Squadrons are the main form of flying unit of the

Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) an ...

(RAF). These include

Royal Flying Corps "Through Adversity to the Stars" , colors = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = , decorations ...

(RFC) and

Royal Naval Air Service The Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) was the air arm of the Royal Navy, under the direction of the Admiralty's Air Department, and existed formally from 1 July 1914 to 1 April 1918, when it was merged with the British Army's Royal Flying Corps t ...

(RNAS) squadrons incorporated into the RAF when it was formed on 1 April 1918, during the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...

. Other squadrons of the RAF include those from

Commonwealth A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has been synonymous with "republic". The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the ...

air forces which have served within the RAF structure and squadrons of the

Fleet Air Arm The Fleet Air Arm (FAA) is one of the five fighting arms of the Royal Navy and is responsible for the delivery of naval air power both from land and at sea. The Fleet Air Arm operates the F-35 Lightning II for maritime strike, the AW159 Wi ...

before it transferred to the

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against Fr ...

in 1939. Some squadrons have an individual tradition of presenting their squadron number in

Roman numeral Roman numerals are a numeral system that originated in ancient Rome and remained the usual way of writing numbers throughout Europe well into the Late Middle Ages. Numbers are written with combinations of letters from the Latin alphabet, ea ...

s 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. Historical Squadrons can choose to 'lay up' their standards at

RAF Cranwell Royal Air Force Cranwell or more simply RAF Cranwell is a Royal Air Force station in Lincolnshire, England, close to the village of Cranwell, near Sleaford. Among other functions, it is home to the Royal Air Force College (RAFC), which trai ...

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. 1–50

Nos. 51–66

Nos. 67–71

During the First World War, in order to avoid confusion with similarly-numbered British flying squadrons, units of the separate

Australian Flying Corps The Australian Flying Corps (AFC) was the branch of the Australian Army responsible for operating aircraft during World War I, and the forerunner of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The AFC was established in 1912, though it was not until ...

were known for administrative purposes as 67, 68, 69, and 71 squadrons. Since the Second World War these numbers have always been used by RAF units. However, the designation 70 (or LXX) Squadron has always been used for RFC/RAF units. * No. 67 Squadron ** 1916–18: No. 1 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps ** From 1941: No. 67 Squadron * No. 68 Squadron ** 1916–18: No. 2 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps ** From 1941: No. 68 Squadron * No. 69 Squadron RAF ** 1916–18: No. 3 Squadron Australian Flying Corps ** From 1941: No. 69 Squadron * No. LXX Squadron (Atlas C1) * No. 71 Squadron ** 1916–18: No. 4 Squadron Australian Flying Corps ** From 1940: No. 71 Squadron (staffed by US volunteers in 1940–42)

Nos. 72–100

Nos. 101–150

Nos. 151–200

Nos. 201–250

The first squadrons to carry numbers above 200 were former RNAS squadrons that were renumbered upon amalgamation with 200 added to their RNAS squadron number. Independent flights of the RNAS were grouped together in squadrons and given numbers in the 200 series.

Nos. 251–299

Nos. 300–352

Squadrons in the 300–352 series were staffed during the Second World War by volunteers from countries in

occupied Europe German-occupied Europe refers to the sovereign countries of Europe which were wholly or partly occupied and civil-occupied (including puppet governments) by the military forces and the government of Nazi Germany at various times between 1939 an ...

. 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 The 334th Fighter Squadron is a United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the 4th Operations Group and stationed at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina. The 334th was constituted on 22 August 1942 as an incorporation of the No. ...

USAAF;

No. 121 (Eagle) Squadron No. 121 Squadron was a Royal Air Force (RAF) aircraft squadron that during the Second World War was one of the three Eagle Squadrons manned by American volunteers. The squadron today is part of the Royal Air Force Air Cadets in Nuneaton. First ...

, later

335th Fighter Squadron The 335th Fighter Squadron is a United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the 4th Operations Group and stationed at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina. The 335th was constituted on 22 August 1942 as an incorporation of the ...

