| No. 181 Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
| Active | 25 August 1942 – 30 September 1945 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Air Force |
| Motto(s) | Latin: Irruimus vastatum (We rush in and destroy)[1] |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge | An erased eagles head in front of two swords |
| Squadron Code | EL (August 1942 – September 1945) |
No. 181 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron formed as a fighter-bomber unit in World War II.
|
Main articles: Hawker Hurricane and Hawker Typhoon |
The squadron formed on 25 August 1942 at RAF Duxford and was supplied with Hurricane and Typhoon aircraft. The squadron operated the Typhoons from several locations in the United Kingdom including RAF Appledram, RAF Snailwell, RAF Lasham, RAF Odiham and RAF Hurn. The squadron attacked V-1 flying bomb launch sites and supported the Normandy landings in June 1944, then moved to France where it followed the Allied advance across Europe, seeking targets of opportunity. The squadron disbanded in Lübeck, Germany on 30 September 1945.
| From | To | Aircraft | Mk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1942 | Dec 1942 | Hawker Hurricane | I |
| Sep 1942 | Dec 1942 | Hawker Typhoon | IA |
| Sep 1942 | Sep 1945 | Hawker Typhoon | IB |
