No . 71 Squadron RAF No . 71 Squadron was a Royal Air Force aircraft squadron . The number has been used three times : once by the Royal Flying Corps for an Australian Flying Corps squadron ; in the Second World War as an Eagle Squadron ; and post - war as a fighter - bomber unit under the command of Royal Air Force Germany . History . First World War . The first unit known by the British military as " No . 71 Squadron " was No . 4 Squadron , Australian Flying Corps ( AFC ) , during the First World War . The squadron was formed at Point Cook , Victoria , Australia on 16 October 1916 , after which it travelled to England . From 27 March 1917 , while based at Castle Bromwich , it was designated " No . 71 Squadron " by the Royal Flying Corps , to avoid confusion with No . 4 Squadron , RFC . This name was never officially adopted by the Australian Imperial Force . 4 Sqn AFC arrived in France on 18 December 1917 . With Sopwith Camel s , it performed fighter sweeps , provided close air support and raided German airfields . In spite of its relatively short service during the First World War , 11 of its pilots became aces , including Captain Harry Cobby , the AFC ' s leading ace of the war , who was credited with destroying 29 aircraft and 13 observation balloons . Besides Cobby , Elwyn King , future Air Vice - Marshal Edgar McCloughry , Herbert Watson , Thomas Baker , Leonard Taplin , Thomas Barkell , future Air Marshal George Jones , Norman Trescowthick , and Garnet Malley served as aces in the unit . On 19 January 1918 , British usage of " No . 71 Squadron " for this unit also ceased . The squadron spent some time with the Army of Occupation in Germany after the Armistice and was disbanded there at Bickendorf on 28 February 1919 . American Eagles . At the start of the Second World War before the US entered the war , there were a large number of American volunteers offering their services . They were formed into " Eagle Squadrons " , and would serve in the Battle of Britain . No . 71 was formed at RAF Church Fenton on 19 September 1940 with Brewster Buffalo s . Appraisal by Royal Air Force acceptance personnel criticised the Brewster Buffalo on numerous points including lack of armament and pilot armour , poor high - altitude performance , engine overheating , maintenance issues , and cockpit controls , while it was praised for its handling , roomy cockpit , and visibility . The aircraft were deemed unsuitable for European conditions and Hawker Hurricane s replaced them from November 1940 . The squadron became operational at RAF Kirton - in - Lindsey on 5 February 1941 but moved in April to RAF Martlesham Heath . The squadron ' s first confirmed victory came on 21 July 1941 during a bomber escort mission when Pilot Officer Dunn destroyed a Bf 109F over Lille . On 29 September 1942 the squadron , together with the other two Eagle squadrons , was transferred to the US Army Air Forces becoming the 334th Fighter Squadron of the 4th Fighter Group . Into the jet age . On 16 September 1950 a new 71 Squadron was formed at RAF Gütersloh with de Havilland Vampire fighter - bombers , joining the Second Tactical Air Force . In October 1953 it became a " day fighter " unit with the North American Sabre . The Sabres were replaced by Hawker Hunter s in April 1956 . The squadron moved to RAF Bruggen in May 1956 and disbanded on 30 April 1957 .