No. 19 Squadron RAF

No. XIX (Reserve) Squadron RAF
Active 1 Sep 1915 - 31 Dec 1919
1 Apr 1923 - 31 Dec 1976
1 Jan 1977 - 9 Jan 1992
23 Sep 1992 – 24 November 2011
Country United Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
Motto(s) Latin:Possunt quia posse videntur
(Translation: "They can because they think they can")[1]
Battle honours Western Front 1916-1918*
Somme 1916*
Arras
Ypres 1917*
Somme 1918
Lys
Amiens
Hindenburg Line
Dunkirk*
Home Defence 1940-1942
Battle of Britain 1940*
Channel and North Sea 1942-1942
Fortress Europe 1942-1944*
Dieppe
Normandy 1944*
Arnhem
France and Germany 1944-1945
Honours marked with an asterix(*) are those actually emblazoned on the Squadron Standard[2]
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldry Between wings elevated and conjoined in base, a dolphin, head downwards.[1][3]
Squadron Roundel
Squadron Codes WZ (Oct 1938 - Sep 1939)[4][5]
QV (Sep 1939 - Sep 1945)[6][7]
A (1989 - 1991)[8]

No. 19(F) Squadron RAF (sometimes written as No. XIX Squadron) was a flying squadron of the Royal Air Force.

History

First World War

No. 19 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps was founded on 1 September 1915[9] training on a variety of aircraft before being deployed to France in July 1916 flying B.E.12s and re-equipping with the more suitable French-built Spads.

From November 1917, the squadron started to receive Sopwith Dolphins to replace its Spads, it being fully equipped with the Dolphin during January 1918, flying its first operational patrol with the new fighter on 3 February.[10] In 1918, the squadron was re-equipped with Sopwith Dolphins, flying escort duties. By the end of the war, 19 Squadron had had a score of flying aces among its ranks, including Albert Desbrisay Carter, John Leacroft, Arthur Bradfield Fairclough, Oliver Bryson, Gordon Budd Irving, Frederick Sowrey, future Air Commodore Patrick Huskinson, Cecil Gardner, Roger Amedee Del'Haye, future Air Chief Marshal James Hardman, Finlay McQuistan, Alexander Pentland, John Candy, Cecil Thompson, John Aldridge,[11] and Wilfred Ernest Young.[12] Commanding officers during this time included H.D. Harvey-Kelly who was the first RFC pilot to land in France in the First World War. At least one of 19 Sqn. fliers, a Canadian, George Robert Long, was captured on 6 October 1917 in the Lille area and spent the rest of the war in a number of POW camps, including Holzminden POW camp. It was his very first flight, in a Spad VII, #B3508. He was shot down by Gefr. J. Funk, flying with Ja30. He had first been a member of the C.E.F. in the infantry and was wounded a number of times. He wasn't repatriated until 14 December 1918, to return home to Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Between the World Wars

The Squadron was disbanded after the First World War on 31 December 1919,[13] to be reformed again at RAF Duxford on 1 April 1923.[13] They then flew a number of different fighters, and were the first squadron to be equipped with the Gloster Gauntlet in May 1935, and with the Supermarine Spitfire on 4 August 1938.[14]

World War II

19 Sqn. Mustang IIIs in April 1944.

The Squadron was stationed in the UK after the outbreak of the Second World War, and was part of No. 12 Group RAF, RAF Fighter Command, during the Battle of Britain.[15] 19 Squadron formed part of the Duxford Wing, 12 Group's 'Big Wing' formation. Later versions of Spitfires were flown until the arrival of Mustangs for close-support duties in early 1944.[16] After D-Day, No. 19 briefly went across the English Channel before starting long-range escort duties from RAF Peterhead for Coastal Command off the coast of Norway.[17]

Post World War II

In the post-war period, the squadron flew at first de Havilland Hornets and later a variety of jet fighter aircraft including the Hawker Hunter fighter then re-equipping with English Electric Lightning F2 (1962 - 1964) and was based at Royal Air Force Station Leconfield, Yorkshire, as an interceptor squadron within Fighter Command, as part of UK air defence forces.

The Squadron and sister No 92 Squadron were deployed forwards in 1964 to RAF Gütersloh, close to the inner German border, as part of Second Allied Tactical Air Force (2ATAF). Subsequently, the squadron re-equipped with the longer range F2A version.

In 1976, No 19 Sqn, along with No 92 Sqn, disbanded with the Lightning and reformed at RAF Wildenrath,[16] further back west of the Rhine, with the Phantom FGR2 still in the air defence role.

In January 1992, the squadron disbanded as part of agreed post-Cold War force reductions and their aircraft were scrapped.

The numberplate was then assigned to the former No. 63 Squadron, one of the Hawk squadrons at RAF Chivenor, in September 1992. The squadron was a 'Shadow' identity of No. 2 Tactical Weapons Unit (2 TWU). Following the closure of Chivenor to jet flying the squadron was moved to RAF Valley in September 1994 to provide advanced fast jet training on the BAE Hawk.

In May 2008, a Hawk T.1, XX184, was re-painted in a special Spitfire camouflage livery at RAF Valley. This was done to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the squadron as the first operational fighter squadron to fly the Supermarine Spitfire from Duxford in 1938.

Disbandment

As a consequence of the UK's Strategic Defence and Security Review in 2010, the Air Force Board decided in 2011 that 19 Squadron's training role with the Hawk T2 at RAF Valley should be transferred to a resurrected 4(R) Squadron. 19 Squadron, one of the last surviving Battle of Britain Squadrons, disbanded on 24 November 2011, 96 years after it was first formed.[18]

The disbandment event, held at RAF Valley, was led by the Wg Cdr Kevin Marsh, the last Commanding Officer of 19 Squadron. In attendance were the Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton KCB ADC BSc FRAeS CCMI RAF, former Air Chief Marshal Sir William Wratten, GBE, CB, AFC and Flt Lt Ken Wilkinson AE who flew Spitfires in the Battle of Britain on 19 Squadron.

