No. 131 Squadron — County of Kent

No. 131 (County of Kent) Squadron RAF was reformed at RAF Ouston on 30 June 1941 as a Spitfire fighter unit, adopting the motto Invicta — Latin for “Unconquered” — and the county designation linking it to Kent. Through 1941 and 1942 the squadron flew defensive patrols over convoys in the Irish Sea from Welsh bases before moving south to conduct offensive sweeps across occupied France. A notable interlude in 1943 saw aircrew undertake carrier deck-landing training aboard HMS Argus on the Clyde, in preparation for amphibious operations that ultimately never took place, while the squadron simultaneously provided fighter cover over the naval anchorage at Scapa Flow. From March 1944 the unit flew the high-altitude Spitfire VII on bomber escort duties from southern England, operating within 10 Group under Fighter Command and later Air Defence of Great Britain. The squadron deployed to India in late 1944, and after its Spitfires were transferred to the Royal Indian Air Force the original unit formally disbanded in June 1945; a reconstituted 131 Squadron, renumbered from No. 134 Squadron, flew Republic Thunderbolts over Burma before relocating to Kuala Lumpur following the Japanese surrender. The final disbandment came on 31 December 1945.