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121 (Eagle) Squadron Royal Air Force | ||||||
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Formed: 14 Oct 1918, Narborough Disbanded: 17 Aug 1918 Reformed: 14 Oct 1918, Bracebridge Heath Disbanded: 11 Nov 1918 Reformed: 14 May 1941, Kirton in Lindsey Disbanded: ?? Squadron was based at: EAF Narborough :: 1 Jan 1918 - 17 Aug 1918 RAF Bracebridge Heath :: 14 Oct 1918 - 11 Nov 1918 RAF Kirton in Lindsey :: 14 May 1941 - 16 Dec 1941 RAF North Weald :: 16 Dec 1941 - 3 Jun 1942 RAF Rochford :: 3 Jun 1942 - Sep 1942 RAF Dabden :: Sep 1942 - Squadron code: Aircraft operated: Hurricane MkI :: 14 May 1941 - Hurricane MkIIb Spitfire MkIIa :: - Nov 1941 Spitfire MkVB :: Nov 1941 121 Sqn was formed at RAF Narborough on 1 Jan 1918 as a day bomber sqn, to be equipped with the new DH9. Progress in workup to declaring the sqn combat ready was slow due to faults with the new aircraft and delays in deliveries off the production line. By the summer it was clear that the war would soon end; this led to squadrons which had not reached operational status being disbanded. 121 Sqn met this fate on 17 Aug 1918. Within a few weeks, however, on 14 Oct 1918, the Sqn reformed at RAF Bracebridge Heath. The Armistice was to stop this process a mere 27 days later. 121 Sqn reformed in the fighter role on 14 May 1941 at RAF Kirton in Lindsey, as the second of the American Eagle Squadrons. These were sqns manned by US personnel. 121 Sqn initially flew the Hawker Hurricane Mk I, later Mk IIB, then re-equipped to Supermarine Spitfire Mk IIA and moved to RAF North Weald. Here it became operational, conducting channel sweeps. The Sqn had its first kill on 15 Sep 1941 and requipped in Nov 1941 to armed Spitfire MkVB. With bomber escorts now forming a large part of its programme the sqn frequently met Focke Wulf Fw190 which was superior to the Spifitre, but managed to account for several of them. On 23 Sep 1942 the Sqn moved to RAF Dabden. Here the Eagle Sqns (71 Sqn, 121 Sqn and 133 Sqn) were transferred from the RAF to the USAAF as 4 Fighter Group on 29 Sep, 121 Sqn disbanding and transferring to the USAAF as the redesignated 335 Pursuit Squadron. The Sqn lives on in the Air Cadets :: website. |
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