Today, we still view the Argentine with a deal of suspicion after the Falklands campaign over 30 years ago. What we too often forget that around 600 Argentine volunteers joined the British and Canadian Air Forces, many in No 164 Squadron RAF, which motto was Firmes volamos (Determined We Fly) displaying its insignia of a British lion in front of a rising sun, representing Argentina. Some pilots adorned the side of their aircraft with a picture of a popular Argentine cartoon character called Patoruzú, an indigenous Indian with incredible strength. In January 1943 the squadron moved to South Wales to train as a ground-attack unit, where it was equipped with Hawker Hurricanes. Operations against enemy shipping and coastal targets began in June 1943. After providing valuable support for the landing forces from southern England 70 years ago next month using their Hawker Typhoons, the squadron moved to France in July 1944. During the Battle of Normandy, No.164 used its rockets against enemy armour in the battle area and after the breakout moved forward through northern France and Belgium in support of the 21st Army Group. For the remaining months of the war, the squadron was engaged in reconnaissance sweeps, attacking enemy transport and tanks and in April 1945 moved into its first German base. Soon after the end of the war it moved back to the UK and re-equipped with No.453 Squadrons Spitfires. On 31 August 1946, the squadron was renumbered 63 squadron.
Posted on: Sat, 17 May 2014 13:28:02 +0000
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