No. 249 (Gold Coast) Squadron RAF
Spitfires 249 Sqn at RAF Ta Kali 1942
Active	18 August 1918 – 8 October 1919 16 May 1940 – 16 August 1945 23 October 1945 – 24 February 1969
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Air Force
Nickname(s)	Gold Coast
Motto(s)	Latin:Pugnis et calcibus ("With fists and heels")
Battle honours	Home Waters, 1918*;Battle of Britain, 1940*; Home Defence; Fortress Europe, 1941*; Malta, 1941–42*; Mediterranean, 1942–43*; North Africa, 1942*; Sicily; Italy, 1943–45*; South-East Europe, 1943–45* Honours marked with an asterisk* are those emblazoned on the Squadron Standard
Commanders
Notable commanders	Stan Turner Percy Lucas
Insignia
Squadron Badge	In front of a bezant an elephant passant[1]
Squadron Codes	GN (May 1940 – May 1941, Jun 1943 – Sep 1944, Oct 1945 – Mar 1950) T (Mar 1942 – Jun 1943)

No. 249 (Gold Coast) Squadron RAF was aRoyal Air Force squadron, active in the sea-patrol,fighter andbomber roles during its existence. It was one of the top scoring fighter squadrons of the RAF in World War II.^[2]

No. 249 Squadron was formed for the first time on 18 August 1918 from Nos. 400, 401, 419 and 450 flights atDundee^[3] Equipped with a variety of seaplanes the squadron flew coastal patrol and anti-submarine duties as part ofNo. 78 Wing RAF. It remained at Dundee until April 1919 when it moved toRNAS Killingholme, without its aircraft. The squadron was disbanded not long after, on 8 October 1919.

On 16 May 1940, 249 squadron reformed as afighter squadron atRAF Church Fenton. Equipped withHurricanes, the unit fought in theBattle of Britain. The onlyVictoria Cross awarded to anRAF Fighter Command pilot during the Battle of Britain, was won byJames Brindley Nicolson while serving with 249 squadron. Offensive missions over France began in December 1940 but in May 1941, No. 249 was transferred toMalta by aircraft carrier. There it formed part of the fighter defences, converting to Spitfires in February 1942. Fighter bomber missions over Sicily began in November 1942 and October 1943 the squadron moved to Italy. Sweeps were carried out over Albania and Yugoslavia and in September 1944, No. 249 converted toMustangs. In April 1945, it moved to Northern Yugoslavia for a month and after a short period in northern Italy the squadron disbanded on 16 August 1945.

On 23 October 1945, No. 500 Squadron atEastleigh, Kenya was renumbered 249 Squadron and flewBaltimores for a short time before re-equipping withMosquitoes in February 1946. After taking part in survey flights, No.249 moved toIraq in June 1946 and became aTempest fighter squadron.

The squadron was stationed atRAF Deversoir in theEgyptian Canal Zone in 1952, flyingVampires. Vampires were received in 1950 and after a period in Egypt the squadron moved to Jordan and converted toVenoms. In August 1956, it moved to Cyprus and in July 1957 to Kenya where it disbanded on 15 October 1957. It reformed at Akrotiri on the same day as a Canberra light bomber unit and after twelve years in the area No.249 disbanded on 24 February 1969

In the year 2000 the Squadron gave its number to anAir Cadet Squadron based inHailsham,England.^[4] This was because 249 Squadron lost a man over the town during the Battle of Britain. The Air Cadets Squadron is also an affiliated member of 249 Squadron Association.^[5]

ABattle of Britain Class steam locomotive, Number34073, 249 Squadron, was named after the squadron. The locomotive escaped scrapping after it was withdrawn from service in 1964 and is currently awaiting restoration to running condition. In 2014 the locomotive was moved from Bury to storage at Carnforth.

A replica Hurricane was unveiled in 2012 in Alexandra Gardens, Barry Avenue, Windsor SL4 3HD. It bears the code letters GN-J of 249 Squadron.^[6]

• Sqn Ldr George Barclay DFC
• Sqn Ldr Robert Barton OBE, DFC and bar
• Wg Cdr John "Beazle" Beazley DFC
• Flt Lt George "Buzz" Beurling DSO DFC DFM*
• Raoul Daddo-Langlois
• Sqn Leader A G Lewis DFC and bar
• Wg Cdr Percy "Laddie" Lucas CBE DSO DFC
• Sqn Ldr Robert "Buck" McNairDSODFC**
• Sqn Ldr Edward Mortimer-Rose DFC*
• Wg Cdr Tom "Ginger" Neil DFC* AFC AE
• Wg Cdr Eric Nicolson VC DFC
• Flt Lt "Titch" Palliser DFC AE
• Flt Lt Jack Rae DFC*
• Gp Cpt Stan Turner DSO DFC*

Wikimedia Commons has media related toNo. 249 Squadron RAF.

• 249 Squadron Association
• Aviation art painting – F/O Percy Burton of No.249 Squadron in combat over Hailsham, 27 September 1940
• History of No.'s 246–250 Squadrons at RAF Web
• Sqn History

• Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons
• Military units and formations established in 1918
• Military units and formations disestablished in 1945
• Military units and formations established in 1945
• 1918 establishments in the United Kingdom
• Military units and formations in Mandatory Palestine in World War II

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