No. 11 Squadron RAF

Last updated

No. 11 Squadron RAF
No. 11 Squadron RAF badge.png
Active
  • 14 Feb 1915 – 1 Apr 1918 (RFC)
  • 1 Apr 1918 – 31 Dec 1919 (RAF)
  • 15 Jan 1923 – 31 Mar 1948
  • 15 Sep 1948 – 11 Jan 1957
  • 21 Jan 1959 – 11 Jan 1966
  • 3 Apr 1967 – Oct 2005
  • 29 Mar 2007 – present
Country Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
Branch Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg Royal Air Force
TypeFlying squadron
Role Multi–role combat
Part of No. 1 Group RAF
Home station RAF Coningsby
Motto(s)Ociores acrioresque aquilis
(Latin for 'Swifter and keener than eagles') [1]
March Marching Through Georgia [2]
Aircraft Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4
Battle honours * Honours marked with an asterisk may be emblazoned on the Squadron Standard
Insignia
Squadron tail badge RAF 11 Sqn Shield.svg
Squadron badge heraldryTwo eagles volant in pale, commemorating the unit's First World War operation of two-seater fighter-reconnaissance aircraft, eagles being chosen to symbolise speed and strength. Approved by King George VI in May 1937.
Squadron roundel RAF 11 Sqn.svg
Squadron CodesDA-DZ

No. 11 or XI Squadron (sometimes featuring an 'F' to represent its historic fighter role (No. 11(F) or XI(F) Squadron)), is "the world's oldest, dedicated fighter unit" [3] and continues the traditions established by the similarly numbered Royal Flying Corps squadron, established in 1915. After a history of equipment with numerous different aircraft types, the squadron most recently operated the Tornado F3 until 2005 when it was disbanded. It was reactivated in 2006 to operate the Typhoon F2, receiving its first aircraft (serial number ZJ931) on 9 October 2006. [4]

Contents

History

World War I

No. 11 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps was formed at Netheravon in Wiltshire on 14 February 1915 for "fighting duties", receiving two seat pusher Vickers Gunbus fighters in June, and deploying to France on 25 July 1915. [5] It was the first squadron solely equipped with fighters to deploy with the RFC, [6] or with any flying service. [7]

The squadron's Gunbusses were soon pressed into service, with Captain Lionel Rees claiming the squadron's first air-to-air victory on 28 July, forcing down a German observation aircraft. [7] Second Lieutenant G. S. M. Insall was awarded a Victoria Cross for an action on 7 November 1915 in which he forced down and destroyed a German Aviatik observation aircraft. [8] The Gunbus was already obsolete however, and was initially supplemented by a mixture of Bristol Scouts and Nieuport 16s until replaced by the Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2b of similar layout, but slightly higher performance, in June 1916. [9] These in turn were replaced by Bristol Fighters in August 1917, these being used both for offensive patrols over German-held territory and for ground attack for the remainder of the war. The Squadron was disbanded at the end of 1919. [10]

No. 11 Squadron numbered 19 flying aces in its ranks during the war. Among them were Victoria Cross winner Lionel Rees, as well as Andrew Edward McKeever, John Stanley Chick, Eugene Coler, Albert Ball VC, Frederick Libby, Ronald Maudit, John Quested, Herbert Sellars, Donald Beard, Stephen Price and Hugh Hay Thomas Frederick Stephenson. [11]

The twin Eagles on the Squadron's crest, awarded in May 1937, represent the two-seated fighters operated in the First World War. [12]

Between the Wars

The Squadron reformed at RAF Andover in January 1923 as a day bomber squadron equipped with Airco DH.9As, soon moving to RAF Bircham Newton in Norfolk. In April 1924, these were replaced by the Fairey Fawn despite the fact that they offered little improvement in performance over the DH.9A, moving with them to RAF Netheravon in May that year. The unpopular Fawns were replaced by Hawker Horsleys in November 1926, in use until December 1928, when the squadron handed the Horsleys to 100 Squadron and was posted to Risalpur in India (now in Pakistan), flying Westland Wapitis in Army co-operation and carrying out punitive air raids against rebelling tribal forces. [10] [13] It replaced its Wapitis with Hawker Harts in February 1932, operations continuing as before. [10] On 31 May 1935, an earthquake devastated the city of Quetta and the surrounding area. No. 11 Squadron, along with other RAF squadrons in the region, were used to aid the relief effort following the disaster. [14] The squadron received Blenheim I monoplane bombers in July 1939, moving to Singapore the next month, just before the outbreak of World War II in Europe. [10]

World War II

A Bristol Blenheim of No. 11 Squadron takes off from Colombo's racecourse in Ceylon during the war. Bristol Blenheim - Colombo - Royal Air Force Operations in the Far East, 1941-1945. CI105.jpg
A Bristol Blenheim of No. 11 Squadron takes off from Colombo's racecourse in Ceylon during the war.

