Originally Posted by
ORAC
https://forum.warthunder.com/index.p...he-lucky-dogs/
......
No. 188 Squadron was reformed on the 5th April, 1939, and equipped with the Hawker Hurricane Mk. I. They were based at Shoreham Airfield, West Sussex on the South Coast of England. When war broke out two flights were dispatched to France to serve alongside the British Expeditionary Force. They fought through the Battle of France until they were withdrawn to their homebase of Shoreham in late May 1940. Here they were reequipped recieved replacement pilots after their losses in France - interestingly the replcaement pilots were drawn from Norweigian & Swedish aviators; the former exiles from their home country, the latter volunteers who had come to Britain to fight.
From 10th July 1940 to 31st October 1940 they fought steadfastly through what was to become known as the Battle of Britain. The squadron accounted for no less than 44 victories during the battle, most of which were Heinkel He-111's, but they also suffered themselves. During the entire Battle they lost eight aircraft destroyed and five pilots killed, three of those planes and two of the pilots were lost on 'The Hardest Day', 18th August 1940.
From 1941-1943 the squadron fought in North Africa, having been equipped with the Mk. IIB (Trop). During the invasion of Italy they were reequipped with the Spitfire Mk. IXB until they returned to England in May 1944. They were part of the Allied air support for the Normandy Landings and from July 1944 - May 1945 they often flew escort for Allied bombers.
No. 188 Squadron was disbanded in March 1946.
At the risk of succumbing to a wind -up: it's a back story for an online air combat game. Look at the badge in the top right hand corner of the first post and briefly wonder how that could ever have got through the College of Heralds - recalling in the process that 617 was forced to change its motto from the original choice of 'Apres Nous Le Deluge' at the behest of the College, and the college objected to the current motto as well, as it was a derivation of the original and thus from a dubious Louis XV era comment by Madame de Pompadour.
It was only because George VI had said what a splendid choice 'Apres Moi Le Deluge' was that the squadron was able to note that King trumps Herald and they got their preferred motto...
The less said about the original 602 Squadron badge (A winged bowler hat and the motto 'Gentlemen's Bomber Squadron') the better....