Squadrons
The first squadron to occupy Gravesend was 32 Squadron, arriving on 3 January 1940 with their Hawker Hurricane fighters, being replaced by 610 Squadron on 27 May. These were followed by another Auxiliary Squadron, 604, who operated Bristol Blenheims as night fighters from 3 July. 501 and 66 Squadrons also flew from here during the 1940 Battle of Britain, arriving on 25 July and 10 September respectively. Many other units also occupied the station during the war years, such as 71 Squadron, who arrived 14 August 1942 for the Dieppe Raid, 92 Squadron (24 September 1941). 306 (Polish) Squadron, arriving 11 August 1943 and 65 Squadron, who arrived 29 July 1943, and were the first Squadron to be issued with the P-51 Mustang III in December - making Gravesend the first RAF base to operate it.
Read more about this topic: RAF Gravesend, Royal Air Force
Famous quotes containing the word squadrons:
“As you know, God is generally on the side of the big squadrons against the small ones.”
—Roger De Bussy-Rabutin (1618–1693)