This squadron was activated on 6th April 1942 as a gift squadron from the British diaspora in Argentina, hence its motto in spanish, "Firmes Volamos" (firmly we flight). It was activated at RAF Peterhead, in Scotland and was initially equipped with the Spitfire Mk.Va flying mostly shipping patrols. In May, they were rebased to RAF Skeabrae, in the Orkney Islands, where they were re-equipped in September with the Spitfire Mk.Vb,. There they faced some occasional clashes against Luftwaffe fighters. In February 1943 they were rebased from RAF Peterhead to RAF Fairwood Common, in Wales to be re-equipped with the Hawker Hurricane as the squadron was to perform ground-attack duties.
It wasn't until June 1945 that the squadron switched again to aerial interceptor role and changed the Hawker Typhoon with the Spitfire Mk.IX, which kept them, together with some Mk.XVIe until August 1946 when the squadron was disbanded.
After the war, in 1947, Jaime Storey, an Argentine citizen who was interested in the Spitfire, bought a PR.XI, which was registered as LV-NMZ and, with additional fuel tanks, it flew from RAF Hurn, in Dorset, England to Buenos Aires, Argentina in a flight that took place between the dates of 29th April 1947 and 7th May 1947. This machine was donated to the University of Cordoba, together with a Mk.IX which was bought by Henri Henequin (CEO of Henequin & Co) and tried to sell it to the Argentine Air Force back in 1946 and, for that purpose, it was painted with the Argentine roundel and fin flash. This machine, however served as a source of spare parts for the aforementioned PR.XI.
The Argentine Air Force also ordered ten Spitfire T.IX trainers in 1950 but it was cancelled and the Fiat G.55b were acquired instead.
Sources:
1st https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._164_Squadron_RAF
2nd https://www.3040100.com.ar/spitfire-en-la-aviacion-argentina/ (translated)
3rd https://www.elgrancapitan.org/portal/index.php/articulos3/segunda-guerra-mu/1363-spitfires-en-argentina (translated)
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