the '75'. By March 1939, 75 Sqn became the Pool for No. 3 Group, RAF Bomber Command, effectively becoming an Operational Training Unit (OTU), it moved to RAF Stradishall in July 1939 and re-equipped with Vickers Wellington Mk1's. On 4 April 1940, 75 Sqn was absorbed into No.6 (Training) Group and ceased to exist. The reformed squadron did not create, adopt or have authorised an official RAF Squadron badge.
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