mal ana ▁Airport , ▁near ▁Col om bo , ▁C ey lon ▁but ▁suffered ▁severe ▁losses ▁during ▁the ▁Japanese ▁car rier ▁strike ▁on ▁ 5 ▁April ▁ 1 9 4 2 . ▁After ▁a ▁spell ▁in ▁Bur ma ▁( under ▁Neil ▁Camer on ) ▁the ▁squad ron ▁was ▁with dra wn ▁to ▁be ▁re - equ ipped ▁with ▁American ▁Republic ▁P - 4 7 ▁Th under bol ts . ▁In ▁June ▁ 1 9 4 5 ▁it ▁then ▁began ▁training ▁for ▁the ▁invasion ▁of ▁Mal aya ▁but ▁on ▁the ▁Japanese ▁surrender ▁the ▁squad ron ▁was ▁finally ▁dis band ed ▁on ▁ 3 1 ▁December ▁ 1 9 4 5 . ▁ ▁The ▁squad ron ▁was ▁largely ▁man ned ▁by ▁R N Z AF ▁pil ots ▁from ▁New ▁Zealand . ▁ ▁See ▁also ▁ ▁List ▁of ▁Royal ▁Air ▁Force ▁aircraft ▁squad rons ▁ ▁References ▁ ▁Bibli ography ▁ ▁External ▁links ▁R AF ▁History ▁ 2 5 8 ▁S q dn ▁▁ 2 5 8 ▁squad ron ▁Category : Mil it ary ▁of ▁British ▁C ey lon ▁Category : Mil it ary ▁units ▁and ▁form ations ▁of ▁C ey lon ▁in ▁World ▁War ▁II ▁Category : Mil it ary ▁units ▁and ▁form ations ▁established ▁in ▁ 1 9 1 8 ▁Category : Mil it ary ▁units ▁and ▁form ations ▁dis est ab lished ▁in ▁ 1 9 1 8 ▁Category : Mil it ary ▁units ▁and ▁form ations ▁established ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 0 ▁Category : Mil it ary ▁units ▁and ▁form ations ▁dis