List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons

Typhoons representing the RAF Typhoon squadrons - 1 Sqn, 2 Sqn, 3 Sqn, 6 Sqn, 29 Sqn, 11 Sqn, 41 Sqn, 1435 Flight, and BOB75 in the centre to commemorate the Battle of Britain

Squadrons are the main form of flying unit of the Royal Air Force (RAF). These include Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) squadrons incorporated into the RAF when it was formed on 1 April 1918, during the First World War. Other squadrons of the RAF include those from Commonwealth air forces which have served within the RAF structure and squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm before it transferred to the Royal Navy in 1939.

Some squadrons have an individual tradition of presenting their squadron number in Roman numerals or using a suffix to their squadron number (such as "(F)" for "Fighter", "(B)" for "Bomber" or "(AC)" for "Army Co-operation") to indicate a past or present role. An example would be No. 18 (Bomber) Squadron RAF which currently actually operates the heavy-lift Chinook helicopter. However, these practices have, at least in the past, been deprecated at higher levels and generally only apply to certain squadrons with long traditions, especially those numbered from 1-20.^[1] Historical Squadrons can choose to 'lay up' their standards at RAF Cranwell or in places of worship following disbandment.

Flying training units and operational evaluation squadrons have generally been (Reserve) squadrons, although they are regular active-duty units. The policy of the (Reserve) numberplate was rescinded in February 2018, to coincide with the renaming of 22 (Training) Group to just 22 Group in line with other RAF Groups.

Some Squadron names include the location they were originally formed.

Regular RFC, RNAS, and RAF squadrons (Nos. 1–299)

Squadrons in Bold Type are currently active

Nos. 300–352

Squadrons in the 300–352 series were staffed during the Second World War by volunteers from countries in occupied Europe. In some cases, these RAF squadrons and personnel were regarded by a relevant government-in-exile as serving concurrently with its air force.

Similarly, in 1940–42, three "Eagle Squadrons" were composed of volunteers from the USA: No. 71 (Eagle) Squadron, later 334th Fighter Squadron USAAF; No. 121 (Eagle) Squadron, later 335th Fighter Squadron USAAF and No. 133 (Eagle) Squadron, later 336th Fighter Squadron USAAF.

Nos. 353–361

Note: Nos. 362–399 Squadrons were not formed.^[10]

Article XV squadrons of World War II (Nos. 400–490)

Under Article XV of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, the air forces of Australia, Canada and New Zealand formed squadrons for service under RAF operational control. Most were new formations, however some had already existed prior to the creation of Article XV and had already been operational during the war, including combat operations.

Royal Auxiliary Air Force squadrons (Nos. 500–509)

Formed as "Special Reserve" squadrons but absorbed into the Royal Auxiliary Air Force

Note: No. 505, 506, 507, 508 and 509 Squadrons allocated Squadron codes YF, FS, GX, DY and BQ respectively for the period April to September 1939, but were never formed.^[7]

Regular RAF squadrons (Nos. 510–598)

Note: No No. 599 Squadron seems to have been formed.^[10] There were to have been Reserve squadrons using numbers 551–566 which would have been created by adding 500 to existing Operational Training Unit designations.^[11] In the event the plan was never put into effect, although there was some desultory use of some of the numbers by some of the OTUs for a short period. Despite their lack of formal activation, this block of numbers has never been re-allocated for use by other units.

Advanced Training Squadrons (550–565)

In the event of a German Invasion the Operational Training Units would have been re-formed into the Squadrons below, under plans as part of Operation Saracen, formulated in Spring 1942, which were later revised as Operation Banquet. Some reserve Squadron numbers were used by their respective OTU's during operational tasks until at least May 1944.^[7]

• No. 550 Squadron RAF – Air Fighting Development Unit (Banquet)
• No. 551 Squadron RAF – 51 Operational Training Unit (Saracen and Banquet)
• No. 552 Squadron RAF – 51 Operational Training Unit (Saracen and Banquet)
• No. 553 Squadron RAF – 53 Operational Training Unit (Saracen and Banquet)
• No. 554 Squadron RAF – 53 Operational Training Unit (Saracen and Banquet)
• No. 555 Squadron RAF – 55 Operational Training Unit (Saracen and Banquet)
• No. 556 Squadron RAF – 56 Operational Training Unit (Saracen and Banquet)
• No. 557 Squadron RAF – 57 Operational Training Unit (Saracen and Banquet)
• No. 558 Squadron RAF – 58 Operational Training Unit (Saracen and Banquet)
• No. 559 Squadron RAF – 59 Operational Training Unit (Saracen and Banquet)
• No. 560 Squadron RAF – 56 Operational Training Unit (Banquet)
• No. 561 Squadron RAF – 61 Operational Training Unit (Saracen and Banquet)
• No. 562 Squadron RAF – 57 Operational Training Unit (Banquet)
• No. 563 Squadron RAF – 58 Operational Training Unit (Banquet)
• No. 564 Squadron RAF – 59 Operational Training Unit (Banquet)
• No. 565 Squadron RAF – 61 Operational Training Unit (Banquet)

Royal Auxiliary Air Force Squadrons (600–616)

Note: No. 606 Squadron RAF was allocated Squadron codes BG for the period April to September 1939, but was not formed.^[7] A non-flying No. 606 Helicopter Support Squadron of the RAuxAF was later formed in 1999.^[13]

Regular RAF squadrons (Nos. 617–650)

Note: Nos. 629, 632–634, 636–638, 641–643 and 645–649 were never formed,^[14] but some were allocated Squadron codes for the period April to September 1939 – 629 (LQ), 632 (LO), 636 (VZ), 637 (UK), 638 (PZ), 641 (EV), 645 (KF), 646 (YG), 647 (ZS), 648 (YT) and 649 (HA).^[7] However a fictitious "633 Squadron" was featured in the eponymous novel and film. In addition, a fictitious 641 Squadron featured in the film "Mosquito Squadron". Also, RAF Volunteer Gliding Squadrons (formerly Volunteer Gliding Schools until 2005) have been numbered in the range 611 to 671 since 1955.

