No. 64 Squadron

No. 64 Squadron entered the Second World War flying Bristol Blenheim IF fighters on coastal patrols before re-equipping with Spitfires in April 1940. It flew air cover during the Dunkirk evacuation and was present on 10 July 1940 — the officially recognised opening day of the Battle of Britain — when it engaged enemy aircraft over Convoy Bread. After a rest period in the north, the squadron returned south and from late 1941 flew sustained offensive sweeps and circus operations over occupied France under 11 Group, Fighter Command. It took part in air operations over Normandy in 1944, including support for Operation Market Garden and the Battle of the Scheldt. That November the squadron converted to the North American Mustang III and switched to long-range escort work, shepherding Bomber Command’s heavy aircraft on daylight raids deep into Germany in the final months of the war.