No. 73 Squadron RAF

No. 73 Squadron RAF
Active1 July 1917 – 2 July 1919
15 March 1937 – 3 February 1969
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
Motto(s)Latin: Tutor et Ultor
("Protector and Avenger")[1]
Battle honoursWestern Front, 1918*, Marne, 1918*, Lys, Amiens, Arras, Hindenburg Line, France & Low Countries, 1939-40*, Battle of Britain, 1940*, Egypt & Libya, 1940-43*, Mediterranean, 1941-43*, El Alamein*, El Hamma, South East Europe 1943-45*, Italy 1943–45
Honours marked with an asterisk are those emblazoned on the Squadron Standard
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldryA demi-Talbot rampant, charged on the shoulder with a maple leaf.
During World War Two the squadron was commanded by Major Hubbard and his aircraft carried a representation of Old Mother Hubbard's dog looking into an empty cupboard. In order to retain its association with this unofficial badge the squadron adopted a heraldic dog and put a maple leaf on it to associate with its Canadian personnel.[2]
Squadron CodesHV Oct 1938 - Sep 1939
TP Sep 1939 - Nov 1940

No. 73 Squadron, Royal Air Force was formed on 2 July 1917 during the First World War. It was disbanded in 1969.

  1. ^ Pine, L.G. (1983). A dictionary of mottoes (1 ed.). London: Routledge & Kegan Paul. p. 238. ISBN 0-7100-9339-X.
  2. ^ "73 Squadron". Royal Air Force. Archived from the original on 6 October 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2016.