Spitfire Mk Vc of
No.92 Squadron
at Gibraltar
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No. 92 (East India) Squadron reformed on 10 October 1939 after a gap of twenty years. At first it was equipped with the Bristol Blenheim Mk IF, but this was the phoney war period, and the squadron saw little action until May 1940, by which time it had received the Supermarine Spitfire Mk I. The squadron went operational with the Spitfire on 9 May 1940, just in time to take part in the desperate fighting over France during May and June 1940.
After its experiences over France, No. 92 Squadron was moved to South Wales, where it remained until September 1940. On 8 September 1940 the squadron was transfered to No. 11 Group, and moved to Biggin Hill. This placed them at the heart of the battle of Britain. At first No. 92 performed defensive duties, but as the bulk of the German bombing moved from day to night, the day fighters were free to move onto the offensive. No. 92 remained on the south coast, "leaning over the channel", until October 1941, when it was withdrawn to Lincolnshire in preparation for a move to the Middle East. During this period No. 92 became the first squadron to receive the new Spitfire Mk V.
The squadron made the move to the Middle East in February 1942, but did not receive new aircraft until August. This was just in time for it to play a part in defeat Rommel's last offensive, the battle of Alam el Halfa (30 August-6 September 1942). From then on in, No. 92 Squadron accompanied the Allied armies as they threw the Germans out of Africa. In June-July 1943 the squadron was based on Malta, supporting the allied invasion of Sicily. From there it moved to Sicily to support the invasion of Italy, and finally in September 1943 it moved onto the mainland of Italy. In July 1944, with the air war over Italy increasingly won, No. 92 switched to fighter-bomber duties with its Spitfire Mk VIIIs.
Aircraft
November 1939-March 1940: Bristol Blenheim Mk IF
March 1940-February 1941: Supermarine Spitfire Mk I
February 1941-February 1942: Supermarine Spitfire Mk Vb
August 1942-September 1943: Supermarine Spitfire Mk Vb and Vc
March 1943-September 1943: Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX
July 1943-December 1946: Supermarine Spitfire Mk VIII
Squadron Codes:
Group and Duty
10 October 1939: Reformed at Tangmere with Blenheim fighters
March 1940: Received Spitfires
9 May 1940: Operational with Spitfires
May-June 1940: Operational over France
June-September 1940: South Wales
September 1940-October 1941: No. 11 Group, defensive duties until end of 1940, offensive after that.
November 1940: First squadron to receive Spitfires with two 20mm cannon and four .303in machine gun wings.
February 1941: First squadron to receive Spitfire Mk V
October 1941: Withdrawn to Lincolnshire
February 1942: Transfered to Middle East
August 1942: Operational with Spitfires in Middle East
June 1943: To Malta
September 1943: To mainland Italy
July 1944: Switched to fighter-bomber duties
Location
10 October-30 December 1939: Tangmere
30 December 1939-9 May 1940: Croydon
9-23 May 1940: Northolt
23-25 May 1940: Hornchurch (aircraft only)
25 May-4 June 1940: Duxford (aircraft only)
4-9 June 1940: Northolt
9-18 June 1940: Hornchurch
18 June-8 September 1940: Pembrey
8 September 1940-9 January 1941: Biggin Hill
9 January-20 February 1941: Manston
20 February-24 September 1941: Biggin Hill
24 September-20 October 1941: Gravesend
20 October 1941-12 February 1942: Dibby
12 February 1942: Depart for Middle East
16-30 April 1942: Fayid
30 April-4 August 1942: Heliopolis
4 August-8 November 1942: L.G. 173
8-14 November 1942: L.G. 21
14-24 November 1942: Gambut West
24 November-4 December 1942: Msus
4-9 December 1942: El Hassiet
9-21 December 1942: El Nogra
21 December-1 January 1943: El Merduma
1-3 January 1943: El Chel
3-9 January 1943L Tamet
9-19 January 1943: Hamraiet
19 January-15 February 1943: Wadi Sirru/ Darragh
15-24 February 1943: Castel Benito
24 February-1 March 1943: Hazbub
1-10 March 1943: Ben Gardane
10 March-11 April: Bou Grara
11-15 April 1943: La Fauconnerie
15 April-5 May 1943: Bou Goubrine
5-20 May 1943: Hergla
20 May-14 June 1943: Ben Gardane
14 June-13 July 1943: Luqa (Malta)
13-17 July 1943: Pachino (Sicily)
17-26 July 1943: Cassibile
26 July-14 September 1943: Lentini
14-23 September 1943:
Grottaglie (Mainland Italy)
23 September-5 October 1943: Gioia del Colle
5-18 October 1943: Tortorella
18 October-22 November 1943: Triolo
22 November 1943-17 Janyar 1944: Canne
17 January-23 April 1944: Marcianise
23 April-12 June 1944: Vanafro
12-17 June 1944: Luttorio
17 June-3 July 1944: Fabricia
3 July-24 August 1944: Perugia
24 August-4 September 1944: Loreto
4 September-4 December 1944: Fano
4 December 1944-3 May 1945: Bellaria
3 May 1945-23 September 1946: Treviso