No. 173 Squadron RAF

No. 173 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron that was a communications unit in World War II.

No. 173 Squadron RAF
Active9 July 1942 – 29 February 1944
1 February 1953 – 2 Sept 1957
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
Motto(s)Latin: Quocumque
("Whithersoever")
Insignia
Squadron BadgeA sword grasped by an eagles claw and a gauntlet
Squadron codesTV (Apr 1939 – Sep 1939)

History

Formation in World War II

The squadron formed on 9 July 1942 at Heliopolis, Egypt and equipped with the Hawker Audax and it went on to operate many other types of aircraft. It was renamed the 'Middle East Communications Squadron' on 29 February 1944.

Postwar

The squadron reformed as a ferry unit on 1 February 1953 and was finally disbanded on 2 September 1957.

Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated by no. 173 Squadron RAF[1]
FromToAircraftVariant
Jun 1942Feb 1943Hawker AudaxI
Jul 1942Jul 1943Westland LysanderII
Jul 1942Aug 1943Hawker HartII
Jul 1942Sep 1943Hawker HurricaneI
Jul 1942Sep 1943Bristol BlenheimIV
Jul 1942Sep 1943Airspeed OxfordIII
Jul 1942Oct 1943de Havilland Moth Major
Jul 1942Oct 1943Percival GullSix
Jul 1942Oct 1943Miles MagisterI
Jul 1942Jan 1944Douglas BostonIII
Jul 1942Jan 1944Lockheed Electra
Jul 1942Feb 1944Percival ProctorI
Jul 1942Feb 1944Lockheed Lodestar
Jul 1942Feb 1944Fairchild ArgusI
Aug 1942Oct 1942de Havilland Dragon Rapide
Dec 1942Apr 1943Savoia-Marchetti SM.79I
Feb 1943Feb 1943Stinson Reliant
Feb 1943Feb 1943Junkers Ju 523m
Feb 1943Sep 1943Short Scion Senior
Mar 1943Apr 1943Hawker HardyI
Apr 1943Sep 1943Bristol BeaufighterIF
Sep 1943Feb 1944Avro AnsonI
Feb 1953Sep 1957Avro AnsonC.19
Feb 1955Sep 1957Vickers VarsityT.1

References

  1. C.G.Jefford (1988). RAF Squadrons. UK Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
  • Thomas, Andrew (3–16 October 1986). "Western Desert Air Taxis: No.173 Squadron, Royal Air Force". Aviation News. Vol. 15, no. 10. pp. 485–487.
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