No. 255 Squadron RAF

No. 255 Squadron RAF
Active	25 July 1918 – 14 January 1919 23 November 1940 – 30 April 1946
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Air Force
Motto	Latin: Ad Auroram (To the break of dawn)
Insignia
Squadron Badge	A panther face
Squadron Codes	YD (Nov 1940 - Apr 1946)

No. 255 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron formed as an anti–submarine unit in World War I and a night-fighter unit in World War II.

History

Formation and World War I

No. 255 Squadron Royal Flying Corps was formed on 25 July 1918 and operated DH.6s from Pembroke, Wales on anti-submarine patrols and disbanded on 14 January 1919.

Reformation in World War II

The squadron reformed on 23 November 1940 at RAF Kirton-in-Lindsey. In March it received Hurricanes and moved to Hibaldstow where it converted to Beaufighters. It was then based at Coltishall, High Ercall and Honiley.

On 1 April 1941 two Polish airmen joined the squadron, coming from 54 Operational Training Unit: sgt. Józef Erdt (gunner) and sgt. Józef Feruga (pilot).

In November 1941 the squadron moved to Tunisia, then Sicily and in August 1943 to mainland Italy where it became a night intruder unit equipped with Mosquitos. It then moved to Hal Far, Malta in September 1945 and to Egypt in January 1946 where was finally disbanded on 30 April 1946.

Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated by no. 255 Squadron RAF

From	To	Aircraft	Variant
Jul 1918	Jan 1919	Airco DH.6
Nov 1940	Sep 1941	Boulton Paul Defiant	I
Mar 1941	Jul 1941	Hawker Hurricane	IV
Jul 1941	May 1942	Bristol Beaufighter	IIF
Mar 1942	Feb 1945	Bristol Beaufighter	VIF
Feb 1944	May 1945	de Havilland Mosquito	XIX
Jan 1946	Apr 1946	de Havilland Mosquito	XXX

External links

• Squadron history (and more) on RafWeb
• Squadron history on the official RAF website