In April 1940 the squadron moved to India, and was briefly based at Karachi before it was ordered to transfer to Aden due to the increasing likelihood of war with Italy. [15] [16] The first of the squadron's Blenheims reached Aden on 19 June 1940, nine days after Italy declared war on Britain, [17] and flew its first combat mission of the war on 19 June. [18] The squadron was heavily engaged in the early months of the Eastern Africa campaign, attacking Italian targets in Italian East Africa. [15] [19] In December 1940, the squadron was ordered to move to Egypt to support the upcoming British offensive in the Western Desert, Operation Compass, [20] with the squadron being based at Helwan, near Cairo, with a forward detachment at Fuka to support the offensive. [21]

In January 1941 the squadron was ordered to reinforce the Royal Air Force squadrons in Greece, fighting in the Greek Campaign against the Italians, partly re-equipping with newer Blenheim IVs from 39 Squadron before leaving for Greece, arriving at Larissa on 28 January. [22] [23] On the night of 28 February/1 March 1941, Larissa was hit by a powerful earthquake, badly damaging both the airfield and the town. Personnel of the Larissa-based squadrons spent the rest of the night rescuing people trapped in collapsed buildings. [24] In March, 11 Squadron joined the newly-established 'E' (Eastern) Wing for operations over Thessaliniki. [25] On 6 April 1941, Germany launched an invasion of Yugoslavia and Greece. [26] 11 Squadron's Blenheims were employed on attacks on columns of German troops in Yugoslavia, [27] but by 16 April, the squadron was ordered to withdraw from Almyros to Acharnes to avoid the German advance. [28] The few surviving aircraft and crews were evacuated to Crete and then to Egypt. [29] and from there on to Aqir, Palestine where the squadron rebuilt its strength, becoming operational again on 28 May 1941. [30] [31]

After reforming, the squadron served in the Syrian Campaign against the Vichy French, [15] attacking airfields by day and night. [32] On 22 June 1941, the squadron's aircraft bombed and damaged the French destroyer Vauquelin. [33] In August that year the squadron moved to Habbaniya in Iraq, [15] and on 26 August, took part in the Anglo-Soviet operation to secure the Persian oilfields for the Allies, although it only dropped leaflets. [34] After returning to Egypt the squadron took part in Operation Crusader. [35]

Redeployed to Colombo, Ceylon in early 1942, the squadron was involved in attacks on Japanese shipping. During 1943, the Squadron re-equipped with Hurricanes and moved to Burma in the ground attack role, supporting the Fourteenth Army. [36]

By January 1943, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) personnel, or Australians serving in the RAF, made up almost 90% of the aircrews in the squadron (even though it was not officially an RAAF "Article XV squadron"). At the time, the Australian personnel included the commanding officer, Wing Commander Harley Stumm. [37]

11 Squadron was one of the few RAF squadrons to fight against Italian, German, Vichy French and Japanese forces. [38]

Since 1945

Gloster Javelin FAW.9 of No. 11 Squadron in 1965. Gloster Javelin FAW.9 XH776 P.11 COLT 18.09.65 edited-3.jpg
Gloster Javelin FAW.9 of No. 11 Squadron in 1965.
Eurofighter Typhoon F2 of 11 Squadron leads a Tornado F3, formerly of the Squadron, in 2007 A Typhoon F2 fighter aircraft (top) from 11 Squadron, RAF Coningsby in close formation with a Tornado F3 MOD 45147961.jpg
Eurofighter Typhoon F2 of 11 Squadron leads a Tornado F3, formerly of the Squadron, in 2007

The Squadron formed part of the occupation forces in Japan from August 1945 to February 1948, when it disbanded. Reforming in Germany during October 1949, they flew Mosquitos, Vampires and Venoms. The Squadron again disbanded in 1957, but reformed in January 1959 with Meteor night fighters. Javelins replaced the Meteors one year later and the Squadron was based at RAF Geilenkirchen, in West Germany, equipped with this type until another disbandment in 1966. [38]

Reforming in early 1967, No. 11 Squadron spent the next 21 years flying Lightnings, until May 1988. [38] By that time it was one of the last two squadrons equipped with this aircraft and was based at RAF Binbrook in Lincolnshire. [39]

