No. 151 Squadron

No. 151 Squadron was reformed at RAF North Weald on 4 August 1936, flying Gloster Gauntlets before re-equipping with Hurricanes in 1938. At the outbreak of war it operated as a day fighter unit within 11 Group, taking part in the fighting over Dunkirk and the Battle of Britain before both it and No. 56 Squadron were withdrawn from North Weald after heavy pilot and aircraft losses. In November 1940 the squadron converted to the night-fighter role, moving to RAF Wittering in 12 Group where it flew Hurricanes and Boulton Paul Defiants on defensive duties. From April 1942 it became only the second RAF squadron to operate the de Havilland Mosquito as a night fighter, and by April 1943 had transitioned from defensive patrol work to offensive intruder and bomber-support operations over occupied Europe. The squadron’s badge bore an owl alighting on a seax — the owl representing its night-fighting vocation and the seax recalling the Essex origins of its first home station. It carried the French motto “Foy pour devoir” (Fidelity unto duty) and was finally disbanded at Weston Zoyland on 10 October 1946.