The Wartime Memories Project - The Second War

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No. 80 Squadron No. 80 Squadron was formed in 1917 as a fighter Squadron which in 1919 left for Egypt, where it was renumbered No. 56 in 1920. In 1937, No. 80 reformed at Kenley as a fighter Squadron equipped with Gauntlets, then Gladiators. In April 1938 the Squadron moved to Egypt, moving to the Libyan front in June 1940 after Italy joined the war, and then on to Greece in November after Italy invaded that country. In February 1941, No. 80 started to convert to Hurricanes, and after evacuation from Greece the Squadron spent a period in Syria, with detachments in Palestine and Cyprus, before returning to the Western Desert in October flying patrols in the area until the Battle of Alamein. With the retreat of the Afrika Corps, No. 80 returned to Britain and provided air defence of the long line of communication and coastal convoys supplying the 8th army until January 1944. No. 80 Squadron then moved to Italy and in April 1944 moved back to the UK. Equipped with Spitfires, it began flying sweeps, escort duties and armed reconnaissance over France, the Netherlands and Belgium. In August 1944 it converted to Tempests used to combat V-I flying bomb attacks against the south of England. No. 80 moved to the Continent at the end of September 1944 to fly armed reconnaissance missions for the rest of the war. Airfields No. 80 Squadron flew from. RAF Sawbridge from April 1944 (ex-Naples. Spitfire IX) RAF Hornchurch, Essex from 5th May 1944 RAF Detling, Kent from 19th May 1944 RAF Merston, Sussex from 22nd June 1944 RAF Gatwick, Surrey from 27th June 1944 RAF West Malling, Kent from 5th July 1944 (Tempest V) RAF Manston, Kent from 29th August 1944 RAF Coltishall, Norfolk from 20th September 1944 (to Deurne, B70 29th September 1944) List of those who served with No. 80 Squadron during The Second World War Can you help us to add to our records? Add a record to our website. The names and stories on this website have been submitted by their relatives and friends. If your relations are not listed please add their names so that others can read about them Did you or your relatives live through the Second World War? Do you have any photos, newspaper clippings, postcards or letters from that period? Have you researched the names on your local or war memorial? Were you or your relative evacuated? Did an air raid affect your area? If so please let us know. Help us to build a database of information on those who served both at home and abroad so that future generations may learn of their sacrifice. Contact us. Celebrate your own Family History Celebrate by honouring members of your family who served in the Secomd World War both in the forces and at home. We love to hear about the soldiers, but also remember the many who served in support roles, nurses, doctors, land army, muntions workers etc. Please use our Family History resources to find out more about your relatives. Then please send in a short article, with a photo if possible, so that they can be remembered on these pages.

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