No. 247 Squadron — China-British

No. 247 (China British) Squadron was reformed on 1 August 1940 at RAF Roborough, near Plymouth, drawing on donations made by British communities living in the foreign concessions along the Chinese coast — a generosity commemorated in both the squadron’s title and its badge, which bore the Chinese characters “Chu Feng” (fierce wind, or Hurricane). The squadron opened the war flying Gloster Gladiators on defensive patrols and convoy escort over the south-western approaches, claimed its first kill — a Junkers Ju 88 — over Falmouth in July 1941, and subsequently flew Hurricanes on intruder sweeps against targets in north-western France. In January 1943 the squadron re-equipped with the Hawker Typhoon and joined No. 83 Group, 2nd Tactical Air Force. By mid-1944 it was operating from Normandy, and on 10 June 1944 took part in an attack on Panzer Army West’s headquarters that killed the German chief of staff. The squadron pressed on through France, Belgium, the Netherlands and into Germany until the end of hostilities.