No . 63 Squadron RAF No . 63 Squadron RAF was an bomber aircraft and training squadron of the British Royal Air Force that was active during various periods from 1916 to 1992 . Originally using De Havilland DH4 aircraft in World War I , it was last equipped with BAe Hawk jet trainers . History . In World War I . No . 63 Squadron was formed on 31 August 1916 at Stirling , Scotland as a squadron of the Royal Flying Corps . The squadron was intended to operate as a day - bomber unit over the Western Front in France , and was therefore equipped with de Havilland DH4 aircraft ; however at the last minute the squadron was re - tasked to operate against the Turkish army in Mesopotamia ( Iraq ) and was re - equipped with R . E . 8 ' s for its new mission , when the squadron arrived in the Middle East in August 1917 . No . 63 Squadron remained in Mesopotamia for the rest of the war , and it was disbanded in 1920 . Prelude to war . In February 1937 , now as a Royal Air Force unit , the squadron was refounded at Andover , Hampshire as a bomber unit , and three months later became the first unit to receive the Fairey Battle aircraft . Early in 1939 the unit was assigned an aircrew training role , and received a number of Avro Anson s , but the unit lost its separate identity in April 1940 when it became a part of No . 12 OTU . In World War II . On 15 June 1942 No . 63 Squadron was reformed from part of No . 239 Squadron at Gatwick , Sussex , and commenced flying from Odiham with Alison engined Mustang s in January 1943 . In January 1944 the squadron moved to Turnhouse in Scotland and was re - equipped with Hawker Hurricane s in April 1944 , converting to Spitfire Vs in early May ' 44 . By the end of September the squadron was based at Lee on Solent , preparing for D - Day . during the allied landings 63 Squadron flew spotter flights above the Royal Navy , providing a form of Forward Air Control ( FAC ) for the naval gunners supporting the troops on land . The pilots of the squadron at this stage were drawn from former Army co - operation units , the Royal Marines and the Fleet Air Arm as well as the RAF . In September 1944 the squadron re located to North Weald . The squadron was disbanded on 30 January 1945 . Post - war : enter the jets . No . 164 Squadron was renumbered as No . 63 Squadron on 1 September 1946 , using Spitfires . In April 1948 the squadron was re - equipped with Gloster Meteor jet fighters . The squadron moved to Waterbeach , Cambridgeshire , in May 1950 , where it remained until it was disbanded on 31 October 1958 , having operated Hawker Hunter fighters for the last two years . 63 Squadron reformed as a ' Shadow ' unit for the Day Fighter Combat Squadron of the Central Fighter Establishment from 30 November 1958 until 1 June 1963 . On the same day the number was transferred to No 229 OCU as the ' Shadow ' designation for one of its constituent squadrons . On 2 September 1970 No 229 OCU was re - designated as a Tactical Weapons Unit and 63 squadron remained one of its ' Shadow ' units . 63 squadron was transferred to No 2 TWU on 1 August 1980 operating BAe Hawk and when that unit was redesignated No 7 FTS on 1 April 1992 , 63 Squadron remained a component part until 23 September 1992 ; when 63 Squadron last disbanded and its role was transferred to 19 ( R ) Squadron .