No. 201 Squadron RAF

No. 201 Squadron RAF
Official Squadron badge for No. 201 Squadron RAF
Active 17 Oct 1914 (RNAS) – 21 Jun 1915
6 Dec 1916 – 1 Apr 1918
1 Apr 1918 (RAF) – 31 Dec 1919
1 Jan 1929 – 28 Feb 1957
1 Oct 1958 – 26 May 2011
Country United Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
Nickname(s) Guernsey's Own Squadron
Motto(s) Latin: Hic et ubique
("Here and everywhere")[1][2]
Battle honours Western Front 1915–1918*
Arras*, Ypres, 1917*, Somme, 1918*, Amiens, Hindenburg Line, Channel & North Sea, 1939–1945, Norway, 1940*, Atlantic, 1941–1945*, Bismarck*, Biscay, 1941 1945, Normandy, 1944*, South Atlantic, 1982, Gulf, 1991, Iraq, 2003
Honours marked with an asterisk(*) are those emblazoned on the Squadron Standard
Commanders
Notable
commanders		 Roderic Dallas
Robert Marsland Groves
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldry A seagull, wings elevated and addorsed[1][2]
Squadron codes VQ (Apr 1939 – Sep 1939)[3][4]
ZM (Sep 1939 – Aug 1943)[5][6]
1 (Nov 1943 – Mar 1944)[7]
NS (Jul 1944 – Apr 1951)[8][9]
A (Apr 1951 – Feb 1957)[10][11]

No. 201 Squadron of the Royal Air Force, until March 2010, operated the Nimrod MR2, based at RAF Kinloss, Moray. It is the only squadron affiliated with Guernsey, in the Channel Islands. This affiliation started in 1935 and is commemorated in the museum on Castle Cornet. Its history goes even further back than the RAF itself, being formed originally as No. 1 Squadron RNAS on 17 Oct 1914. The squadron will stand up again in 2021 as the second squadron equipped with the P-8A Poseidon anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft.[12]

History

Formation and World War I

Personnel of No 1 Squadron RNAS in late 1914

Despite its high squadron number, 201 Squadron is one of the oldest squadrons in the RAF. It was formed as No. 1 Squadron of the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) on 17 October 1914, and reformed under that designation on 6 December 1916,[13] only being renumbered to 201 Squadron on the formation of the RAF on 1 April 1918 – all the RNAS squadrons getting new numbers by adding 200 to their original number.[2] It started out as a reconnaissance unit, but was soon flying fighter aircraft.

A Victoria Cross was won by a member of No. 1 Squadron RNAS when on 7 June 1915 Sub-Lieutenant R.A.J. Warneford shot down Zeppelin LZ.37.

After the war the squadron was disbanded at RAF Eastleigh on 31 December 1919.[2][13] Eighteen flying aces served in the squadron during the course of the war, including such notables as Samuel Kinkead, Stanley Wallace Rosevear, Richard Minifie, Roderic Dallas, George Gates, Reginald Brading, Maxwell Findlay, Cyril Ridley, Thomas Gerrard, John Jones, James Henry Forman, Charles Dawson Booker, Thomas Culling, future Air Vice-Marshal F. H. Maynard, Robert McLaughlin, and Hazel Wallace.[14]

R.A.J. Warneford, V.C. standing in front of a Maurice Farman Shorthorn.

Flying boat squadron

The squadron was reformed at RAF Calshot on 1 January 1929 by expanding no. 480 Flight, a Supermarine Southampton flying boat unit. In April 1936 the Southamptons gave way to the Saro London, which the squadron still had on strength when World War II broke out. Supermarine Stranraers flew shortly with the squadron in 1939, but by April 1940 the squadron was operational on the Short Sunderland, which would remain the squadron equipment for almost seventeen years up till 28 February 1957, when the squadron was disbanded at RAF Pembroke Dock.[2][13][15]

Shackletons and Nimrods

The squadron was reformed at RAF St. Mawgan, when No. 220 Squadron RAF was renumbered to 201 Squadron. The squadron flew the next twelve years with the Avro Shackleton MR.3, a version that used a tricycle undercarriage as opposed to the earlier tailwheel variants. Following the Shackleton's retirement, the squadron converted to Nimrods in October 1970.[2][13][15][16]

Nimrod MR.1 of 201 Squadron exhibited at the Queen's Silver Jubilee Review at RAF Finningley in July 1977.

The squadron was active for over a decade in the Gulf region, in support of both Gulf War 1 and 2 and more recently the conflict in Afghanistan. Until March 2010, the squadron was also on active duty in the UK and maintained continuous 24-hour/365-day search and rescue standby, shared with the sister 120 Squadron, both flying from RAF Kinloss. The Nimrod MR2 was withdrawn in March 2010,[16] and the squadron was formally disbanded on 26 May 2011.[17] It had been preparing to operate the Nimrod MRA4 but this aircraft was cancelled under the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review.

