No. 159 Squadron RAF
No. 159 Squadron badge
Active	1 June 1918 - 4 July 1918 2 July 1942 – 1 June 1946
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Air Force
Role	Bombing, mining, reconnaissance, transport
Mottos	Latin:Quo non, quando non (Translated: "Whither not, When not?")[1][2]
Engagements	Far East 1942-45
Commanders
Notable commanders	James Blackburn
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldry	In Front of logs inflamed, a peacocks head erased, in the beak a woodmans axe.[1][2]
Aircraft flown
Bomber	Consolidated Liberator
Patrol	Consolidated Liberator
Reconnaissance	Consolidated Liberator
Transport	Consolidated Liberator

No. 159 Squadron RAF was aRoyal Air Force squadron that was active as abomber,mine-laying,reconnaissance andtransport unit in theSecond World War.

The original159 Squadron was to be formed during theFirst World War, but the idea was disbanded so that reinforcements could be sent toFrance.^[3]

No. 159 Squadron was reformed atRAF Molesworth on 2 July 1942 during theSecond World War and its ground crew personnel were posted, without aircraft, to the Middle East on 12 February 1942 and then to India on 18 May 1942. FlyingConsolidated Liberators, the squadron was posted to Palestine in July 1942 and carried out bombing raids in North Africa, Italy and Greece. No. 159 then flew to India on 30 September 1942. The first operation against the Japanese was on 17 November 1942, and during the rest of the war, the squadron flew mine-laying, bombing, and reconnaissance missions overBurma,Siam,Malaya,Indo-China and theDutch East Indies.

In October 1944, the Squadron mounted an audacious minelaying raid on the Japanese held port ofPenang. The mission entailed a round trip of over 3,000 miles, which at the time was the longest distance bombing raid in history.Eric Burchmore was in charge of the modification and preparation of the Consolidated Liberator aircraft used for the mission. The raid was led by Wing Commander James Blackburn and was a complete success, with the port of Penang completely blocked by mines and all of the aircraft and crews returning safely. Burchmore was awarded a military MBE in recognition of his contribution to the operation, whilst Wing Commander Blackburn was awarded a Bar to his DSO and was also awarded the American DFC by the United States.

After the war, No.159 converted to transport and survey duties before disbanding on 1 June 1946.

Flight SergeantStanley James Woodbridge, a wireless operator who served with 159 squadron, was awarded theGeorge Cross posthumously in 1948. Woodbridge had steadfastly refused to divulge his codes and other details of his radio equipment to his Japanese captors. Woodbridge was tortured and eventually beheaded along with three other members of his crew

Wing Commander James Blackburn DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar, DFC (US)[1] (1916–1993) was a Royal Air Force officer who completed a record five tours of operations during World War II.

• Eric Burchmore

Wikimedia Commons has media related toNo. 159 Squadron RAF.

• No. 159 squadron historyArchived 18 May 2007 at theWayback Machine
• Tom Fraser an ordinary airman in 159 Squadron in India
• Lucian Brett Ercolani, Obituary
• Fowkes, Gary (1 February 2009)."No. 159 Squadron R.A.F."RAF Liberator Squadrons. Archived fromthe original on 9 October 2011. Retrieved16 August 2011.

• Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons
• 1918 establishments in the United Kingdom
• Military units and formations of Ceylon in World War II
• Military units and formations in Mandatory Palestine in World War II
• Military units and formations established in 1918
• Military units and formations disestablished in 1918
• Military units and formations established in 1942
• Military units and formations disestablished in 1946

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