Air Observation Post squadrons

These squadrons were formed during the Second World War to perform artillery spotting and liaison roles, in co-operation with Army units. Most AOP squadron aircrew were provided by the Army. Nos. 661–664 and 666 Squadron were re-formed as Royal Auxiliary Air Force units in 1949. Nos. 651, 652 and 656 Squadron were transferred to the Army Air Corps in 1957.^[15]

Regular RAF squadrons (Nos. 667–695)

Note: Nos. 693–694 and 696–699 Squadrons were never formed.^[14]

Fleet Air Arm squadrons

While still under the control of the RAF, flights of the Fleet Air Arm were organized into squadrons with numbers in the 700 and 800 range. The range 700 to 750 had been previously used for Fleet Air Arm Catapult Flight numbers.^[16]

These squadrons were transferred to the Royal Navy in 1939, becoming Naval Air Squadrons (NAS).^[17] The 700 and 800 range of squadron numbers continued to be used by the Royal Navy for newly formed Naval Air Squadrons.

Training Depot Stations

Training Depot Stations (TDS) were still in use after the formation of the RAF in 1918.^[18]

University Air Squadrons

The majority of Universities in the United Kingdom are, or have been, represented by University Air Squadrons where under-graduates can sample the Royal Air Force and learn to fly, as well as take advantage of scholarship schemes. They operate the Tutor T.1.

Volunteer Gliding Squadrons

Initially formed as Volunteer Gliding Schools, these squadrons retained their gliding school numbers when reformed as squadrons. Conflicts with the main Squadron numbers resolved by the VGS suffix. These Squadrons operate the Viking TX.1 glider.

• HQ No. 2 Flying Training School RAF - (RAF Syerston)
• Central Gliding School - (RAF Syerston)

Independent Flights

The RAF maintains a number of independent flights, some on a permanent basis, others on an ad-hoc basis as required. For a full list, see List of Royal Air Force aircraft independent flights.

• Battle of Britain Memorial Flight - 6 x Spitfire (various Marks), 2 x Hurricane, 1 x Lancaster, 1 x Dakota, 2 x Chipmunk - (RAF Coningsby)
• 1310 Flight - 2 x Chinook HC.2s - (RAF Mount Pleasant)
• 1312 Flight - 1 x Voyager KC.2, 1 x Hercules C.3 - (RAF Mount Pleasant)
• 1435 Flight - 4 x Typhoon FGR.4 - (RAF Mount Pleasant)

Dormant Squadrons

RAF College Cranwell stores some Standards for disbanded Squadrons that have the potential to be re-activated in the future, preserving the heritage of historic units. Once a Squadron Standard is 'laid up' in a place of worship, upon the disbandment of the Squadron, that Standard can no longer be reactivated. Many UK churches have Standards from the RAF following a service of Disbandment. However, some Squadrons choose to lay up their Standards in College Hall at RAF Cranwell, the spiritual home of the RAF, and may be reactivated as active Squadrons in the future. Old disbanded squadrons that have laid up their Standards can be presented new Standards to reactivate them, but this is currently extremely rare.

Squadron Standards (and their last operated aircraft) that are on display in the College Hall Rotunda are:

• XV Squadron Tornado GR.4
• 23 Squadron Sentry AEW.1
• 42 Squadron Nimrod MR.2
• 44 Squadron Vulcan B.2
• 50 Squadron Vulcan B.2/K.2
• 58 Squadron Hunter F.8
• 74 Squadron Hawk T.1
• 111 Squadron Tornado F.3
• 120 Squadron Nimrod MR.2- Will be reactivated as the first P-8 Poseidon Squadron at RAF Lossiemouth

• 3 Squadron RAF Regiment

Other Squadrons

The Royal Air force and Royal flying corps has always comprised a certain number of non-numbered Squadrons to fulfil special duties, experimental or one-off tasks.

Squadron codes

Most units of the Royal Air Force are identified by alphabetical (or similar) characters, known as a "squadron code", that is painted on all aircraft belonging to that unit. When individual units are assigned unusually large numbers of aircraft, multiple squadron codes have been used.

Other air forces, especially those from other Commonwealth countries, have often used similar systems of identification. During the Second World War, when units from other air forces were attached to the RAF – such as the Article XV squadrons (also known as "400 series squadrons") – their squadron codes were often changed, to avoid confusion with RAF units.

Historically, the codes have usually been two letters of the alphabet, painted on the rear fuselage next to the RAF roundel. These formed a suffix or prefix to the call sign of each aircraft (on the other side of the roundel) which was usually a single letter (e. g. "G for George"). In general, when an aircraft is lost or withdrawn from use, its call sign has been applied to its replacement or another aircraft.

See also

Notes

References

• Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
• Jefford, C.G. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1988 (second edition 2001). ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
• Lake, Alan. "Flying Units of the RAF".Airlife Publishing. Shrewsbury. 1999. ISBN 1-84037-086-6

External links

• a list of current squadrons from the RAF website