No. 123 (East India) Squadron Royal Air Force

No.123 Squadron was formed at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire on 1st February 1918 and trained as a day bomber unit. However it did not receive the planned DH9 aircraft and was disbanded on the 17th August 1918 without becomeing operational.
The Squadron was reformed on the 20th November at Upper Heyford as a fighter squadron equipped with Dolphins and manned by Canadian personnel. In March 1919 it was redesignated as No.2 Squadron Canadian Air Force.
The Squadron was reformed in WW2 at RAF Turnhouse (Edinburgh) on the 10th May 1941 equipped with Spitfires. It provided air ccover over Scotland until April 1942 when the squadron's personnel departed for the Middle East. No aircraft were available and so the squadron's ground crews were assigned to maintenance duties in Iraq and Iran. The Squadron was re-equipped with Hurricanes in October and supported the North Africa campaign. In November 1943 the Squadron moved to India and undertook escort missions for bombers and transport aircraft operating over Burma. Re-equipped with the Thunderbolt, it undertook a ground attack role until 20th June 1945 when it was disbanded.
Airfields used by 123 Squadron:

10th May-6th August 1941: Turnhouse
6th August-22nd September 1941: Drem
22nd September 1941-11th April 1942: Castletown

October 1941 – March 1942 Detachment at Tain

June-July 1942: Aboukir (Egypt)
July-September 1942: Muqeibila (Palestine)
September-October 1942: Hadera
October 1942: Habbaniya (Iraq)

October 1942-January 1943: Detachment to Abadan (Iran)

October-November 1942: Doshan Tappeh (Tehran)
November 1942-January 1943: Mehrabad
January-May 1943: Abadan (Iran)
May-October 1943: Bu Amud L.G.147 (Libya)

November 1943-January 1944: Feni (India)
January-May 1944: Patharkundi
May-September 1944: St. Thomas Mount
September-October 1944: Yelahanka
October 1944: Cholavarum
October-December 1944: Kajamalai (Trichinopoly)
December 1944: Baigachi
December 1944-April 1945: Nazir (Burma)
April-June 1945: Kyaukpyu
June 1945: Cox's Bazaar (India)
June 1945: Baigachi

Disbanded 20th June 1945 by renumbering as 81 Squadron at Bobbili.

10th May 1941 New Squadron formed

8th June 1941 Operational

15th June 1941 Spitfire broke up in the air

1st July 1941 Lost over the Irish sea

6th August 1941 Relocation

5th September 1941 Mid-air collision

22nd September 1941 Relocated to the far north

October 1941 Detachment

April 1942 Dispatched to the Middle East

June 1942 No aircraft

July 1942 Maintenance role

September 1942 Aircrew and aircraft arrive

October 1942 Army Co-operation duties

October 1942 Move to Tehran

January 1943 Move to Iran

23rd May 1943 Move to Libya

23rd June 1943 Operation Thetis

4th July 1943 Killed in action

October 1943 Move to India

19th December 1943 Operations over Burma

10th January 1944 Moved north

12th April 1944 Missing over Burma

May 1944 Stood down

September 1944 New aircraft

27th December 1944 'Cab-rank' system

12th February 1945 Missing in action

April 1945 Escort to tansports

20th June 1945 Squadrons renumbered

20th June 1945 Squadron disbanded

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No. 123 (East India) Squadron Royal Air Force
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No. 123 (East India) Squadron Royal Air Force
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No. 123 (East India) Squadron Royal Air Force

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Those known to have served with No. 123 (East India) Squadron Royal Air Forceduring the Second World War 1939-1945.

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Those known to have served with
No. 123 (East India) Squadron Royal Air Force
during the Second World War 1939-1945.