No. 401 Squadron
|
No. 401 Squadron |
|
|---|---|
| active | March 1, 1941 to July 3, 1945 |
| Country |
 United Kingdom
|
| Armed forces | Royal Air Force |
| Type | Jagdstaffel |
| Location | Digby Biggin Hill Catterick Fassberg |
| motto | Mors celerrima hostibus (A very quick death to the enemy) |
| Aircraft type | Hawker Hurricane Supermarine Spitfire |
| Butcher | Battle of Britain |
No. 401 Squadron was a unit of the Royal Air Force in World War II with mostly Canadian personnel.
history
The unit was originally named No. 1 Fighter Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force . She was initially equipped with Armstrong Whitworth Siskin . On June 21, 1940, the unit arrived in Middle Wallop . Their equipment now consisted of Hawker Hurricanes . Relocations to Northolt and Prestwick followed . On March 1, 1941, the Digby unit was named No. 401 Squadron taken over by the Royal Air Force. In September 1941 the Squadron received Spitfires . In October 1941 the relocation to Biggin Hill took place . The unit stayed there until January 1943, after which it moved to Catterick . From June 18, 1944, the unit was in France. On October 5, 1944, it was the first Royal Air Force unit to shoot down a Messerschmitt Me 262 . No. 401 Squadron was disbanded in Faßberg on July 3, 1945 .