No. 164 Squadron RAF

Number 164 (Argentine–British) Squadron was a fighter squadron of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. It was a donation squadron, paid for by the British community living in Argentina.

No. 164 (Argentine–British) Squadron RAF
Typhoon of No.164 Squadron take off from RAF Thorney Island.
Active1 June 1918 - 4 July 1918
6 April 1942 - 31 August 1946
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
TypeInactive
RoleFighter Squadron
Nickname(s)Argentine-British
Motto(s)"Firmes volamos" (Spanish)
(Firmly we fly)[1][2][3]
AircraftSupermarine Spitfire
Hawker Hurricane
Hawker Typhoon
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldryA lion passant guardant in front of a rising sun
Squadron codeFJ

Background

No. 164 Squadron RAF was originally founded on 1 June 1918, but never received aircraft and was disbanded on 4 July 1918.

164 squadron was reformed at Peterhead, Aberdeenshire on 6 April 1942 as a fighter squadron initially equipped with Spitfire Mk VAs, and became operational in early May.

In January 1943, the squadron moved to South Wales to train as a ground-attack unit, where it was equipped with Hawker Hurricanes. In June 1943, 164 Squadron finally began operations, with their first raids against enemy ships and German coastal targets. In 1944, the squadron received the Hawker Typhoon Mk Ib, which were faster, more robust fighter-bombers with greater firepower than their ageing Hurricanes.

In the prelude to the invasion of Normandy, Squadron Leader Percy Beake was put in charge of the Squadron in May 1944.[4] The 164th was among the first RAF units to see combat on D-Day.

After providing support for the landing forces from southern England, the squadron moved to France in July 1944. During the Battle of Normandy, 164 Squadron attacked enemy armour, and after the Allied breakout moved forward through northern France and Belgium in support of the 21st Army Group. After the surrender of Germany in 1945, the squadron returned to the United Kingdom and was renumbered No. 63 Squadron RAF on 31 August 1946.

Service
Three Hurricane Mark IVs of No. 164 Squadron undergoing servicing at RAF Middle Wallop, Hampshire.
From To Aircraft
April 1942 September 1942 Supermarine Spitfire VA
September 1942 February 1943 Supermarine Spitfire VB
February 1943 May 1943 Hawker Hurricane IID
February 1943 February 1944 Hawker Hurricane IV
January 1944 May 1945 Hawker Typhoon IB
June 1945 July 1946 Supermarine Spitfire IX
July 1946 August 1946 Supermarine Spitfire LF XVIE

See also

References
  1. Pine, L.G. (1983). A dictionary of mottoes (1 ed.). London: Routledge & Kegan Paul. p. 80. ISBN 0-7100-9339-X.
  2. "164 Sqn | RAF Heraldry Trust". www.rafht.co.uk. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  3. Mander, Simon (20 October 2017). "Argentina's secret WWII heroes honour The Few". RAF News. No. 1429. p. 7. ISSN 0035-8614.
  4. "Squadron Leader Percy Beake, fighter pilot – obituary". 14 July 2016 – via www.telegraph.co.uk.

Further reading
  • Meunier, Claudio; Garcia, Carlos A. (2005). Alas de Trueno. n/a, Buenos Aires.
  • Meunier, Claudio (2007). Nacidos con Honor. Grupo Abierto, Buenos Aires.
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