No. 184 Squadron

No. 184 Squadron was formed at RAF Colerne on 1 December 1942 as a fighter-bomber unit, initially operating Hawker Hurricane IIDs armed with 40mm anti-tank cannon before converting to the more versatile Hurricane IV, which could carry bombs and rocket projectiles. The squadron joined the Second Tactical Air Force in June 1943 and began attacking enemy shipping and ground installations, with Squadron Leader Jack Rose DFC credited with pioneering the operational use of rocket projectiles from single-engined fighter bombers. In late 1943 and early 1944 the unit re-equipped with the Hawker Typhoon IB and spent the months before D-Day striking at enemy communications and transport in preparation for the Allied invasion. Moving to Normandy on 27 June 1944, the squadron flew close air support for the 21st Army Group through the Normandy breakout, the advance across France, and into the Netherlands as part of No. 83 Group. In March 1945 the squadron crossed into Germany, reportedly among the first RAF units to operate from German soil, and continued ground-attack operations until the end of hostilities in Europe. The squadron was disbanded at Flensberg on 10 September 1945.