No. 66 Squadron

No. 66 Squadron entered the Second World War as one of the RAF’s earliest Spitfire units, having been the second squadron to receive the type in late 1938. Based initially at Duxford under 12 Group, it flew patrols over the North Sea during the Phoney War before deploying over Dunkirk in May–June 1940. When the Battle of Britain intensified that August, the squadron moved south to operate from Kenley, Gravesend and Biggin Hill, claiming around twenty enemy aircraft destroyed during the campaign. Through 1941–43 it flew offensive sweeps and bomber escort sorties over occupied France, including some of the earliest Rhubarb low-level raids. After a period on Orkney coastal patrol, it transferred to the 2nd Tactical Air Force, re-equipping with the Spitfire XVI in time to provide ground-attack and armed-reconnaissance support during the Normandy landings and the Allied advance through France, Belgium and the Netherlands. The squadron disbanded at Twente in the Netherlands on 30 April 1945.