In July 2017, it was announced that No. 201 Squadron would be one of two RAF squadrons to fly the P-8A Poseidon, based at RAF Lossiemouth.[12]

Notable squadron members

Aircraft operated

Monument made from an aircraft propellor in St Nicholas' parish church, Piddington, Oxfordshire, to Lt. Richard Stone, a 201 Squadron Sopwith Camel pilot killed in action in France on 9 August 1918
Aircraft operated by no. 201 Squadron RAF, data from[13][15][18][19]
FromToAircraftVariant
Oct 1914Feb 1915Various
Dec 1916Jan 1917Nieuport 17
Dec 1916Dec 1917Sopwith Triplane
Dec 1917Feb 1919Sopwith Camel
Oct 1918Oct 1918Sopwith Snipe
Jan 1929Dec 1936Supermarine SouthamptonMk.II
Apr 1936Jun 1938Saro LondonMk.I
Jan 1938Apr 1940Saro LondonMk.II
Apr 1940Jan 1942Short SunderlandMk.I
May 1941Mar 1944Short SunderlandMk.II
Jan 1942Jun 1945Short SunderlandMk.III
Feb 1945Feb 1957Short SunderlandMk.V
Mar 1946Apr 1946Short SeafordMk.I
Oct 1958Dec 1970Avro ShackletonMR.3
Oct 1970Feb 1983Hawker-Siddeley NimrodMR.1
Jan 1982Mar 2010BAe NimrodMR.2

Squadron bases

Entrance to the No. 201 Squadron RAF museum at Castle Cornet, Saint Peter Port, Guernsey
From To Base
6 Dec 191615 Feb 1917Furnes, Belgium
15 Feb 191711 Apr 1917Chipilly, France
11 Apr 19171 Jun 1917La Belle-vue, France
1 Jun 19172 Nov 1917Bailleul, France
2 Nov 191710 Dec 1917Middle Aerodrome
10 Dec 191716 Feb 1918Dover, Kent
16 Feb 191827 Mar 1918Téteghem, France
27 Mar 191828 Mar 1918Sainte-Marie-Cappel, France
28 Mar 191812 Apr 1918Fienvillers, France
12 Apr 191820 Jul 1918Nœux-lès-Auxi, France
20 Jul 19186 Aug 1918Sainte-Marie-Cappel, France
6 Aug 191814 Aug 1918Poulainville, France
14 Aug 191819 Sep 1918Nœux-lès-Auxi, France
19 Sep 191814 Oct 1918Baizieux, France
14 Oct 191827 Oct 1918Beugnâtre, France
27 Oct 191822 Nov 1918La Targette, France
22 Nov 19185 Feb 1919Béthencourt, France
15 Feb 19192 Sep 1919RAF Lake Down, Wiltshire
2 Sep 191931 Dec 1919RAF Eastleigh, Hampshire
1 Jan 192929 Sep 1938RAF Calshot, Hampshire
29 Sep 19387 Oct 1938RAF Invergordon, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland
7 Oct 19389 Aug 1939RAF Calshot, Hampshire
9 Aug 19396 Nov 1939RAF Sullom Voe, Shetland, Scotland
6 Nov 193926 May 1940RAF Invergordon, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland
26 May 19409 Oct 1941RAF Sullom Voe, Shetland, Scotland
9 Oct 19418 Apr 1944Lough Erne, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland
8 Apr 19443 Nov 1944RAF Pembroke Dock, Pembrokeshire, Wales
3 Nov 19442 Aug 1945RAF Castle Archdale, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland
2 Aug 19451 Apr 1946RAF Pembroke Dock, Pembrokeshire, Wales
1 Apr 194618 Jan 1949RAF Calshot, Hampshire (Det. at Finkenwerder, West-Germany)
18 Jan 194928 Feb 1957RAF Pembroke Dock, Pembrokeshire, Wales
1 Oct 19581 Jul 1965RAF St Mawgan, Cornwall
1 Jul 196526 May 2011RAF Kinloss, Moray, Scotland

[13][15][18][19]

See also

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 Rawlings 1982, p. 128.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Halley 1988, pp. 259–260.
  3. ↑ Bowyer and Rawlings 1979, p. 13.
  4. ↑ Flintham and Thomas 2003, p. 52.
  5. ↑ Bowyer and Rawlings 1979, p. 121.
  6. ↑ Flintham and Thomas 2003, p. 123.
  7. ↑ Flintham and Thomas 2003, p. 128.
  8. ↑ Bowyer and Rawlings 1979, p. 77.
  9. ↑ Flintham and Thomas 2003, pp. 94 and 154.
  10. ↑ Bowyer and Rawlings 1979, p. 126
  11. ↑ Flintham and Thomas 2003, p. 192.
  12. 1 2 "Defence Secretary announces new Maritime Patrol Aircraft squadrons". UK Ministry of Defence. 13 July 2017. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Jefford 2001, p. 70.
  14. ↑ The Aerodrome Retrieved 4 March 2010.
  15. 1 2 3 4 Rawlings 1982, p. 129.
  16. 1 2 Hastings, David. "BAE System Nimrod: Squadron Service". Target Lock. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
  17. ↑ "Squadron Disbandment Parade". www.raf.mod.uk. Royal Air Force. 27 May 2011. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
  18. 1 2 Halley 1971, p. 43.
  19. 1 2 Halley 1988, p. 260.

Bibliography

  • Ashworth, Chris. Encyclopedia of Modern Royal Air Force Squadrons. Wellingborough, UK: Patrick Stevens Limited, 1989. ISBN 1-85260-013-6.
  • Bowyer, Michael J.F. and John D.R. Rawlings. Squadron Codes, 1937–56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd., 1979. ISBN 0-85059-364-6.
  • 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. Famous Maritime Squadrons of the RAF, Volume 1. Windsor, Berkshire, UK: Hylton Lacy Publishers Ltd., 1973. ISBN 0-85064-101-2.
  • 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: Airlife Publishing, 2001. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
  • Lewis, Peter. Squadron Histories: R.F.C, R.N.A.S and R.A.F., 1912–59. London: Putnam, 1959.
  • Rawlings, John D.R. Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Jane's Publishing Company Ltd., 1982. ISBN 0-7106-0187-5.
  • Rawlings, John D.R. Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers) Ltd., 1969 (new edition 1976, reprinted 1978). ISBN 0-354-01028-X.
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