No.151 Squadron
- Badge
- On a hurt an owl affrontée, wings elevated, alighting on a seax
- Motto
- Foy pour devoir Fidelity unto duty (French)
- Formed
- 12 June 1918
- Disbanded
- 25 May 1963
Although formed on 12 June 1918 at Hainault Farm, Essex as a night fighter squadron, the unit quickly took up its main duty to counter extensive German night attacks on British sites behind the Western Front in France. The squadron pioneered the technique of night intruder operations over enemy airfields. By November 1918 it had claimed 26 enemy aircraft brought down at night for no loss. The squadron flew its operations with little equipment in Camels, which even in daylight were difficult to fly. The squadron disbanded in the UK on 10 September 1919.
No 151 Squadron re-formed on 4 August 1936 as a fighter squadron. The early months of the Second World War saw the unit involved in defensive patrols. In May and June 1940 it became involved in fighter operations of the Dunkirk evacuation and northern France. The squadron was involved in the Battle of Britain. In November 1940 the unit returned to night flying following re-equipment. By the mid war years No 151 Squadron had also begun intruder operations over the Continent in support of RAF bomber operations. The unit was disbanded on 10 October 1946.
No 151 Squadron was re-formed on 15 September 1951 with Vampire night fighters for the defence of central Scotland. The squadron continued as a night all weather fighter squadron until disbanded on 19 September 1961.
On 1 January 1962 the Signals Command Development Squadron at RAF Watton was re-designated 151 Squadron. The unit was engaged on radar development and research work until it was re-numbered 97 Squadron on 25 May 1963.
AIRCRAFT
Camel 1918 - 1919
Gauntlet 1936 - 1939
Hurricane I/II 1938 - 1942
Defiant 1940 - 1942
Mosquito II/XII/VI/XIII/30 1942 - 1946
Vampire 1951 - 1953
Meteor 1953 - 1955
Venom 1955 - 1957
Javelin 1957 - 1961
Lincoln 1962 - 1963
Hastings 1962 - 1963
Varsity 1962 - 1963
Canberra 1962 - 1963
Reference Sources
The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force
James J Halley Air Britain (Historians) Ltd 1988
RAF Squadrons
Wg Cdr C G Jefford Airlife 2001
Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their aircraft
John D R Rawlings Crecy Books 1993
« back to all squadrons