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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
No. 57 Squadron RAF was a bomber squadron of the Royal Air Force during both the First and Second World Wars.
The squadron motto was '"Corpus non animum muto ("I change my body, not my spirit").
[edit] First World War
The squadron was formed on 8th June 1916 at Copmanthorpe, travelling to France in December, initially as a fighter-reconaisance unit. The following year the squadron converted to bombing-reconaisance, a role it continued until the end of hostilities. The squadron was disbanded in December 1919, a few months after returning to Britain. During the war the squadron recorded 166 enemy aircraft destroyed, as well as 285 tonnes of bombs dropped.
[edit] Second World War
The Squadron was reformed in 1931 at Netheravon, and was deployed in France as part of No 1 (Bomber) Group at the outbreak of the war in 1939. No 57 squadron was involved in several sorties against the advancing German forces, before being forced to return to England in May 1940, when it was based at RAF Wyton. The following month, the Squadron again moved, this time to Lossiemouth in Scotland under Coastal Command, from where they engaged in patrols over the North Sea.
By Novenber No 57 Squadron was redeployed to Feltwell in Norfolk, and in 1942 transfered to RAF Scampton, where they were equipped with Lancasters, then in August 1943 they made their last move of the war, to RAF East Kirkby.
