No. 161 Squadron

Motto: Liberate.
Badge: An open fetterlock.
Authority: -

No 161 Squadron was formed as a nucleus of a day bomber unit on 1 June 1918, but was disbanded on 4 July 1918 to provide personnel for other units.

On 15 February 1942, No.161 reformed at Newmarket from a nucleus supplied by No 138 Squadron and the King's Flight. It joined with No 138 in dropping supplies and agents over occupied Europe and took over the landing and pick-up operations for which it used Lysanders, Havocs and Hudsons. Only a few sorties were flown with the Havoc, and many of these were as convoy escorts under the control of Fighter or Coastal Command. Halifaxes were received in November 1942 and in September 1944, it began using Stirlings with which it continued it's covert tasks until the end of the war.

Bomber Command WWII Bases:
Formed 15.2.42 as No 161 (Special Duties) Squadron at:

• Newmarket : Feb 1942-Mar 1942
• Graveley : Mar 1942-Apr 1942
• Tempsford : Apr 1942 onwards

Bomber Command WWII Aircraft:

• Lysander III : Feb 1942 onwards
• Whitley V : Feb 1942-Dec 1942
• Havoc I : Feb 1942-Dec 1943
• Halifax V : Nov 42-Oct 1944
• Hudson III and V : Oct 1943 onwards
• Stirling III and IV : Sep 1944 onwards

Code Letters:

• "JR".

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