List Of Royal Air Force Aircraft Squadrons
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Squadrons are the main form of flying unit of the
Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the Air force, air and space force of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. It was formed towards the end of the World War I, First World War on 1 April 1918, on the merger of t ...
(RAF). These include
Royal Flying Corps The Royal Flying Corps (RFC) was the air arm of the British Army before and during the First World War until it merged with the Royal Naval Air Service on 1 April 1918 to form the Royal Air Force. During the early part of the war, the RFC sup ...
(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 (United Kingdom), Admiralty's Air Department, and existed formally from 1 July 1914 to 1 April 1918, when it was merged with the British ...
(RNAS) squadrons incorporated into the RAF when it was formed on 1 April 1918, during the
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. Other squadrons of the RAF include those from
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air forces which have served within the RAF structure and squadrons of the
Fleet Air Arm The Fleet Air Arm (FAA) is the naval aviation component of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy (RN). The FAA is one of five :Fighting Arms of the Royal Navy, RN fighting arms. it is a primarily helicopter force, though also operating the Lockhee ...
before it transferred to the
Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...
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 to 20. 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. 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 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, or Nazi-occupied Europe, refers to the sovereign countries of Europe which were wholly or partly militarily occupied and civil-occupied, including puppet states, by the (armed forces) and the government of Nazi Germany at ...
. 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 US: 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.


Polish (300–309)

:''See also Squadrons Nos. 315–318, 663 and Polish Fighting Team (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'')


Czechoslovak (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 Polish Fighting Team (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 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 13th Light Bomber Squadron 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 air forces of Australia, Canada and
New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...
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; ) 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 environmental commands within the unified Can ...
(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 The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is the principal Air force, aerial warfare force of Australia, a part of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Australian Army. Constitutionally the Governor-Gener ...
(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; ) is the aerial warfare, aerial military service, service branch of the New Zealand Defence Force. It was formed initially in 1923 as a branch of the New Zealand Army, being known as the New Zealand Perm ...
(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 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. A non-flying 505 Squadron was formed as a General Support Squadron in 2015.


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 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''. Some reserve Squadron numbers were used by their respective OTU's during operational tasks until at least May 1944. * No. 550 SquadronAir Fighting Development Unit (''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 fictional " 633 Squadron" was featured in the eponymous novel and film. In addition, a fictional 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.


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
Fleet Air Arm The Fleet Air Arm (FAA) is the naval aviation component of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy (RN). The FAA is one of five :Fighting Arms of the Royal Navy, RN fighting arms. it is a primarily helicopter force, though also operating the Lockhee ...
(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
Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...
(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
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are, or have been, represented by
Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the Air force, air and space force of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. It was formed towards the end of the World War I, First World War on 1 April 1918, on the merger of t ...
(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, and Liverpool UAS and Manchester and Salford UAS at RAF Woodvale, the two individual UAS share the same fleet of aircraft. All University Air Squadrons are currently commanded by No. 6 Flying Training School RAF (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 are co-located with University Air Squadrons and operate the Tutor T1 training aircraft.


Volunteer Gliding Squadrons

Initially formed as Gliding Schools (GS), and then renamed Volunteer Gliding Schools (VGS), these squadrons retained their
gliding Gliding is a recreational activity and competitive air sports, air sport in which pilots fly glider aircraft, unpowered aircraft known as Glider (sailplane), gliders or sailplanes using naturally occurring currents of rising air in the atmospher ...
school numbers when reformed as squadrons. Conflicts with the main squadron numbers resolved by the VGS suffix. The currently active squadrons, now part of 2 Flying Training School (2FTS) headquartered at RAF Syerston along with the Central Gliding School, all operate the Viking T1 winch-launched sailplane glider.


Independent Flights

The
Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the Air force, air and space force of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. It was formed towards the end of the World War I, First World War on 1 April 1918, on the merger of t ...
(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. Bold listings are currently active RAF flights. * Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) – at RAF Coningsby – 6x
Spitfire The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and other Allied countries before, during, and after World War II. It was the only British fighter produced continuously throughout the ...
(various marks), 2x
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, 1x Lancaster, 1x Dakota, 2x Chipmunk T10 * No. 1310 Flight – 2x Chinook HC5, HC6, HC6A * No. 1312 Flight – at RAF Mount Pleasant – 1x Voyager KC2, 1x Atlas C1 * No. 1435 Flight – at RAF Mount Pleasant – 4x Typhoon FGR4


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 in order of seniority are:


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

RAF Squadrons 901 – 980, Air of Authority


Squadron codes

Most units of the
Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the Air force, air and space force of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. It was formed towards the end of the World War I, First World War on 1 April 1918, on the merger of t ...
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 A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the 15th century. Originally a phrase (the common-wealth ...
countries, have often used similar systems of identification. During the
Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, 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 An alphabet is a standard set of letter (alphabet), letters written to represent particular sounds in a spoken language. Specifically, letters largely correspond to phonemes as the smallest sound segments that can distinguish one word from a ...
, 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

Royal Air Force *List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons * List of Royal Air Force aircraft independent flights * List of conversion units of the Royal Air Force * List of Royal Air Force Glider units * List of Royal Air Force Operational Training Units * List of Royal Air Force schools * List of Royal Air Force units & establishments * List of RAF squadron codes * List of RAF Regiment units * List of Battle of Britain squadrons * List of wings of the Royal Air Force * Royal Air Force roundels Army Air Corps * List of Army Air Corps aircraft units Fleet Air Arm *
List of Fleet Air Arm aircraft squadrons This is a List of Fleet Air Arm aircraft squadrons. The primary organisational structure for aerial operations within the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) is represented by squadrons. These include frontline combat squadrons which were designated with the ...
*
List of Fleet Air Arm groups This is a list of Fleet Air Arm groups of the Royal Navy (RN), the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), that were either formed or planned. There were two types of groups: there were Carrier air wing, Carrier Air Groups ...
* List of aircraft units of the Royal Navy * List of aircraft wings of the Royal Navy Others * List of Air Training Corps squadrons * University Air Squadron * Air Experience Flight * Volunteer Gliding Squadron * United Kingdom military aircraft registration number * United Kingdom aircraft test serials * British military aircraft designation systems


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
{{Authority control Squadrons Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons