No.152 Squadron
- Badge
- The Dastar of H.E.H. The Nizam of Hyderabad
- Motto
- Faithful Ally
- Formed
- 01 October 1918
- Disbanded
- 15 November 1967
No 152 Squadron formed at RAF Rochford as a night fighter unit and moved to France to provide defence against German night bombers. On 30 June 1919 the squadron disbanded.
On 1 October 1939 the unit reformed at RAF Acklington. After working up the squadron provided defensive patrols in the north-east before moving south to RAF Warmwell in July 1940. No 152 Squadron helped to provide aerial defence in this part of southern England through to the end of the Battle of Britain. During 1941 and 1942 it moved around England and Wales providing convoy patrols and bomber escorts.
During late 1942 the unit was posted overseas and took part in OPERATION TORCH – the Allied landings in North Africa. At the end of the campaign it moved to Malta to begin sweeps over Sicily. In September 1943 it moved to Italy but in November of that year it began to transfer to Far East. It became operational in Burma in December 1943. The squadron provide close fighter-bomber operations in support of the Allied troops throughout the defensive battles in this theatre and then in the offensive, which swept through Burma. In September 1945 it moved to Singapore where it disbanded on 10 March 1946.
No 152 Squadron reappeared on 8 May 1946 when No 136 Squadron was renumbered. Its existence was brief and undistinguished as chronic spares shortages, with it new Tempest aircraft, meant little flying could be accomplished. On 15 January 1947 the unit again disbanded.
On 1 June 1954 No 152 Squadron reformed at RAF Wattisham as a jet night fighter unit. It disbanded on 31 July 1958. Two months later it reformed as a transport squadron out of No 1417 Flight. It operated as a general transport and communications unit in the Arabian Gulf until it finally disbanded on 15th November 1967.
AIRCRAFT
Camel 1918 - 1919
Gladiator 1939 - 1940
Spitfire I/II/V/IX/VIII/14 1940 - 1946
Tempest II 1946 - 1947
Meteor 12/14 1954 - 1958
Pembroke 1958 - 1967
Twin Pioneer 1958 – 1967
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
Coastal Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their aircraft
John D R Rawlings Jane’s Publishing 1982
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