No. 71 Squadron RAF

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 World War II as the first of three Eagle Squadrons; and post-war as a fighter-bomber unit under the command of Royal Air Force Germany.

The Eagle Squadron was formed at RAF Church Fenton on 19 September 1940, and became operational at RAF Kirton-in-Lindsey on 5 February 1941, eventually moving in April to RAF Martlesham Heath in Suffolk for operations over Europe. The unit soon established a high reputation, and numerous air kill claims were made in RAF fighter sweeps over the continent during the summer and autumn of 1941. In December, the Squadron was rested back at Martlesham Heath, before a move to Debden in May 1942. When informed of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, most of the Eagle Squadron pilots wanted to immediately join the fight against Japan. Representatives from 71 and 121 Squadrons went to the American Embassy in London and offered their services to the United States. The pilots from 71 Squadron decided they wanted to go to Singapore to fight the Japanese and a proposal was put to RAF Fighter Command, who turned it down. On 29 September 1942 the squadron, together with the other two Eagle squadrons, was transferred to the United States Army Air Forces, becoming the 334th Fighter Squadron of the 4th Fighter Group.

No. 71 Squadron RAF in Or Even Eagle Flew

The Eagle Squadron officially became active in September 1940 with the formation of 71 Squadron. All American in the RAF were transferred to RAF Church Fenton, including Red Tobin, Andy Mamedoff, and Shorty Keough of 609 Squadron. This fact distressed Lt. Darley, CO for 609 Squadron. Darley had assumed that Amelia Earhart would also be assigned to 71 Squadron. Howver, due to her efforts to publicly shame Air Marshall Sholto Douglas into accepting flyer Amy Johnson as combat flyers, Earhart had to face a dressing down from Douglas before she was officially transferred.