No. 243 Squadron

No. 243 Squadron RAF was reformed on 12 March 1941 at Kallang, Singapore, and equipped with Brewster Buffaloes for the defence of Malaya. When Japanese forces struck, the squadron’s aircraft proved severely outclassed, and by January 1942 its surviving machines had been merged into a composite force; the unit was disbanded on 20 January 1942 as Singapore fell. A second incarnation was raised at Ouston on 1 June 1942 using Spitfires, and after sailing for North Africa the squadron became operational in Algeria in January 1943 under No. 211 Group, Desert Air Force. For the remainder of the Tunisian campaign and beyond, the squadron flew fighter sweeps and bomber escorts, participated in the invasion of Sicily, and provided air cover during the landings at Salerno and on the French Riviera. It was disbanded again on 31 October 1944, but reformed at Morecambe on 15 December 1944 and re-equipped with Douglas Dakotas, eventually flying communications and scheduled transport services in support of the British Pacific Fleet before final disbandment in Australia on 15 April 1946. The squadron’s badge depicts a seahorse holding a sword erect, and its motto is “Swift in pursuit.”