No. 193 Squadron — Fellowship of the Bellows

No. 193 Squadron RAF was formed on 18 December 1942 at RAF Harrowbeer in Devon, initially as a fighter unit equipped with Hurricane IIbs before converting to the Hawker Typhoon Ib from January 1943. From its first operation on 1 April 1943 the squadron flew defensive patrols intercepting low-level enemy fighter-bomber raids along the south coast of England, then progressively expanded into offensive escort and ground-attack duties. In early 1944 the squadron came under No. 84 Group of the Second Tactical Air Force as part of No. 146 Wing, shifting its primary role to fighter-bomber operations against communications targets, V-1 launch sites, and enemy headquarters. During and after D-Day in June 1944 the squadron flew close air support for the Allied armies fighting in Normandy, and from September 1944 it operated from airfields on the Continent supporting the advance through France, Belgium, and into Germany. Notable strikes included a precision attack on the German 15th Army headquarters at Dordrecht in October 1944 and a Gestapo headquarters raid in Amsterdam the following month. The squadron’s nickname, “Fellowship of the Bellows,” originated from an international fundraising organisation whose Brazilian branch contributed funds towards the purchase of its Typhoons. It disbanded at Hildesheim on 31 August 1945.