No. 60 Squadron

No. 60 Squadron RAF was formed at Gosport on 30 April 1916 and, after a post-war interlude, was reconstituted in India where it spent the inter-war decades based at Lahore and Ambala. By June 1939 the squadron had re-equipped with Bristol Blenheims and was carrying out coastal patrol duties across India, before concentrating in Burma as the strategic situation in the Far East deteriorated during 1941. Following Japan’s entry into the war in December 1941, the squadron fought in Malaya and Burma until heavy losses forced a withdrawal to Asansol in India, where it reformed and continued Blenheim operations into 1943. In August 1943 the unit converted to Hawker Hurricane IIc fighter-bombers and, operating under No. 221 Group RAF as part of the Third Tactical Air Force, undertook intensive ground-attack and close air support missions against Japanese forces in Burma, completing 728 sorties in a single month during 1944. A notable episode came on 22 May 1942, when Flight Sergeant Jock McLuckie shot down the celebrated Japanese ace Lieutenant Colonel Tateo Katō during operations over Burma. The squadron received Republic Thunderbolt IIs in July 1945 and participated in the reoccupation of Malaya and Java before eventually disbanding in 1997 after later service as a support helicopter unit.