No. 72 Squadron RAF

No. 72 Squadron RAF
Active
  • 28 Jun 1917 – 22 Sep 1919
  • 22 Feb 1937 – 30 Dec 1946
  • 1 Feb 1947 – 30 Jun 1961
  • 15 Nov 1961 – Easter 2002
  • 12 July 2002 – present
Country United Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
Type Flying training squadron
Role Advanced flying training
Part of No. 22 Group RAF
Home station RAF Linton-on-Ouse
Nickname(s) 'Basutoland'[1]
Motto(s) Swift[2]
Aircraft Short Tucano T1
Battle honours * Honours marked with an asterix are those emblazoned on the Squadron Standard
Insignia
Squadron badge heraldry A swift volant, intended to symbolise speed.[3]
Post 1950 squadron insignia
Squadron codes RN (Oct 1938 - Apr 1939)[4]
SD (Apr 1939 - Sep 1939)[4][5]
RN (Sep 1939 - Dec 1946)[6][7]
FG (Jan 1947 - Apr 1951)[8][9]
AA–AZ (Wessex)[10]

No. 72 Squadron Royal Air Force is currently a training squadron based at RAF Linton-on-Ouse using the Short Tucano T.1, a modified version of the Brazilian Embraer EMB-312 Tucano training aircraft. 72 Squadron started its service life supporting the army during World War I on operations in Middle East and afterwards was quickly disbanded. In its second incarnation the squadron was a real fighter unit, transitioning from Gloster Gladiator biplanes[11] to Gloster Javelin all-weather jets, in between flying the Supermarine Spitfire during the Battle of Britain. The jets went in 1961 and from then till 2002 the squadron flew helicopters in the transport role.

The squadron nickname, "Basutoland", is derived from the fact that during both world wars, the Basutoland Protectorate, now Lesotho, donated aircraft to RAF, which were assigned to No. 72 Squadron.[12]

History

First World War

No. 72 Squadron was formed on 28 June 1917 at Upavon.[3][13] On Christmas Day, the squadron left for the Middle East and regrouped at Basra on 2 March. Here, they split in three flights, each assisting the Army in their various missions, and were disbanded in Baghdad on 22 September 1919.[3]

Second World War

A 72 Sqn Spitfire IIA in April 1941.

No. 72 Squadron was reformed at RAF Tangmere on 22 February 1937 from 'B' flight of No. 1 Squadron.[3] In 1939, the squadron was outfitted with Spitfires which replaced the Gloster Gladiators that came with the flight from No. 1 Squadron. These were used in Air defence and convoy protection duties following the start of World War II. Then, in 1940, the squadron moved to assist in the evacuation of Dunkirk.

During the Battle of Britain, No 72 spent the early days at RAF Acklington as part of No. 13 Group RAF, before moving south during September to aid the main defence force. The squadron was then moved to North Africa to support the Tunisian campaign before being supplied with the updated Spitfire Mk.IX in 1942. They then assisted the British 8th Army as they advanced through Italy and France up until the German surrender. At this point they were moved to Austria. It was here they were disbanded on 30 December 1946 at Zeltweg.[3]

Post war jets

A Gloster Javelin at RAF Museum Cosford.

The squadron was reformed on 1 February 1947 at RAF Odiham by renumbering No. 130 Squadron RAF.[3] They took over 130 Squadron's Vampire F.1s, making no haste to remove that units 'AP' code[14] The Vampire soldiered on for three versions until it gave way to the Meteor F.8 in 1952, and when the squadron was given a night-fighter role in February 1956 these were replaced with Meteor NF.12s and Meteor NF.14. In 1959 the squadron got the all-weather fighter role and was given Javelin FAW.4s and later Javelin FAW.5s. These were flown until the squadron was disbanded at RAF Leconfield on 30 June 1961.[3]

Helicopters

A Bristol Belvedere
No. 72 Squadron Westland Wessex HC.2 based at RAF Odiham wearing tactical camouflage in 1971.

On 15 November 1961 No. 72 squadron was reformed at RAF Odiham, but now as a helicopter unit.[15] They were equipped with twin-rotor Bristol Belvederes HC.1s until the Westland Wessex HC.2 replaced these aircraft in August 1964. For the next thirty-eight years they continued to use these aircraft and in that time the Squadron saw action in Malaya, provided post-disaster assistance following the Torrey Canyon tanker disaster in 1967 and supported the security forces in Northern Ireland from 1969.[15] During the mid 1970s the squadron also operated a SAR 'D' flight at RAF Manston.[16] From January 1997 the Wessex was partly supplanted with the more modern Westland Puma HC.1. The Squadron was disbanded in April 2002 at RAF Aldergrove and the Wessex helicopters were retired from service.[15]

Training

A RAF Short Tucano T.1 of no. 72 squadron at Shoreham Airport, 2005

On 12 July 2002 No. 1 Flying Training School divided its strength between two new reserve Squadrons, one of which was No 72, reformed as No. 72 (Reserve) Squadron operating the Short Tucano at RAF Linton-on-Ouse.[17]

Legacy

The squadron also had an Air Training Corps squadron named after it which is situated in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. 72 Squadron's relationship with Northern Ireland and the young people living there was honoured upon their departure there when Air Cadets in the newly formed Omagh Squadron chose 72 as their Squadron Number. Many young people in Northern Ireland enjoyed a warm welcome, and hours in the air with 72 Squadron.

Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated by no. 72 squadron RAF, data from[13][18]
FromToAircraftVariantRemark
March 1918June 1918Airco DH.4'A' flight
March 1918January 1919Spad S.7'A' flight
April 1918November 1918Martinsyde G.100'B' flight
April 1918February 1919Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5S.E.5A'A' flight
April 1918February 1919Bristol M.1M.1c'C' flight
May 1937May 1939Gloster GladiatorMk.I
April 1939April 1941Supermarine SpitfireMk.I
May 1940May 1940Gloster GladiatorMks.I, IIAcklington unserviceable for Spitfires[19]
April 1941July 1941Supermarine SpitfireMks.IIa, IIb
July 1941July 1942Supermarine SpitfireMk.Vb
July 1942February 1943Supermarine SpitfireMk.Vc
July 1942August 1942Supermarine SpitfireMk.IX
August 1942November 1942Supermarine SpitfireMk.Vb
February 1943October 1944Supermarine SpitfireMk.IX
June 1943January 1944Supermarine SpitfireMk. Vc
October 1944December 1946Supermarine SpitfireLF.Mk.IX
February 1947October 1948de Havilland VampireF.1
June 1948February 1950de Havilland VampireF.3
November 1949July 1952de Havilland VampireFB.5
July 1952February 1956Gloster MeteorF.8
February 1956June 1959Gloster MeteorNF.12
February 1956June 1959Gloster MeteorNF.14
April 1959June 1961Gloster JavelinFAW.4
June 1959June 1961Gloster JavelinFAW.5
November 1961August 1964Bristol BelvedereHC.1
August 1964Easter 2002Westland WessexHC.2
January 1997Easter 2002Westland PumaHC.1
July 2002presentShort TucanoT.1

See also

References

Citations
  1. ↑ Rawlings 1978, p. 522.
  2. ↑ Pine, L.G. (1983). A dictionary of mottoes (1 ed.). London: Routledge & Kegan Paul. p. 227. ISBN 0-7100-9339-X.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Rawlings 1978, p. 176.
  4. 1 2 Flintham and Thomas 2003, p. 51.
  5. ↑ Bowyer and Rawlings 1979, p. 12.
  6. ↑ Bowyer and Rawlings 1979, p. 90.
  7. ↑ Flintham and Thomas 2003, p. 104.
  8. ↑ Bowyer and Rawlings 1979, p. 40.
  9. ↑ Flintham and Thomas 2003, p. 151.
  10. ↑ Flintham and Thomas 2003, p. 199.
  11. ↑ Gustavsson, Håkan. "Gloster Gladiator in 72 RAF Squadron service". Biplane Fighter Aces from the Second World War. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
  12. ↑ "Jackson, 2006, p260"
  13. 1 2 Jefford 2001, p. 50.
  14. ↑ Flintham and Thomas 2003, p. 148.
  15. 1 2 3 Rawlings 1982, p. 89.
  16. ↑ Green 1976, p. 13.
  17. ↑ http://www.raf.mod.uk/organisation/72squadron.cfm
  18. ↑ Halley 1988, p. 140.
  19. ↑ Rawlings 1978, p. 177.
Bibliography

  • Bowyer, Michael J.F. and John D.R. Rawlings. Squadron Codes, 1937-56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd., 1979. ISBN 0-85059-364-6.
  • Delve, Ken. The Source Book of the RAF. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1994. ISBN 1-85310-451-5.
  • Docherty, Tom. Swift to Battle: No. 72 Fighter Squadron RAF in Action, Volume 1: 1937 to 1942, Phoney War, Dunkirk, Battle of Britain, Offensive Operations. Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK: Pen and Sword, 2009. ISBN 978-1-84415-829-4.
  • Docherty, Tom. Swift to Battle: No. 72 Fighter Squadron RAF in Action, Volume 2: 1942 to 1947, North Africa, Malta, Sicily, Southern France and Austria. Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK: Pen and Sword, 2009. ISBN 978-1-84884-087-4.
  • Docherty, Tom. Swift to Battle: No. 72 Fighter Squadron RAF in Action, Volume 3: 1947 to 1961, Cold War Operations. Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK: Pen and Sword, 2010. ISBN 978-1-84884-186-4.
  • 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.
  • Green, W; Swanborough, G (1976). Royal Air Force Yearbook 1976. Bromley: Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund.
  • 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.
  • Jackson, Ashley, The British Empire and the Second World War (London/New York: Hambledon Continuumn, 2006).
  • 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, 2001. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
  • 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.
  • Robinson, Anthony. RAF Fighter Squadrons in the Battle of Britain. London: Arms and Armour Press Ltd., 1987 (Reprinted in 1999 by Brockhampton Press, ISBN 1-86019-907-0.)
  • Sturtivant, Ray, ISO and John Hamlin. RAF Flying Training And Support Units since 1912. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 2007. ISBN 0-85130-365-X.
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