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71
(Eagle) Squadron Royal Air Force
"First from the eyries"
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Heavy
Conversion Units
1654
HCU
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21 HGCU
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Central Flying School
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6
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5 Gp Anti Air School
Other units
Bomber Command
Coastal Command
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HQ No 5 Group
HQ No 23 Group
1485
Gunnery Flight
2782
Defence Sqn
178 Support Unit
399 Signals Unit
Nationality
based Sqns
Formed: 27 Mar 1917
Redesignated: 19 Jan 1918 as 4 Sqn AFC
Reformed: 19 Sep 1940
Redesignated: redesignated 29 Sep 1942 to 4 Pursuit Group USAAF as 334 Pursuit Sqn.
Reformed: 1 Oct 1950
Disbanded: 31 May 1957
Squadron was based at:
Castle Bromwich: Apr 1917
RAF Church Fenton :: Sep 1940 - Nov 1940
RAF Kirton in Lindsey :: Nov 1940 - Apr 1941
RAF Gutersloh :: 1 Oct 1950 - 31 May 1957
Aircraft operated:
Camel :: Mar 1917 - ??
Hurricane :: Nov 1940 - Aug 1941
Spitfire :: Aug 1941 - 1942
Vampire :: Oct 1950 - 1953
Sabre :: 1953 - 1956
Hunter :: 1956 - 31 May 1957
71 Sqn RAF formed at Plymouth, moving to Castle Bromwich 6 days after creation. In Dec 1917 it moved to France to conduct Camel fighter patrols on the Western Front. Shortly thereafter it was redesignated 4 Sqn Australian Flying Corps.
Sep 1940 saw 71 Sqn reform as the first of the Eagle Sqns which were manned by US personnel. It became operational on 5 Feb 1941 on defensive ops and then converted to Spitfire in Aug. In Sep 1942 the Eagle Sqns (71 Sqn, 121 Sqn and 133 Sqn) were transferred from the RAF to the USAAF as 4 Fighter Group at Debden, being redesignated as 334, 335 and 336 Fighter Sqns.
After the war 71 Sqn was reformed in Oct 1950 at RAF Gutersloh as a fighter bomber sqn. In a 7-year period the Sqn flew Vampire, Sabre and finally Hunter in the day fighter role.
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