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71 (Eagle) Squadron Royal Air Force
"First from the eyries"


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Flying Squadrons
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467 Sqn
486 Sqn
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527 Sqn
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550 Sqn
576 Sqn
601 Sqn
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616 Sqn
617 Sqn
619 Sqn
625 Sqn
626 Sqn
627 Sqn
630 Sqn

Heavy Conversion Units
1654 HCU
1656 HCU
1660 HCU
1661 HCU
1662 HCU
1665 HCU
1667 HCU
1668 HCU
21 HGCU

Advanced Flying Schools
201 AFS

Advanced Flying Units
12 AFU
15 AFU

Flying Training Schools
1 FTS
2 FTS
3 FTS
6 FTS
7 FTS
12 FTS
1 Lancaster Finishing School
Central Flying School

Operational Training/
Conversion Units
(Fighter)
6 OTU
53 OTU

56 OTU

(Bomber)
228 OCU
230 OCU

Air Armament Schools
1 AAS
2 AAS
Empire Central AS

Other schools
1 Gp Aircrew School
1 Ground Defence School
1 Air Observers School
Central Gunnery School
5 Gp Anti Air School

Other units
Bomber Command
Coastal Command
Fighter Command
HQ No 5 Group
HQ No 23 Group
1485 Gunnery Flight
2782 Defence Sqn
178 Support Unit
399 Signals Unit
Nationality based Sqns

Updated: 19 Jun 04

Formed: 27 Mar 1917

Redesignated: 19 Jan 1918 as 4 Sqn AFC

Reformed: 19 Sep 1940

Redesignated: redesignated 29 Sep 1942 to 4 Pursuit Group USAAF as 334 Pursuit Sqn.

Reformed: 1 Oct 1950

Disbanded: 31 May 1957

Squadron was based at:

Castle Bromwich: Apr 1917

RAF Church Fenton :: Sep 1940 - Nov 1940

RAF Kirton in Lindsey :: Nov 1940 - Apr 1941

RAF Gutersloh :: 1 Oct 1950 - 31 May 1957

Aircraft operated:

Camel :: Mar 1917 - ??

Hurricane :: Nov 1940 - Aug 1941

Spitfire :: Aug 1941 - 1942

Vampire :: Oct 1950 - 1953

Sabre :: 1953 - 1956

Hunter :: 1956 - 31 May 1957

71 Sqn RAF formed at Plymouth, moving to Castle Bromwich 6 days after creation. In Dec 1917 it moved to France to conduct Camel fighter patrols on the Western Front. Shortly thereafter it was redesignated 4 Sqn Australian Flying Corps.

Sep 1940 saw 71 Sqn reform as the first of the Eagle Sqns which were manned by US personnel. It became operational on 5 Feb 1941 on defensive ops and then converted to Spitfire in Aug. In Sep 1942 the Eagle Sqns (71 Sqn, 121 Sqn and 133 Sqn) were transferred from the RAF to the USAAF as 4 Fighter Group at Debden, being redesignated as 334, 335 and 336 Fighter Sqns.

After the war 71 Sqn was reformed in Oct 1950 at RAF Gutersloh as a fighter bomber sqn. In a 7-year period the Sqn flew Vampire, Sabre and finally Hunter in the day fighter role.

71 Sqn history on RAF site

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