USAAF and No. 133 (Eagle) Squadron, later

336th Fighter Squadron The 336th Fighter Squadron (336th FS), nicknamed ''the Rocketeers'', is a United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the 4th Operations Group and stationed at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina. The 336th was constituted on 22 ...

USAAF.

Polish (300–309)

:''See also Squadrons Nos. 315–318, 663 and

Polish Fighting Team The Polish Fighting Team (PFT) ( pl, Polski Zespół Myśliwski), also known as "Skalski's Circus" ( pl, Cyrk Skalskiego), was a Polish unit which fought alongside the British Commonwealth Desert Air Force in the North African Campaign of Wor ...

(under Other)'' * No. 300 "Land of Masovia" Polish Bomber Squadron (''Ziemi Mazowieckiej'') * No. 301 "Land of Pomerania" Polish Bomber Squadron (''Ziemi Pomorskiej'') * No. 302 "City of Poznań" Polish Fighter Squadron (''Poznański'') * No. 303 "Kosciuszko" Polish Fighter Squadron (''Warszawski im. Tadeusza Kościuszki'') * No. 304 "Land of Silesia" Polish Bomber Squadron (''Ziemi Śląskiej im. Ks. Józefa Poniatowskiego'') * No. 305 "Land of Greater Poland" Polish Bomber Squadron (''Ziemi Wielkopolskiej im. Marszałka Józefa Piłsudskiego'') * No. 306 "City of Toruń" Polish Fighter Squadron (''Toruński'') * No. 307 "City of Lwów" Polish Fighter Squadron (''Lwowskich Puchaczy'') * No. 308 "City of Kraków" Polish Fighter Squadron (''Krakowski'') * No. 309 "Land of Czerwień" Polish Fighter-Reconnaissance Squadron (''Ziemi Czerwieńskiej'')

Czechoslovakian (310–313)

(Note: the RAF has never had a flying unit named 314 Squadron, although it has used the number for No. 314 Technical Services Unit. A proposed 314 Squadron was allocated squadron code "UY" during the period April to September 1939, but was never formed.)

Polish (315–318)

:''See also Squadrons Nos. 300–309, 663 and

(under Other)'' Note: the RAF never had a No. 319 Squadron; the "Polish Fighting Team" was attached to No. 145 Fighter Squadron. A proposed 319 Squadron was allocated squadron codes VE for the period April to September 1939. There was also 663 Artillery Observation Squadron; No. 138 Special Duty Squadron Polish Flight "C" and No. 1586 Polish Special Duty Flight.

Dutch (320–325)

Note: Nos. 323 to 325 Squadrons were not formed, but allocated Squadron Codes GN, PQ and EA respectively for the period April to September 1939. However these numbers were used for post-war

Royal Netherlands Air Force , colours = , colours_label = , march = ''Parade March of the Royal Netherlands Air Force'' , mascot = , anniversaries = , equipment ...

squadrons.

French (326–329)

:''See also Nos. 340–347 Squadron''

Norwegian (330–334)

Greek (335–339)

Note: Nos: 337–339 never formed, but were allocated Squadron Codes OK, ML and KN respectively for the period April to September 1939. The

Royal Hellenic Air Force , colours = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = 8 November , equipment = , equipment_label ...

13th Light Bomber Squadron The 13th Light Bomber Squadron ( el, 13 Μοίρα Ελαφρού Βομβαρδισμού, 13 ΜΕΒ), was one of the three World War II aircraft Squadron (aviation), squadrons in service with the Royal Hellenic Air Force, exiled in the Middle Ea ...

was also under RAF command in World War II.

French (340–347)

:''See also Nos. 326–329 Squadron'' Note: No. 348 Squadron was not formed, but Squadron codes letters FR were allocated for the period April to September 1939.

Belgian (349–350)

Yugoslavian (351–352)

Nos. 353–361

Note: Nos. 362–399 Squadrons were not formed.Axis History Forum • View topic – RAF Unit Numbers query?
/ref>

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

Under Article XV of the

British Commonwealth Air Training Plan The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP), or Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS) often referred to as simply "The Plan", was a massive, joint military aircrew training program created by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New ...

, the air forces of Australia, Canada and

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island coun ...

