No. 93 Squadron (RAF) during the Second World War

No.93 Squadron went through two incarnations during the Second World War, first using the 'Pandora' aerial mine, and then as a standard fighter squadron operation in North Africa, Italy and southern France.

No.93 Squadron formed for the first time on 7 December 1940 at Middle Wallop, from No.420 Flight. The squadron was formed to use the 'Pandora' aerial mine, towing the mine below the Handley Page Harrow and Douglas Havoc I. The 'Pandora' mine was not a great success, and the squadron was disbanded on 6 December 1941, one day short of the first anniversary of its formation.

No.93 Squadron reformed six months later, on 1 June 1942, as a fighter squadron equipped with the Supermarine Spitfire. From then until September the squadron flew on convoy patrols over the Irish Sea, before in September it was moved to Gibraltar, to take part in Operation 'Torch'. After the success of the Allied landings the squadron moved to North Africa, where it provided fighter cover for the First Army in Algeria and Tunisia.

After the end of the campaign in North Africa No.93 Squadron moved to Malta, and supported the invasions of Sicily and Italy. It continued to operate over Italy until July 1944, when it moved to Corsica to help support the invasion of southern France. In August 1944 the squadron moved to the French mainland, and it continued to support the troops fighting in the south of France until September 1944, when they joined up with the main Allied armies in northern France. At this point No.93 Squadron returned to Italy, where it operated as a fighter-bomber squadron until the end of the war. At the end of the war the squadron took part in the occupation of Austria, before being disbanded in September 1945.

June-September 1942: Andreas
September-November 1942: Kings Cliffe
November 1942: Gibraltar
November 1942: Maison Blanche
November-December 1942: Souk-el-Arba
December 1942-May 1943: Souk-el-Khemis
May 1943: La Sebala
May-June 1943: Mateur
June-July 1943: Hal Far
July 1943: Comiso
July-August 1943: Pachino
August-September 1943: Panebianco
September 1943: Cassala
September 1943: Falcone
September-October 1943: Battipaglia
October 1943-January 1944: Capodichino
January-June 1944: Lago
June 1944: Tre Cancelli
June 1944: Tarquinia
June-July 1944: Grosseto
July 1944: Piombino
July-August 1944: Calvi
August 1944: Ramatuelle
August-September 1944: Sisteron
September 1944: Lyon-Bron
September-October 1944: La Jasse
October-November 1944: Peretola
November 1944-February 1945: Rimini
February-May 1945: Ravenna
May 1945: Rivolto
May-September 1945: Klagenfurt

Duty
'Pandora' Mine night 'fighters': 1940-1941
Fighter Squadron: North Africa, Italy, Southern France: 1942-1945

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How to cite this article: Rickard, J (4 August 2009), No. 93 Squadron (RAF): Second World War, http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/RAF/93_wwII.html