No. 133 Squadron RAF

133 Squadron RAF was one of the famous Eagle squadrons formed from American volunteers serving with the RAF during World War II.

History
133 Squadron was first formed in 1918 at RAF Ternhill. It was a training unit for the Handley Page O/400, flying the Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2, that was expected to move to France, but was disbanded on 4 July 1918. Various attempts to reform as both a bomber and fighter squadron were all abandoned as the end of World War I approached.

It was reformed at RAF Coltishall in July 1941 as the third of the Eagle squadrons, equipped with Hawker Hurricane IIB fighters. It transferred to RAF Duxford in August, and by October was at RAF Eglinton, County Londonderry in Northern Ireland, where it was equipped with Supermarine Spitfire IIAs. It then transferred back to the south-east England including time at RAF Biggin Hill. The squadron ran fighter sweeps over France until September 1942 when it was transferred to the USAAF and became the 336th Fighter Squadron of the 4th Fighter Group.

Roland Wolfe's crash in Inishowen
In November 1941, Roland 'Bud' Wolfe crash landed in Inishowen, Co. Donegal. His plane's coolant overheated during a patrol mission just north of the Inishowen peninsula. Trying to return to RAF Eglinton, he had no choice but to bail out of his Spitfire, as he was losing altitude. His plane crashed in the heather covered area of Moneydarragh, Gleneely. He was arrested and sent to Curragh detention prison, where he spent two years. He was then released and went on to serve the 'Eagles' once again. His Spitfire was recovered on the 28, June 2011 by aviation historian Johnny McNee, along with others. The recovery was filmed, and will be made into a documentary for the BBC.

Aircraft operated

 * 1918 - Royal Aircraft Factory FE.2b
 * 1941 - Hawker Hurricance IIB
 * 1941 - Supermarine Spitfire IIB
 * 1942 - Supermarine Spitfire VA and VB
 * 1942 - Supermarine Spitfire IX

Fiction
In the 2005 episode of Doctor Who, "The Empty Child", Jack Harkness, from the 51st century, is posing as a volunteer in the squadron during 1941.