273 Squadron Royal Flying Corps was formed on 30 July 1918 and operated DH.4s, DH.9s and Sopwith Camels from Burgh Castle, Norfolk, on reconnaissance missions.

In March 1942, it equipped with the Fairey Fulmars (as the only RAF unit) and lost an aircraft during the Japanese attack on Ceylon on 9 April, shooting down several bombers in return.

From March 1944, pilots were given the new Spitfire Mk VIII to fly, and the squadron was moved up to British India to join in the war against Japanese imperial forces.

There was constant fighting over this period, this concentrating on ground support operations for the army, but also flying against Japanese Nakajima Ki-43 Oscars (based out of Akyab), and convoy patrols.

From February through to early May, 273 Squadron was based at Ramree Island, where it supported army operations as they moved against Japanese forces further south down the coast.

The first three weeks of July however involved a further final period of intense fighting however, as Allied army units and the RAF decimated Japanese forces as they attempted to cross the Sittang River, and head back towards Thailand.

In mid-September, 273 Squadron was transferred to Don Muang, Siam (Thailand), and then moved to Tan Son Nhut, French Indo-China (Vietnam) at the end of that month.

The squadron was re-equipped with Spitfire Mk XIVs in November 1945, used them in their only offensive operation on 11 December against Viet Minh in support of a surrounded French unit at Ban Me Thout and then finally disbanded (at Tan Son Nhut) at the end of January 1946.