No. 17 Squadron RAF
Below is some genealogy information on the No. 17 Squadron of the Royal Air Force that may help searches for military ancestors.
Theatres of War, Army Regiments, Naval Detachments, RAF
World War One
Description: Initally part of the Royal Flying Corps, the number 17 (No. XVII) squadron was active from 1915, based in Egypt. In 1916 they moved to Salonika, Macedonia. They were equipped with Royal Aircraft Factory BEs, Airco DH2s and Bristol Scouts. In 1918 the fighter aricraft (DH2s and Scouts) moved to No.150 Squadron. In 1918 they re-equipped with Sopwith Camels, Airco DH9s and Armstrong Whitworth FK8s. They disbanded in 1919.
World War Two
Description: The number 17 squadron was reformed in 1924 with Sopwith Snipes. At the start of the war it was comprised of Hawker Hurricane aircraft. Some personnel were used to form No.134 Squadron. They took part in the Battle of Britain. With the German plan to invade Britain, the only thing that stood in their way was the Royal Air Force. During the middle of 1940 just a few hundred pilots managed to hold off the Luftwaffe and allow Britain and her allies to go on the offensive. Following the conclusion of this battle they moved to the Far East, settling in Burma and then Ceylon. In 1944 they started converting to Supermarine Spitfires. They moved back to Burma at this point and remained until the end of the war.
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