No. 114 Squadron — Hong Kong

No. 114 (Hong Kong) Squadron spent the Second World War as a light-bomber unit within No. 2 Group, Bomber Command. It holds the distinction of being the first RAF squadron to receive the Bristol Blenheim, in March 1937. When war came, the squadron deployed to France with the Advanced Air Striking Force, flew the first Blenheim reconnaissance sorties over the Ruhr in October 1939, and escaped back to Britain after suffering heavy losses during the German invasion of May 1940. From its Norfolk bases it attacked invasion ports and Luftwaffe airfields, and in August 1941 contributed twelve Blenheims to the costly low-level raid on the Knapsack power station near Cologne. After a spell under Coastal Command flying anti-shipping patrols, the squadron moved to Algeria in November 1942 for Operation Torch, re-equipping with Douglas Bostons, and served through Sicily and mainland Italy until the German surrender.