No. 157 Squadron RAF
No. 157 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron active as a night fighter unit in the Second World War.History
No. 157 Squadron Royal Air Force formed on 14 July 1918 at RAF Upper Heyford and was eventually equipped with Sopwith TF.2 Salamander aircraft for ground support duties, but disbanded on 1 February 1919 without becoming operational.The squadron reformed in December 1941 at RAF Debden as a night fighter unit and was eventually equipped with the latest Mosquito night-fighter aircraft at RAF Castle Camps. The squadron flew patrols over East Anglia and by July 1943, after moving to RAF Hunsdon, began intruder attacks on German fighter bases with its new Mosquito Mk VIs. In November 1943, it moved to RAF Predannack in Cornwall, closer to the German bases. In March 194, it moved to RAF Valley and flew defensive patrols over the Irish Sea. In May 1944, it moved back to East Anglia, receiving Mosquito Mk XIXs and supporting bomber streams as part of No. 100 Group RAF. It disbanded on 16 August 1945 at RAF Swannington.Aircraft operated
From | To | Aircraft | Variant |
November 1918 | February 1919 | Sopwith Salamander | |
January 1942 | June 1944 | de Havilland Mosquito | Mk.II |
July 1943 | April 1944 | de Havilland Mosquito | Mk.VI |
May 1944 | May 1945 | de Havilland Mosquito | Mk.XIX |
February 1945 | August 1945 | de Havilland Mosquito | Mk.XXX |
Squadron bases
Commanding officers