No. 143 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron formed as a fighter unit in the First World War and reformed as an RAF Coastal Command fighter and anti-submarine unit in the Second World War.

No. 143 Squadron RAF
Active1 February 1918 – 31 October 1919
15 June 1941 – 25 May 1945
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
Motto(s)Latin: Vincere est vivere
("To conquer is to live")[1]
Insignia
Squadron BadgeA gamecock.
Squadron CodesHO (Jun 1941 - Aug 1943, Jul 1944 - Oct 1944) )
NE (Oct 1944 - Jul 1945)

History

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Formation and the First World War

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Squadron De Havilland Mosquito

No. 143 Squadron Royal Flying Corps was formed on 1 March 1918 and became a unit of the Royal Air Force a month later, but it disbanded on 31 October 1919 having operated the Sopwith Camel and Sopwith Snipe.

Reformation in the Second World War

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The squadron reformed in June 1941 as a coastal command long range fighter unit based at RAF Aldergrove unit and equipped with the Bristol Beaufighter. It was then stationed in Scotland, Northern Ireland and East Anglia and employed on anti-shipping missions. It re-equipped with the de Havilland Mosquito and was disbanded on 25 May 1945.

Aircraft operated

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Aircraft operated by no. 143 Squadron RAF
From To Aircraft Variant
Feb 1918 Mar 1918 Armstrong Whitworth F.K.8
Mar 1918 Aug 1918 Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5 A
Aug 1918 Oct 1919 Sopwith Camel
Jun 1919 Oct 1919 Sopwith Snipe
Jun 1941 Nov 1941 Bristol Beaufighter IC
Nov 1941 Nov 1941 Bristol Blenheim IV
Feb 1942 Oct 1943 Hawker Hurricane IIB
Aug 1942 Sep 1942 Bristol Beaufighter IC
Sep 1942 Mar 1943 Bristol Beaufighter IIF
Mar 1943 May 1944 Bristol Beaufighter XI
Sep 1943 Oct 1944 Bristol Beaufighter X
Sep 1944 Oct 1944 de Havilland Mosquito II
Oct 1944 May 1945 de Havilland Mosquito VI

References

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  1. ^ Pine, L G (1983). A dictionary of mottoes. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul. p. 253. ISBN 0-7100-9339-X.
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