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 Canadian Air Force The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; french: Aviation royale canadienne, ARC) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environm ...
(400–443)

Note: Although squadron numbers 444 to 449 were also reserved for the RCAF, it did not use them during the Second World War.

Royal Australian Air Force "Through Adversity to the Stars" , colours = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = RAAF Anniversary Commemoration ...
(450–467)

Note: Although squadron numbers 465 and 468 to 479 were also reserved for the RAAF during the Second World War, it did not use them.

Royal New Zealand Air Force The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) ( mi, Te Tauaarangi o Aotearoa, "The Warriors of the Sky of New Zealand"; previously ', "War Party of the Blue") is the aerial service branch of the New Zealand Defence Force. It was formed from New Zeal ...
(485–490)

Note: Although the squadron numbers 491 to 499 were reserved for RNZAF units during the Second World War, no such squadrons were formed.

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

Formed as "Special Reserve" squadrons but absorbed into the

Royal Auxiliary Air Force The Royal Auxiliary Air Force (RAuxAF), formerly the Auxiliary Air Force (AAF), together with the Air Force Reserve, is a component of His Majesty's Reserve Air Forces (Reserve Forces Act 1996, Part 1, Para 1,(2),(c)). It provides a primary rein ...

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.

Regular RAF squadrons (Nos. 510–598)

Note: No No. 599 Squadron seems to have been formed. There were to have been Reserve squadrons using numbers ''551–566'' which would have been created by adding 500 to existing

Operational Training Unit Royal Air Force Operational Training Units (OTUs) were training units that prepared aircrew for operations on a particular type or types of aircraft or roles. OTUs ;No. 1 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF (1 OTU): The Unit was formed in 1 ...

designations. 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 1940, which were later revised as ''

Operation Banquet Operation Banquet was a British Second World War plan to use every available aircraft against a German invasion in 1940 or 1941. After the Fall of France in June 1940, the British Government made urgent anti-invasion preparations as the Royal ...

''. Some reserve Squadron numbers were used by their respective OTU's during operational tasks until at least May 1944. * No. 550 Squadron –

Air Fighting Development Unit The Air Fighting Development Unit (AFDU) was an air technical intelligence part of the Royal Air Force which developed tactics and tested captured enemy aircraft. It was based at Royal Air Force Stations Northolt, Duxford and Wittering. The AF ...

(''Banquet'') *No. 551 Squadron – 51 Operational Training Unit (''Saracen'' and ''Banquet'') *No. 552 Squadron – 51 Operational Training Unit (''Saracen'' and ''Banquet'') *No. 553 Squadron – 53 Operational Training Unit (''Saracen'' and ''Banquet'') *No. 554 Squadron – 53 Operational Training Unit (''Saracen'' and ''Banquet'') *No. 555 Squadron – 55 Operational Training Unit (''Saracen'' and ''Banquet'') *No. 556 Squadron – 56 Operational Training Unit (''Saracen'' and ''Banquet'') *No. 557 Squadron – 57 Operational Training Unit (''Saracen'' and ''Banquet'') *No. 558 Squadron – 58 Operational Training Unit (''Saracen'' and ''Banquet'') *No. 559 Squadron – 59 Operational Training Unit (''Saracen'' and ''Banquet'') *No. 560 Squadron – 56 Operational Training Unit (''Banquet'') *No. 561 Squadron – 61 Operational Training Unit (''Saracen'' and ''Banquet'') *No. 562 Squadron – 57 Operational Training Unit (''Banquet'') *No. 563 Squadron – 58 Operational Training Unit (''Banquet'') *No. 564 Squadron – 59 Operational Training Unit (''Banquet'') *No. 565 Squadron – 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. A non-flying No. 606 Helicopter Support Squadron of the RAuxAF was later formed in 1999.

Regular RAF squadrons (Nos. 617–650)

Note: Nos. 629, 632–634, 636–638, 641–643 and 645–649 were never formed,The Royal Air Force – History Section
/ref> 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). However a fictitious "

633 Squadron ''633 Squadron'' is a 1964 British / American war film directed by Walter Grauman and starring Cliff Robertson, George Chakiris, and Maria Perschy. The plot, which involves the exploits of a fictional World War II British bomber squadron, wa ...

