No. 165 Squadron — Ceylon

No. 165 (Ceylon) Squadron was reformed on 6 April 1942 at RAF Ayr, equipped with Supermarine Spitfires, and spent its early months on defensive patrols over Scotland before moving south in August 1942 to begin offensive sweeps over northern France. The squadron took part in the Dieppe landings in August 1942 and subsequently served at several stations across southern England, including Tangmere, Kenley, and Exeter, conducting convoy patrols, bomber escort duties, and cross-Channel operations under Fighter Command. A notable incident in May 1943 saw the squadron intercept a Junkers Ju 88 off the Scottish coast whose crew were defecting to the Allied side, escorting it safely to land at RAF Dyce. During 1944 the squadron was part of No. 10 Group, Air Defence of Great Britain, contributing to the defence against V-1 flying bombs over southern England. In late 1944 the unit re-equipped with North American Mustang IIIs at RAF Bentwaters for long-range bomber escort missions over Germany, reverting to Spitfires in mid-1945. After VE Day the squadron deployed to Norway in June 1945 to assist with air defence while the Royal Norwegian Air Force reorganised, returning to the United Kingdom before disbanding at Duxford on 1 September 1946. Its motto, Infensa virtuti invidia, translates as “Envy is the foe of virtue”.