No. 273 Squadron RAF

No. 273 Squadron RAF
Active	30 July 1918 – 5 July 1919 1 August 1939 – 30 April 1946
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Air Force
Motto	None
Insignia
Squadron Badge	None
Squadron Codes	MS (Mar 1944 - Mar 1946)

No. 273 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron formed as reconnaissance unit in World War I and a torpedo bomber and reconnaissance unit in World War II.

History

Formation and World War I

No. 273 Squadron Royal Flying Corps was formed on 30 July 1918 and operated DH.4s , DH.9s and Sopwith Camels from Burgh Castle on reconnaissance missions and disbanded on 5 July 1919 at Great Yarmouth.

Reformation in World War II

The squadron reformed on 1 August 1939 at China Bay in Ceylon as a torpedo bomber squadron operating the Vickers Vildebeest. In March 1942 it equipped with the Fairey Fulmars and lost an aircraft during the Japanese attack on Ceylon. It re-equipped with Hurricanes in August 1942 and then Spitfires. The squadron then moved to Chittagong, Burma supporting the 14th Army. It finally disbanded at Tan Son Nhut in French Indo China on 31 January 1946.

Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated by no. 273 Squadron RAF

From	To	Aircraft	Variant
Aug 1918	Mar 1919	Airco DH.4
Aug 1918	Mar 1919	Airco DH.9
Aug 1918	Mar 1919	Sopwith Camel
Aug 1939	Mar 1942	Vickers Vildebeest	III
Mar 1942	Sep 1942	Fairey Fulmar	II
Aug 1942	Nov 1942	Hawker Hurricane	I
Aug 1942	Dec 1943	Hawker Hurricane	IIB
Dec 1943	May 1944	Hawker Hurricane	IIC
Mar 1944	Dec 1945	Supermarine Spitfire	VIII
Nov 1945	Jan 1946	Supermarine Spitfire	XIV

External links

• Squadron history (and more) on RafWeb
• Squadron history on the official RAF website
• Squadron badge application Hansard 1996