No. 71 (Eagle) Squadron RAF | |
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Active | 27 March 1917 – 19 January 1918 19 September 1940 – 29 September 1942 16 September 1950 – 30 April 1957 |
Country | United Kingdom |
Allegiance | United Kingdom United States (September 1942) |
Branch | Royal Air Force |
Nickname(s) | Eagle |
Motto(s) | First from the eyries[1] |
Insignia | |
Squadron Badge heraldry | A bald-headed eagle displayed charged with three stars of nine points |
Post 1950 Squadron Roundel | |
Squadron Codes | XR (November 1940 – September 1942, also used initially on transfer to USAAF) L (September 1950 – October 1953) |
No. 71 Squadron was a Royal Air Force aircraft squadron. The number has been used three times: once by the Royal Flying Corps for an Australian Flying Corps squadron; in the Second World War as the first of three Eagle Squadrons; and post-war as a fighter-bomber unit under the command of Royal Air Force Germany.