From August 1988 the squadron operated the twin seat Panavia Tornado F3 from RAF Leeming. [36] In February 2003 it was announced that some of No. 11 Squadron's Tornado F3s had been modified to carry the ALARM missile (and unofficially designated as Tornado EF3s) to widen their capabilities to include suppression of enemy air defences (SEAD). [40] [41] Following the publication of the Future Capabilities study on 21 July 2004, XI(F) squadron disbanded in October 2005. [36]

The RAF announced that 11 Squadron would be the second front line squadron to re-equip with the Typhoon but would now be based at RAF Coningsby. The Squadron stood up at Coningsby on 29 March 2007, dropping the (F) designation in recognition of its new tasking as the Royal Air Force's lead Typhoon multi-role squadron. In March 2011, 11 Squadron (assisted by some 29(R) Squadron personnel and additional aircraft supplied by 29(R) and 3(F) Squadrons) deployed to Gioia Del Colle, Bari, Italy, to help police the no-fly zone imposed by Resolution 1973 over Libya as part of Operation Ellamy. [42]

In 2013 the squadron deployed to the Mediterranean again, this time RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, as part of 121 EAW providing air defence of Cyprus under the auspices of Operation Luminous. [43]

XI(F) Squadron resumed the use of its '(F)' Fighter status during its centenary year, with celebrations taking place on 7 and 8 May 2015 in the form of a formal dinner with the Squadron Association, and a parade complete with flypast. [44]

During February 2018, the squadron participated in Exercise Red Flag 18-1 , the world's largest and most complex air combat exercise run by the US Air Force. For the duration of the exercise the squadron's Typhoons operated from Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. [45]

During November 2023, the squadron participated in Exercise Ferocious Falcon V, a Qatari led exercise. [46]

Aircraft operated

List of aircraft operated by No. 11 Squadron: [47]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 17 Squadron RAF</span> Flying squadron of the Royal Air Force

Number 17 Squadron, currently No. 17 Test and Evaluation Squadron (TES), is a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It was reformed on 12 April 2013 at Edwards Air Force Base, California, as the Operational Evaluation Unit (OEU) for the Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 5 Squadron RAF</span> Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Air Force

Number 5 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It most recently operated the Raytheon Sentinel R1 Airborne STand-Off Radar (ASTOR) aircraft from RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire, between April 2004 until March 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Coningsby</span> Royal Air Force main operating base in Lincolnshire, England

Royal Air Force Coningsby or RAF Coningsby, is a Royal Air Force (RAF) station located 13.7 kilometres (8.5 mi) south-west of Horncastle, and 15.8 kilometres (9.8 mi) north-west of Boston, in the East Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. It is a Main Operating Base of the RAF and home to three front-line Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 units, No. 3 Squadron, No. 11 Squadron and No. 12 Squadron. In support of front-line units, No. 29 Squadron is the Typhoon Operational Conversion Unit and No. 41 Squadron is the Typhoon Test and Evaluation Squadron. Coningsby is also the home of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) which operates a variety of historic RAF aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 23 Squadron RAF</span> Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Air Force

Number 23 Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Air Force responsible for 'day-to-day space operations', having been reformed in January 2021, as the first "space squadron". Up until its disbandment in October 2009, it operated the Boeing Sentry AEW1 Airborne Warning And Control System (AWACS) aircraft from RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 1435 Flight RAF</span> Active unit of the British Royal Air Force

No. 1435 Flight is a Eurofighter Typhoon FGR.4 unit of the Royal Air Force, based at RAF Mount Pleasant, providing air defence for the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. Permanently based in the islands, the aircrew and groundcrew from the UK are cycled through No. 1435 Flight, providing a 365-day, 24-hour alert.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 6 Squadron RAF</span> Flying squadron of the Royal Air Force

Number 6 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Eurofighter Typhoon FGR.4 at RAF Lossiemouth. It was previously equipped with the SEPECAT Jaguar GR.3 in the close air support and tactical reconnaissance roles, and was posted to RAF Coltishall, Norfolk until April 2006, moving to RAF Coningsby until disbanding for the first time in its history on 31 May 2007. The squadron officially reformed as a Typhoon squadron on 6 September 2010. No. 6 Squadron is unique in having two Royal standards, having been awarded its second one by King Abdullah I of Jordan in October 1950 due to its long period of service in the Middle East.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 2 Squadron RAF</span> Flying squadron of the Royal Air Force

Number 2 Squadron, also known as No. II Squadron, is the most senior squadron of the Royal Air Force. It is currently equipped with the Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 at RAF Lossiemouth, Moray, since reforming there on 12 January 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 29 Squadron RAF</span> Flying squadron of the Royal Air Force

