No. 178 Squadron

No. 178 Squadron was formed on 15 January 1943 at Shandur, Egypt, from a detachment of No. 160 Squadron, and unusually flew its first combat mission on the very day of its formation. Equipped primarily with Consolidated B-24 Liberators, the squadron operated throughout the Mediterranean theatre under Middle East and Mediterranean Commands, conducting strategic bombing raids across North Africa, the Italian peninsula, and the Balkans. From early 1944 the squadron was based in the Foggia complex in southern Italy, with Amendola serving as its principal wartime station. Beyond conventional bombing, 178 Squadron flew hazardous long-range special operations sorties, including supply drops to partisan forces in German-occupied Poland during the Warsaw Uprising of August–September 1944. Handley Page Halifaxes supplemented the Liberators briefly in mid-1943, and Avro Lancasters were introduced only in November 1945 after the war’s end. The squadron’s motto, “Irae emissarii” — Emissaries of wrath — reflects its offensive character throughout its service. It was disbanded on 15 April 1946 when it was renumbered as No. 70 Squadron, having served entirely outside the United Kingdom.