No. 153 Squadron RAF

No. 153 Squadron was a Royal Air Force squadron that saw service in both the First and Second World Wars.

No. 153 Squadron RAF
Active	4 November 1918 - 13 June 1919 24 October 1941 - 5 September 1944 7 October 1944 - 28 September 1945 28 February 1955 – 2 July 1958
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Air Force
Role	Fighter Ground Attack Bomber Night Fighter
Size	Squadron
Motto(s)	Noctividus Latin: Seeing by night
Insignia
1950s squadron roundel

History

On 1 July 1958, the unit was renumbered as No. 25 Squadron RAF.

Aircraft operated

Dates	Aircraft	Variant	Notes	References
1918–1919	Sopwith Camel		Single-engined biplane fighter
1941–1942	Boulton Paul Defiant	I	Single-engined fighter
1942–1943	Bristol Beaufighter	IF	Twin-engined ground attack
1942–1944	Bristol Beaufighter	VIF
1944	Hawker Hurricane	IIC	Single-engined fighter
1944	Supermarine Spitfire	VIII IX	Single-engined fighter
1944–1945	Avro Lancaster	I and III	Four-engined heavy bomber
1955–1957	Gloster Meteor	NF12 and NF14	Twin-engined jet night fighter

Bases used

• RAF Ballyhalbert - October 1941 - January 1943
• RAF Limavady - October 1941 to January 1942 - Detachment
• RAF Maison Blanche - Algiers Algeria - December 1942 - July 1943
• RAF Rerhaia - Reghaia Algeria - July 1943 - September 1944
• RAF Alghero - Sardinia - July - September 1944 - Detachment
• RAF Kirmington - October 1944 - UK
• RAF Scampton - October 15,1944 to September, 1945

Notable personnel

• Kenneth Rayment, served with 153 Squadron from 1941 to 1943; he was the co-pilot during the Munich air disaster of 1958

References

Bibliography

• Jefford, C.G. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 2001. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.