No. 29 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was first raised as a unit of the Royal Flying Corps in 1915, and is one of the world's oldest fighter squadrons. The second British squadron to receive the Eurofighter Typhoon, it is currently the Operational Conversion Unit (OCU) for the Typhoon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 3 Squadron RAF</span> Flying squadron of the Royal Air Force

Number 3 Squadron, also known as No. 3 (Fighter) Squadron, of the Royal Air Force operates the Eurofighter Typhoon FGR.4 from RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire, since reforming on 1 April 2006. It was first formed on 13 May 1912 as one of the first squadrons of the Royal Flying Corps – being the first to fly heavier than air aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 25 Squadron RAF</span> Flying squadron of the Royal Air Force

Number 25 (Fighter) Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Air Force having reformed on 8 September 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 12 Squadron RAF</span> Flying squadron of the Royal Air Force

Number 12 Squadron, also known as No. 12 (Bomber) Squadron and occasionally as No. XII Squadron, is a flying squadron of the Royal Air Force (RAF). The squadron reformed in July 2018 as a joint RAF/Qatar Emiri Air Force squadron. It is currently based at RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire, and operates the Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4, while temporarily integrating Qatari air and ground crews in order to provide training and support as part of the Qatari purchase of 24 Typhoons from the UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 13 Squadron RAF</span> Flying squadron of the Royal Air Force

Number 13 Squadron, also written as XIII Squadron, is a squadron of the Royal Air Force which operate the General Atomics MQ-9A Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle from RAF Waddington since reforming on 26 October 2012. The unit first formed as part of the Royal Flying Corps on 10 January 1915 and went on to fly the Martinsyde G.100, the Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2, the SPAD VII and SPAD XIII, the Sopwith Dolphin during the First World War. In the Second World War it started out operating the Westland Lysander for army cooperation. From late 1942 it used Blenheims in North Africa but in 1943 squadron converted to Ventura for coastal patrols and convoy escort duties. Post war it operated Mosquito before transitioning to the new jet aircraft Gloster Meteor and English Electric Canberra for photoreconnaissance. From 1 January 1990, it operated the Panavia Tornado, initially the GR1A at RAF Honington and later the GR4/4A at RAF Marham where it temporarily disbanded on 13 May 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 15 Squadron RAF</span> Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Air Force

Number 15 Squadron, sometimes written as No. XV Squadron, was a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It most recently operated the Panavia Tornado GR4 from RAF Lossiemouth as No. XV (Reserve) Squadron. It was the RAF's Operational Conversion Unit for the Tornado GR4 which taught pilots and Weapon Systems Officers (WSO) how to fly the aircraft and what tactics to use to best exploit the performance of their aircraft and its weapons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 111 Squadron RAF</span> Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Air Force

Number 111 (Fighter) Squadron, also known as No. CXI (F) Squadron and nicknamed Treble One, was a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It was formed in 1917 in the Middle East as No. 111 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps during the reorganisation of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force after General Edmund Allenby took command during the Sinai and Palestine Campaign. The squadron remained in the Middle East after the end of the First World War until 1920 when it was renumbered as No. 14 Squadron.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 30 Squadron RAF</span> Flying squadron of the Royal Air Force

Number 30 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Airbus A400M Atlas transport aircraft and is based at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 56 Squadron RAF</span> Flying squadron of the Royal Air Force

Number 56 Squadron, also known as No. 56 Test and Evaluation Squadron (TES), nicknamed the Firebirds for their ability to always reappear intact regardless of the odds, is one of the oldest and most successful squadrons of the Royal Air Force, with battle honours from many of the significant air campaigns of both the First and Second World Wars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 40 Squadron RAF</span> Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Air Force

No. 40 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was formed in 1916 at Gosport as No. 40 Squadron Royal Flying Corps and was disbanded for the last time in 1957. The squadron also included many non-British members, including volunteers from the Royal Australian Air Force and Royal Canadian Air Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 65 Squadron RAF</span> Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Air Force

No. 65 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force.

