Before the Entrance of the USA into the Second World War three so called Eagle Squadrons was formed in the Royal Air Force by American Volunteers. They recived Badges in the RAF Pattern:
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No 71 (Eagle) Squadron. Orignaly formed with Australian personnel 27 March 1917 at Castle Bromwich. Arrived at the Front in December 1917 and become No 4 Sqn, Australian Flying Corps on 19 Jan 1918. Which after Frontline and Occupation Service was disbanded at 28 Feb 1919. Reraised as the first American Volunteer Squadron at 19 Sep 1940 and transferred to the USAAF as 334th FS (in 4th FG) on 29 Sep 1942. No 71 Sqn was reraised as a purely British Sqn on 16 Sep 1950 at Gütersloh in Germany and finaly disbanded 30 April 1957 at RAF Brüggen, Germany having flown Vampire, Sabre and Hawker Hunter Jet Fighters. The Badge was granted in Septemebr 1942. The Bald Eagle symbolises the American Volunteers. The Stars have a total of 27 Points which represents the 26 known US States from which the Volunteers came. The 27th Star denotes those States that might have been overlooked. It appears that the Motto here lacks an S at the end as in the Book Knights of the Sky Part Five Numbered Flying Squadrons by BR Holliss has the Motto as First From The Eyries.
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No 121 (Eagle) Squadron. Originaly formed 1 Jan 1918 as a light bomber unit, didn’t become operative and disbanded on 17 Aug 1918. Reactivation commenced on 14 Oct but was abandoned at Armistrice on 11 Nov. Reraised as the second American Volunteer Sqn on 14 May 1941 and transferred to the USAAF as 335th FS/4th FG on 29 Sep 1942. The Sqn has since not been reactivted by the RAF. The Badge was granted in September 1942, the Indian Warrior’s Head was chosen to symbolise the American connection of the Sqn.
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No 133 (Eagle) Squadron. Originaly formed 1 March 1918 as a Bomber Sqn, disbanded 4 July to provide replacement to other Sqns. Reactivation commenced 28 Oct but abandoned at Armistrice on 11 Nov. Reraised as the third American Volunteer Sqn on 1 Aug 1941 and transferred to the USAAF as 336th FS/4th FG on 29 Sep 1942. The Sqn has since not been reactivated by the RAF. The Badge was granted in September 1942. The Eagle symbolises the American Volunteers and the Stars and Hurt symbolises the Unit’s Role in the Air.
Pictures from http://www.rafweb.org/Sqn_Badges/
