No._176_Squadron_RAF Knowpia

No. 176 Squadron RAF
No. 176 Squadron RAF
Active	15 Jan 1943 – 1 Jun 1946
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Air Force
Motto(s)	Latin: Nocte custodimus (We keep the night watch)
Insignia
Squadron Badge	A dagger in front of a crescent moon

No. 176 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron that was a night defence unit based in India in World War II.

History edit

Formation in World War II edit

The squadron was formed at Dum Dum, India on 15 January 1943 from a detachment of No. 89 Squadron RAF, flying radar-equipped Bristol Beaufighter night fighters in defence of Calcutta.^[1] That night, it flew its first operational sorties, with Flight Sergeant Arthur Pring shooting down three Japanese Mitsubishi Ki-21 bombers in four minutes, becoming an air ace.^[2]^[a] On the night of 19/20 January, another of 176's aircraft intercepted three more Ki-21s, claiming two destroyed and one damaged, but itself being shot down by return fire from the bombers. In fact, only one of the Ki-21s was shot down. The losses of four bombers in a few days caused Japanese night attacks on Calcutta to be suspended.^[4] Detachments of the squadron were then based at Chittagong Burma, Ratmalana Ceylon, Baigachi and Mingaladon where the Beaufighters were replaced with Mosquitos in June 1945. The squadron disbanded on 1 June 1946.

Aircraft operated edit

Aircraft operated by no. 176 Squadron RAF^[5]
From	To	Aircraft	Variant
Jan 1943	Aug 1943	Bristol Beaufighter	IF
Jan 1943	Aug 1945	Bristol Beaufighter	VIF
May 1943	Jan 1944	Hawker Hurricane	IIC
Jun 1945	Jul 1945	de Havilland Mosquito	XVI
Jul 1945	Jun 1946	de Havilland Mosquito	XIX

Notes edit

^ Pring and his radar operator had previously claimed three aircraft shot down over Egypt and Malta.^[3]

References edit

^ Shores 2005, pp. 49, 409
^ Shores 2005, pp. 50–51
^ Shores 2005, p. 50
^ Shores 2005, pp. 52–53
^ C.G.Jefford (1988). RAF Squadrons. UK Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.

Shores, Christopher (2005). Air War for Burma: The Allied Air Forces Fight Back in South-East Asia 1942–1945. London: Grub Street. ISBN 1-904010-95-4.