No. 66 Squadron RAF
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| No. 66 Squadron | |
|---|---|
| Active | |
| Motto | Cavete praemonui - 'Beware, I have warned' |
| Insignia | |
| Identification symbol |
A rattlesnake - typifying aggressive spirit and striking power |
No.66 Squadron was a Royal Air Corps and eventually Royal Air Force aircraft squadron. It was first formed at Filton on 30 June 1916 and was equipped with Sopwith Pups before conversion to Sopwith Camels and deployment to France on 12 March 1917. After fighting on the Western Front the Squadron returned to the United Kingdom and was disbanded in 1919.
It was reformed on 20 July 1936 from 'C' Flight, No. 19 Squadron RAF at RAF Duxford, initially being equipped with Gauntlets, before a slow conversion to Supermarine Spitfires from August 1938. It became the second Spitfire squadron. It fought in Battle of Britain and with Second Tactical Air Force in North-West Europe until the end of the war, being disbanded at Twente on 30 April 1945. It was reformed at Duxford on 1 September 1946, by renumbering No. 165 Squadron RAF, initially with Spitfires. The following northern spring, the squadron converted to Meteors, which it flew for six years before reequipping with Sabres. At Linton-on-Ouse in March 1956 it acquired Hawker Hunters, which it flew before being disbanded again on 30 September 1960 at RAF Acklington.
It reformed at RAF Odiham in October 1960, being reequipped with Belvedere helicopters.
[edit] External Links
- [[1]] 66 Squadron, Independant Historical Website
- John Rawlings, Fighter Squadrons of the Royal Air Force, MacDonald, 1969, p.163-168
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