No. 157 Squadron

No. 157 Squadron was formed at RAF Debden in December 1941 with the distinction of being the first RAF squadron to fly the de Havilland Mosquito in the night-fighter role. Early operations over East Anglia were defensive in character, with the squadron flying its first patrols in April 1942, though confirmed kills were slow to come against the Luftwaffe’s elusive bombers. By late 1943 the unit had shifted to offensive intruder work, attacking German night-fighter airfields across occupied Europe from bases including Predannack in Cornwall. In May 1944 the squadron transferred to No. 100 Group — the specialist Bomber Support formation — and moved to East Anglia, where it flew Mosquitoes within and ahead of the heavy-bomber stream to hunt Luftwaffe night fighters. Operating from RAF Swannington in Norfolk during the final year of the war, crews engaged enemy fighters seeking to intercept the Main Force, directly reducing Bomber Command’s losses. The squadron flew variants including the Mosquito Mk.II, Mk.VI, Mk.XIX, and Mk.XXX before disbanding at Swannington on 16 August 1945.