No. 62 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was originally established as a Royal Flying Corps squadron in 1916 and operated the Bristol F2B fighter in France during the last year of the First World War. After the war the squadron was disbanded and it was re-established in 1937 as part of the buildup of the RAF in the late 1930s. During the Second World War the Squadron was deployed to the Far East, operating the Bristol Blenheim from Singapore and Malaya. In 1942 No. 62 Squadron was re-equipped with the Lockheed Hudson and it moved to Sumatra, then Burma and then India. After the close of World War II the squadron disbanded for the second time. It was briefly re-established from 1946 to 1947 as a Dakota squadron and operated out of Burma and India. It final incarnation was as a Bristol Bloodhound missile unit in the early 1960s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hawker Hurricane in Yugoslav service</span> Royal Yugoslav Air Force plane (1938–1941)

In late 1937, the Royal Yugoslav Air Force placed an order with Hawker Aircraft for twelve Hawker Hurricane Mk I fighters, the first foreign purchase of the aircraft. The VVKJ operated the British Hawker Hurricane Mk I from 1938 to 1941. Between 1938 and 1940, the VVKJ obtained 24 Hurricane Mk Is from early production batches, marking the first foreign sale of the aircraft. Twenty additional aircraft were built by Zmaj under licence in Yugoslavia. When the country was drawn into World War II by the German-led Axis invasion of April 1941, a total of 41 Hurricane Mk I's were in service as fighters. They achieved some successes against Luftwaffe aircraft, but all Yugoslav Hurricanes were destroyed or captured during the 11-day invasion.

References

Citations

  1. Pine, L.G. (1983). A dictionary of mottoes (1 ed.). London: Routledge & Kegan Paul. p.  160. ISBN   0-7100-9339-X.
  2. "XI Squadron Song". XI Squadron Association. Archived from the original on 5 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  3. "XI (F) Squadron". raf.mod.uk/. Royal Air Force. Retrieved 15 August 2020. The world's oldest, dedicated fighter unit
  4. "100th Typhoon arrives at RAF Coningsby". raf.mod.uk. Royal Air Force. 9 October 2006. Archived from the original on 23 October 2006. Retrieved 26 October 2006.
  5. Ashworth 1989 , pp. 51–52
  6. Jones 1928 , p. 123
  7. 1 2 Bruce 1980 , p. 63
  8. Guttman 2009 , pp. 19–20
  9. Franks 2000 , p. 28
  10. 1 2 3 4 Ashworth 1989 , p. 52
  11. Shores, Franks & Guest 1990 , pp. 30, 316
  12. Ashworth 1989 , p. 51
  13. Lewis 1959 , p. 17
  14. Delve 1985 , p. 50
  15. 1 2 3 4 Moyes 1964 , p. 25
  16. Shores 1996 , pp. 13–14
  17. Shores 1996 , pp. 17, 22
  18. Shores 1996 , p. 24
  19. Shores 1996 , pp. 27, 31, 40, 54–57, 59
  20. Shores 1996 , p. 80
  21. Shores, Massimello & Guest 2012 , pp. 81, 84
  22. Shores, Massimello & Guest 2012 , pp. 114–115
  23. Shores, Cull & Malizia 1987 , p. 72
  24. Shores, Cull & Malizia 1987 , pp. 96–97
  25. Shores, Cull & Malizia 1987 , p. 114
  26. Dear 1995 , p. 104
  27. Shores, Cull & Malizia 1987 , pp. 235, 238
  28. Shores, Cull & Malizia 1987 , pp. 256–257
  29. Shores, Cull & Malizia 1987 , pp. 276, 288
  30. Halley 1980 , p. 33
  31. Shores 1996 , pp. 183–184, 192–194
  32. Shores 1996 , pp. 204, 218, 224, 225
  33. Shores 1996 , p. 224
  34. Shores 1996 , p. 274
  35. "Notes from the Receiving End". The Crusader Project. 3 July 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  36. 1 2 3 "No 11 - 15 Squadron Histories". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  37. George Odgers, 1968 (orig. 1957), Australia in the War of 1939–1945. Series 3 – Air: Volume II – Air War Against Japan, 1943–1945, Canberra, Australian War Memorial, p. 256.
  38. 1 2 3 "11 Squadron Page". RAF Website. Archived from the original on 6 October 2016. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  39. "The last last Lightning show... [sic]". Air-Scene UK. Archived from the original on 22 September 2012. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  40. Hunter 2004 , p. 60
  41. "Tornado F3". Armed Forces. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  42. "Ellamy Update" (PDF). One to One. 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  43. "XI Squadron Update - OnetoOne Online". onetooneonline.co.uk. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  44. "XI Squadron Centenary Celebrations - OnetoOne Online". onetooneonline.co.uk. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  45. "RAF Typhoons join Exercise Red Flag in Nevada". Royal Air Force (Beta). 2 February 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  46. Air Forces Monthly . Stamford, Lincolnshire, UK: Key Publishing. January 2024. p. 8.{{cite magazine}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  47. "No.11 Squadron". National Cold War Exhibition. Royal Air Force Museum. Retrieved 4 February 2018.

Bibliography