After
the usual brief stay at the reception centre in Bournemouth, No. 123
received its overseas designation No. 439, and the Squadron went to
Wellingore,
a satellite of Digby, to complete its organization. S/L R.W. Kelly, DFC,
took temporary command until S/L W.M. Smith arrived on 6 January 1944. Two
days later the squadron moved to Ayr, on the Firth of Clyde, where it joined
No. 438 (formerly No. 118) in the newly constituted 143 (R.C.A.F.) Wing.
Some weeks later No. 440 (formerly No. 111) arrived to complete the wing.
Hurricane IVs were received and the pilots began dive-bombing training for
their new fighter-bomber role in close support of ground operations; a few
Typhoons were also received but their number was very limited for many
weeks, and the three squadrons had to share the few that were available.
Tiger
Squadron
.
.