No. 234 Squadron RAF

No. 234 (Madras Presidency) Squadron RAF
Active20 Aug 1918 - 15 May 1919
30 Oct 1939 - 1 Sep 1946
1 Aug 1952 - 15 Jul 1957
22 Oct 1958 - 31 Aug 1992
1 Sep 1992 – 1 Apr 1994
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
Nickname(s)Madras Presidency
"The Dragons"
Motto(s)Latin: Ignem mortemque despuimus
("We spit fire and death")[1][2]
EngagementsBattle of Britain
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldryA dragon rampant, flames issuing from the mouth
The dragon indicates the fighting role and the flames associate with the name Spitfire[1][3]
Squadron CodesAZ (May 1940 - Aug 1945)
FX (Aug 1945 - Sep 1946)
W (Aug 1952 - Jan 1954)

No. 234 Squadron RAF had a long career within the RAF, being operational on flying boats in World War I and on fighter aircraft in World War II. After the war it remained a fighter unit till 1957. In its last incarnation the squadron was in turn Operational Training Unit (OTU), Tactical Weapon Unit (TWU) and part of No. 4 Flying Training School RAF until finally disbanded in 1994.

  1. ^ a b Rawlings 1978, pp. 336-339.
  2. ^ Halley 1988, pp. 301-302.
  3. ^ "RAF - 234 Squadron". Archived from the original on 4 July 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2009.