No. 173 Squadron RAF

No. 173 Squadron RAF
Active9 July 1942 – 29 February 1944
1 February 1953 – 2 Sept 1957
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
Motto(s)Latin: Quocumque
("Whithersoever")
Insignia
Squadron BadgeA sword grasped by an eagles claw and a gauntlet
Squadron codesTV (Apr 1939 – Sep 1939)

No. 173 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron that was a communications unit in World War II.

History

Formation in World War II

The squadron formed on 9 July 1942 at Heliopolis, Egypt and equipped with the Hawker Audax and it went on to operate many other types of aircraft. It was renamed the 'Middle East Communications Squadron' on 29 February 1944.

Postwar

The squadron reformed as a ferry unit on 1 February 1953 and was finally disbanded on 2 September 1957.

Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated by no. 173 Squadron RAF[1]
From To Aircraft Variant
Jun 1942 Feb 1943 Hawker Audax I
Jul 1942 Jul 1943 Westland Lysander II
Jul 1942 Aug 1943 Hawker Hart II
Jul 1942 Sep 1943 Hawker Hurricane I
Jul 1942 Sep 1943 Bristol Blenheim IV
Jul 1942 Sep 1943 Airspeed Oxford III
Jul 1942 Oct 1943 de Havilland Moth Major
Jul 1942 Oct 1943 Percival Gull Six
Jul 1942 Oct 1943 Miles Magister I
Jul 1942 Jan 1944 Douglas Boston III
Jul 1942 Jan 1944 Lockheed Electra
Jul 1942 Feb 1944 Percival Proctor I
Jul 1942 Feb 1944 Lockheed Lodestar
Jul 1942 Feb 1944 Fairchild Argus I
Aug 1942 Oct 1942 de Havilland Dragon Rapide
Dec 1942 Apr 1943 Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 I
Feb 1943 Feb 1943 Stinson Reliant
Feb 1943 Feb 1943 Junkers Ju 52 3m
Feb 1943 Sep 1943 Short Scion Senior
Mar 1943 Apr 1943 Hawker Hardy I
Apr 1943 Sep 1943 Bristol Beaufighter IF
Sep 1943 Feb 1944 Avro Anson I
Feb 1953 Sep 1957 Avro Anson C.19
Feb 1955 Sep 1957 Vickers Varsity T.1

References

  1. ^ C.G.Jefford (1988). RAF Squadrons. UK Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
  • Thomas, Andrew (3–16 October 1986). "Western Desert Air Taxis: No.173 Squadron, Royal Air Force". Aviation News. Vol. 15, no. 10. pp. 485–487.