" was featured in the eponymous novel and film. In addition, a fictitious 641 Squadron featured in the film "

Mosquito Squadron ''Mosquito Squadron'' is a 1969 British war film made by Oakmont Productions, directed by Boris Sagal and starring David McCallum. The raid echoes Operation Jericho, a combined RAF– Maquis raid which freed French prisoners from Amiens jail i ...

". 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.

Regular RAF squadrons (Nos. 667–695)

Note: Nos. 693–694 and 696–699 Squadrons were never formed.

Fleet Air Arm squadrons

While still under the control of the Royal Air Force, flights of the

(FAA) were organised 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. These squadrons were transferred to the

(RN) in 1939, becoming Royal Naval Air Squadrons (RNAS). The 700 and 800 range of squadron numbers continued to be used by the Royal Navy for newly formed Royal Naval Air Squadrons.

Training Depot Stations

Training Depot Stations (TDS) were still in use after the formation of the Royal Air Force in 1918.

University Air Squadrons

The majority of

Universities in the United Kingdom Universities in the United Kingdom have generally been instituted by royal charter, papal bull, Act of Parliament, or an instrument of government under the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 or the Higher Education and Research Act 2017. ...

are, or have been, represented by

(RAF) University Air Squadrons (UAS), where under-graduates can sample elements of the Royal Air Force, and learn to fly, as well as take advantage of scholarship schemes. Previously operating the Bulldog T.1, they now all currently operate the Tutor T.1. Although each UAS retain their own identity an activities, when two are co-located at the same airfield, such as Cambridge UAS and London UAS at

RAF Wittering Royal Air Force Wittering or more simply RAF Wittering is a Royal Air Force station within the unitary authority area of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire and the unitary authority area of North Northamptonshire. Although Stamford in Lincolnshire ...

, and Liverpool UAS and Manchester and Salford UAS at

RAF Woodvale Royal Air Force Woodvale or RAF Woodvale is a Royal Air Force Station located next to the towns of Formby and Ainsdale in an area called Woodvale which is located to the south of Southport, Merseyside. Woodvale was constructed as an all-wea ...

, the two individual UAS share the same fleet of aircraft. All University Air Squadrons are currently commanded by

No. 6 Flying Training School RAF No. 6 Flying Training School RAF is a Flying Training School (FTS) within No. 22 (Training) Group of the Royal Air Force that delivers flying training to University Air Squadrons and Air Experience Flights. History The school was formed by renami ...

(6FTS). Squadrons below listed in bold are currently active, others are disbanded, or otherwise amalgamated into a current existing UAS.

Air Experience Flights

Air Experience Flights An Air Experience Flight (AEF) is a training unit of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (Training Branch) whose main purpose is to give introductory flying experience to cadets from the Air Training Corps and the Combined Cadet Force. As of 20 ...

are co-located with University Air Squadrons and operate the Tutor T1 training aircraft.

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 T1 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. Historically, some flights were alphabetically named. For a full list, see the

list of Royal Air Force aircraft independent flights This is a list of Royal Air Force independent Flights. An independent Flight is a military administrative structure which is used to command flying units where the number of aircraft is not large enough to warrant a fully fledged squadron. RAF C ...

. Bold listings are currently active RAF flights. *

Battle of Britain Memorial Flight The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) is a Royal Air Force flight which provides an aerial display group usually comprising an Avro Lancaster, a Supermarine Spitfire and a Hawker Hurricane. The aircraft are regularly seen at events c ...

(BBMF) – at

RAF Coningsby Royal Air Force Coningsby or RAF Coningsby , is a Royal Air Force (RAF) station located south-west of Horncastle, and north-west of Boston, in the East Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. It is a Main Operating Base of the RAF and ho ...

– 6x

Spitfire The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft used by the Royal Air Force and other Allied countries before, during, and after World War II. Many variants of the Spitfire were built, from the Mk 1 to the Rolls-Royce Grif ...

(various marks), 2x

Hurricane A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system characterized by a low-pressure center, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain and squalls. Dep ...

