Reformation in World War II No. 273 Squadron RAF

squadron leader robert hayes, commanding officer of no. 273 squadron chats air marshal sir guy garrod, allied air commander in chief, air command south east asia, spitfire mark viii @ cox s bazar, 1944

the squadron reformed on 1 august 1939 @ china bay in ceylon torpedo bomber squadron operating vickers vildebeest. in march 1942 equipped fairey fulmars , lost aircraft during japanese attack on ceylon. re-equipped hurricanes in august 1942 , supermarine spitfire mk viii in march 1944.

from march 1944 pilots given new spitfire mk viii fly, , squadron moved british india join in war against japanese imperial forces. may 1944 through end of war, recorded 14 pilots killed.

the period march - july 1944, period in major japanese attacks (operation u-go) against imphal , kohima beaten allied indian , british forces, assisted third tactical air force (taf). monsoon rains followed, next major round of strategic land battles commenced in late 1944 , 1945. allied 14th army pushed central burma in january/february 1945, initial principal objectives being meiktila , mandalay. mandalay fell towards end march 1945, , next imperative capture rangoon before monsoon rains started in earnest.

along coast, 273 squadron part of 224 group raf (which in turn part of 3 taf). raf here charged support commonwealth ground forces belonging xv corps, role of drive japanese forces out of coastal arakan region. during july/august 1944, 273 squadron flew out of chittagong; , operated out of cox’s bazar september–december 1944. during january 1945 squadron operated out of more inland maunghnama. there constant fighting on period, concentrating on ground support operations army, flying against japanese nakajima ki-43 oscars (based out of akyab), , convoy patrols. @ least 1 pilot killed on period.

akyab evacuated japanese @ end of december 1944, , ramree island occupied allied forces in february 1945. february through may, 273 squadron based @ ramree island, supported army operations moved against japanese forces further south down coast. again period of intense fighting, when @ least further 3 other pilots killed.

rangoon liberated may, , 273 squadron moved new base @ mingaladon (just outside rangoon) in middle of month. there six-week period of frustrating operations, taken patrolling. first 3 weeks of july involved further final period of intense fighting however, allied army units , raf decimated japanese forces attempted cross sittang river, , head towards thailand. @ least 3 other pilots killed during these final operations.

in mid-september, 273 squadron transferred don muang, siam (thailand), , moved tan son nhut, french indo-china (vietnam) @ end of month. squadron re-equipped spitfire mk xivs in november 1945, used them in offensive operation on 11 december against viet minh in support of surrounded french unit @ ban me thout , disbanded (at tan son nhut) @ end of january 1946.

the story of 273 squadron not end there. squadron badge designed , submitted air ministry in november 1944. design included ancient asian fylfot (swastika) , black widow spider, motto toujours prêt. because of controversial fylfot design, badge rejected raf, , accepted, in modified design, on 50 years later, rests next no. 1 squadron in raf chapel @ st clement danes, london.