Aircraft operated

Squadron Leader Cozens leading a formation of six new Spitfire Mk.Is of 19 Squadron, 31 October 1938
19 Sqn. Phantom FGR.2 with a US Navy F-14A during Desert Shield in 1990
The former Royal Air Force McDonnell Douglas Phantom FGR.2 (F-4M) (s/n XT899/B) of No. 19 Squadron, RAF. painted blue overall on display at the Kbely museum (Czech Air Force Museum) at Prague, Czech Republic, on 17 May 2007
19 Squadron Disbandment Event held on 24 November 2011 at RAF Valley, led by Wg Cdr Kevin Marsh
Aircraft operated by No. 19 Squadron RAF[19][20]
FromToAircraftVersion
September 1915October 1915Farman MF.11 Shorthorn
September 1915October 1915Avro 504
September 1915October 1915Caudron G.3
October 1915December 1915Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2c
December 1915December 1915Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.7
February 1916July 1916Avro 504
February 1916July 1916Caudron G.3
February 1916July 1916Bristol Scout
February 1916July 1916Martinsyde S.1
February 1916July 1916Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2c
February 1916July 1916Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2b
February 1916July 1916Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.5
February 1916July 1916Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.7
June 1916February 1917Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.12
October 1916January 1918SPAD S.VII
June 1917January 1918SPAD S.XIII
November 1917February 1919Sopwith Dolphin
April 1923December 1924Sopwith Snipe
December 1924April 1928Gloster Grebe
March 1928September 1931Armstrong Whitworth SiskinMk.IIIa
September 1931January 1935Bristol BulldogMk.IIa
January 1935March 1939Gloster GauntletMk.I
September 1936February 1939Gloster GauntletMk.II
August 1938December 1940Supermarine SpitfireMk.I
June 1940September 1940Supermarine SpitfireMk.Ib
September 1940November 1941Supermarine SpitfireMk.IIa
October 1941August 1943Supermarine SpitfireMk.Vb
September 1942March 1943Supermarine SpitfireMk.Vc
August 1943January 1944Supermarine SpitfireMk.IX
January 1944April 1945North American MustangMk.III (P-51 B/C)
April 1945March 1946North American MustangMk.IV (P-51D)
March 1946November 1946Supermarine SpitfireLF.16e
October 1946May 1948de Havilland HornetF.1
March 1948January 1951de Havilland HornetF.3
January 1951June 1951Gloster MeteorF.4
April 1951January 1957Gloster MeteorF.8
October 1956February 1963Hawker HunterF.6
November 1962October 1969English Electric LightningF.2
January 1968December 1976English Electric LightningF.2a
January 1977January 1992McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom IIFGR.2
September 1992November 2011BAe HawkT.1 / T.2

See also

References

Notes
  1. 1 2 Palmer 1991, p. 3.
  2. ↑ Barrass, M. B. (2015). "No. 16–20 Squadron Histories". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  3. ↑ "19 Squadron". Royal Air Force. 2015. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  4. ↑ Bowyer and Rawlings 1979, p. 11.
  5. ↑ Flintham and Thomas 2003, p. 52.
  6. ↑ Bowyer and Rawlings 1979, p. 87.
  7. ↑ Flintham and Thomas 2003, p. 99.
  8. ↑ Flintham and Thomas 2003, p. 229.
  9. ↑ Halley 1988, p. 55.
  10. ↑ Chorlton Aeroplane Autumn 2014, p. 58.
  11. ↑ "19 Squadron". The Aerodrome. 2015. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  12. ↑ "Wilfred Ernest Young". The Aerodrome. 2015. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  13. 1 2 Rawlings 1978, p. 47.
  14. ↑ Rawlings 1978, p. 48.
  15. ↑ Rawlings 1978, p. 525.
  16. 1 2 Halley 1988, p. 56.
  17. ↑ Rawlings 1978, p. 49.
  18. ↑ "IV Squadron Reborn". Royal Air Force. 24 November 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  19. ↑ Jefford 2001, pp. 33-34.
  20. ↑ Palmer 1991, pp. 353-374.
Bibliography

  • Bowyer, Michael J.F. and John D.R. Rawlings. Squadron Codes, 1937-56. Bar Hill, Cambridgeshire, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd., 1979. ISBN 0-85059-364-6.
  • Chorlton, Martyn. "The Determined Dolphins". Aeroplane, Autumn 2014, Vol. 42, No. 9. pp. 58–62. ISSN 0143-7240.
  • Delve, Ken. The Source Book of the RAF. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1994. ISBN 1-85310-451-5.
  • Flintham, Vic and Andrew Thomas. Combat Codes: A Full Explanation and Listing of British, Commonwealth and Allied Air Force Unit Codes since 1938. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd., 2003. ISBN 1-84037-281-8.
  • 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, Wing Commander C.G., MBE, BA, RAF (Retd.). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1988 (second edition 2001). ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
  • Palmer, Derek. Fighter Squadron (No. 19). Upton-upon-Severn, Worcestershire, UK: Self Publishing Association, 1991. ISBN 1-85421-075-0.
  • Palmer, Derek. 19 Fighter Squadron, RAF. Published by Derek Palmer, 2008. ISBN 978-0-9558970-0-9.
  • Rawlings, John D.R. Fighter Squadrons of the Royal Air Force and their Aircraft. London: MacDonald and Jane's (Publishers) Ltd., 1969 (new edition 1976, reprinted 1978). ISBN 0-354-01028-X. pp. 47–54.
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