, 1x Lancaster, 1x

Dakota Dakota may refer to: * Dakota people, a sub-tribe of the Sioux ** Dakota language, their language Dakota may also refer to: Places United States * Dakota, Georgia, an unincorporated community * Dakota, Illinois, a town * Dakota, Minnesota, ...

, 2x Chipmunk T10 * 1310 Flight – at

Gao International Airport Gao International Airport , also known as Korogoussou Airport, is an airport in Gao, Mali. Airlines and destinations In addition to civilian travel, Gao serves the adjacent Malian military base Camp Firhoun Ag Alinsar as well as the German m ...

– 2x Chinook HC5, HC6, HC6A * 1312 Flight – at

RAF Mount Pleasant RAF Mount Pleasant (also known as Mount Pleasant Airport, Mount Pleasant Complex or MPA) is a Royal Air Force station in the British Overseas Territory of the Falkland Islands. The airfield goes by the motto of "Defend the right" (while the m ...

– 1x Voyager KC2, 1x Atlas C1 * 1435 Flight – at RAF Mount Pleasant – 4x Typhoon FGR4

Dormant Squadrons

RAF College Cranwell The Royal Air Force College (RAFC) is the Royal Air Force military academy which provides initial training to all RAF personnel who are preparing to become commissioned officers. The College also provides initial training to aircrew cadets and ...

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 in order of seniority are: * No. 31 Squadron Tornado GR4 (to be reformed as a General Atomics Protector RG1 squadron) * No. V (Army Cooperation) Squadron Sentinel R1 * No. 111 Squadron – Tornado F3 * No. XV Squadron – Tornado GR4 * No. 42 Squadron – Nimrod MR2 * No. 50 Squadron – Vulcan B.2/K.2 * No. 74 Squadron – Hawk T1 * No. 44 Squadron – Vulcan B.2 * No. 3 Squadron RAF Regiment *No. 58 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.

Communication Squadrons

To allow rapid transport of Air Officers, staff and other important people many units and Headquarters operated communication Sections, Flights, Squadrons or wings.

Barrage Balloon Squadrons of the
Auxiliary Air Force The Royal Auxiliary Air Force (RAuxAF), formerly the Auxiliary Air Force (AAF), together with the Air Force Reserve, is a component of His Majesty's Reserve Air Forces (Reserve Forces Act 1996, Part 1, Para 1,(2),(c)). It provides a primary rein ...

RAF Squadrons 901 – 980, Air of Authority

Squadron codes

Most units of the

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

countries, have often used similar systems of identification. During the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...

, when units from other air forces were attached to the RAF – such as the

Article XV squadrons Article XV squadrons were Australian, Canadian, and New Zealand air force squadrons formed from graduates of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (1939) during World War II. These units complemented another feature of the BCATP, under wh ...

(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 An alphabet is a standardized set of basic written graphemes (called letters) that represent the phonemes of certain spoken languages. Not all writing systems represent language in this way; in a syllabary, each character represents a syllab ...

, painted on the rear fuselage next to the

RAF roundel The air forces of the United Kingdom – the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm, the Army's Army Air Corps and the Royal Air Force use a roundel, a circular identification mark, painted on aircraft to identify them to other aircraft and ground forces ...

. 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 G for George is an Avro Lancaster Mk. I bomber, squadron code AR-G and serial number ''W4783'', operated by No. 460 Squadron RAAF during World War II. It is now preserved at the Australian War Memorial (AWM), Canberra, Australia. History G-Ge ...

"). In general, when an aircraft is lost or withdrawn from use, its call sign has been applied to its replacement or another aircraft.

Notes

References

* Halley, James J. ''The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918–1988''. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. . * 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). . *Lake, Alan. "Flying Units of the RAF".Airlife Publishing. Shrewsbury. 1999.

External links

a list of current squadrons from the RAF website
{{RAF unit types

Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons Royal may refer to: People * Royal (name), a list of people with either the surname or given name * A member of a royal family Places United States * Royal, Arkansas, an unincorporated community * Royal, Illinois, a village * Royal, Iowa, a c ...

* Squadrons