The squadron was formed at Dum Dum, India on 15 January 1943 from a detachment of No. 89 Squadron RAF, flying radar-equipped Bristol Beaufighternight fighters in defence of Calcutta.[1] That night, it flew its first operational sorties, with Flight SergeantArthur Pring shooting down three Japanese Mitsubishi Ki-21 bombers in four minutes, becoming an air ace.[2][a] On the night of 19/20 January, another of 176's aircraft intercepted three more Ki-21s, claiming two destroyed and one damaged, but itself being shot down by return fire from the bombers. In fact, only one of the Ki-21s was shot down. The losses of four bombers in a few days caused Japanese night attacks on Calcutta to be suspended.[4] Detachments of the squadron were then based at ChittagongBurma, RatmalanaCeylon, Baigachi and Mingaladon where the Beaufighters were replaced with Mosquitos in June 1945. The squadron disbanded on 1 June 1946.