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"[1] and continues the traditions established by the similarly numbered Royal Flying Corps squadron, established in 1915. The squadron most recently operated the Panavia Tornado F3 until 2005 when it was disbanded. It was reactivated in 2006 to operate the Typhoon F2, receiving its first aircraft on 9 October 2006.[2]
No. 11 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) was formed at Netheravon in Wiltshire on 14 February 1915 for "fighting duties", receiving two-seat pusherVickers F.B.5 Gunbus fighters in June, and deploying to France on 25 July 1915.[3] It was the first squadron solely equipped with fighters to deploy with the RFC,[4] or with any flying service.[5]
The squadron's Gunbusses were soon pressed into service, with CaptainLionel Rees claiming the squadron's first air-to-air victory on 28 July, forcing down a German observation aircraft.[5]Second LieutenantG. 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.[6] The Gunbus was already obsolete however, and was initially supplemented by a mixture of Bristol Scouts and Nieuport 16s until replaced in June 1916 by the Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2b of similar layout, but slightly higher performance.[7] These in turn were replaced by Bristol F.2 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.[8]
No. 11 Squadron reformed at RAF Andover in Hampshire in January 1923 as a day bomber squadron equipped with the Airco DH.9A, soon moving to RAF Bircham Newton in Norfolk. In April 1924, the DH.9A was 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 the Hawker Horsley in November 1926, in use until December 1928, when the squadron handed the Horsleys to No. 100 Squadron. The squadron was posted to Risalpur in India (now in Pakistan), flying Westland Wapitis in the army co-operation role and carried out punitive air raids against rebelling tribal forces.[8][10] The Wapiti was replaced with the Hawker Hart in February 1932, operations continuing as before.[8] 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.[11]
In April 1940, the squadron moved to India, and was briefly based at Karachi before it was transferred to Aden due to the increasing likelihood of war with Italy.[12][13] The first of the squadron's Blenheims reached Aden on 19 June 1940, nine days after Italy declared war on Britain,[14] and flew its first combat mission of the war on 19 June.[15] The squadron was heavily engaged in the early months of the Eastern Africa campaign, attacking Italian targets in Italian East Africa.[12][16] In December 1940, the squadron moved to Egypt to support the upcoming British offensive in the Western Desert, known as Operation Compass,[17] with the squadron being based at Helwan, near Cairo, with a forward detachment at Fuka to support the offensive.[18]
In January 1941, the squadron reinforced the RAF squadrons in Greece, fighting in the Greek Campaign against the Italians, partly re-equipping with newer the Blenheim Mk.IV from No. 39 Squadron before leaving for Greece, arriving at Larissa on 28 January.[19][20] On the night of 28 February and 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.[21] In March, the squadron joined the newly-established 'E' (Eastern) Wing for operations over Thessaliniki.[22] On 6 April 1941, Germany launched an invasion of Yugoslavia and Greece.[23] The squadron's Blenheims were employed on attacks on columns of German troops in Yugoslavia,[24] but by 16 April, to avoid the German advance the squadron withdrew from Almyros to Acharnes. [25] The few surviving aircraft and crews were evacuated to Crete and then to Egypt.[26] and from there on to Aqir, Palestine where the squadron rebuilt its strength, becoming operational again on 28 May 1941.[27][28]
After reforming, the squadron served in the Syrian Campaign against the Vichy French,[12] attacking airfields by day and night.[29] On 22 June 1941, the squadron's aircraft bombed and damaged the French destroyerVauquelin.[30] In August that year the squadron moved to Habbaniya in Iraq,[12] and on 26 August, took part in the Anglo-Soviet operation to secure the Persian oilfields for the Allies, although it only dropped leaflets.[31] After returning to Egypt the squadron took part in Operation Crusader.[32]
Personnel rolling a 250lb (110kg) bomb for loading onto a Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIC of No. 11 Squadron at Sinthe, Burma
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. This was despite it not officially being an RAAF Article XV squadron. At the time, the Australian personnel included the commanding officer, Wing Commander Harley Stumm.[34]
No. 11 Squadron was one of the few RAF squadrons to fight against Italian, German, Vichy French and Japanese forces.[35]
Reforming in early 1967, the squadron spent the next 21 years flying the English Electric Lightning, until May 1988.[35] By that time it was one of the last two squadrons equipped with the Lightning and was based at RAF Binbrook in Lincolnshire.[36]
In February 2003, several of No. 11 Squadron's Tornados were modified to carry the ALARM anti-radiation missile (and unofficially designated as the Tornado EF3) to widen their capabilities to include suppression of enemy air defences (SEAD).[37][38] The squadron disbanded in October 2005 as part of defence reforms following the publication of the Delivering Security in a Changing World: Future Capabilities study by the Ministry of Defence in July 2004.[33]
The RAF announced that No. 11 Squadron would be the second frontline squadron to re-equip with the Eurofighter Typhoon but would now be based at RAF Coningsby. The squadron reformed at Coningsby on 29 March 2007, dropping the (F) designation in recognition of its new tasking as the lead Typhoon multi-role squadron. In March 2011, the squadron deployed to Gioia Del Colle Air Base in Italy, to help police the no-fly zone imposed by UN Security Council Resolution 1973 over Libya as part of Operation Ellamy, assisted by No. 29(R) Squadron personnel and aircraft and further aircraft from No. 3 Squadron.[39]
In 2013, the squadron deployed to the Mediterranean again, this time RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, as part of No. 121 Expeditionary Air Wing, providing air defence of Cyprus as part of Operation Luminous.[40]
No. 11 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 with flypast.[41]
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.[42]
During November 2023, the squadron participated in Exercise Ferocious Falcon V, a Qatari led exercise.[43]
Two eagles in flight are featured on the squadron's badge. The eagles represent speed and strength. There are two birds to reflect the two-seater aircraft which the squadron flew during the First World War. The badge was approved in May 1937.[45][46]
The squadron's motto is Ociores acrioresque aquilis (Latin for 'Swifter and keener than eagles').[47]
As of March 2025, aircraft operated by No. 11 Squadron use the following peacetime air traffic control call signs within UK airspace: Havoc, Razor and Tyrant.[49]
Battle honours
No. 11 Squadron has received the following battle honours. Those marked with an asterisk (*) may be emblazoned on the squadron standard.[50]
↑ 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.
Dear, I. C. B. (1995). "Balkan campaign". In Dear, I. C. B.; Foot, M. R. D. (eds.). The Oxford Companion to World War II. Oxford University Press. pp.102–106. ISBN0-19-866225-4.
Delve, Ken (1985). The Winged Bomb: History of 39 Squadron RAF. Earl Shilton, Leicester, UK: Midland Counties Publications. ISBN0-904597-56-3.
Franks, Norman (2000). Nieuport Aces of World War 1. Aircraft of the Aces. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN1-85532-961-1.
Guttman, Jon (2009). Pusher Aces of World War 1. Aircraft of the Aces. Oxford: Osprey Publishing Limited. ISBN978-1-84603-417-6.
Halley, James J. (1980). The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN0-85130-083-9.
Hunter, Jamie (2004). "Panavia Tornado: Rebirth of the MRCA". International Air Power Review. Vol.13. Norwalk, Connecticut, US: Airtime Publishing. pp.46–79. ISBN1-880588-84-6. ISSN1473-9917.
Lewis, Peter (1959). Squadron Histories: R.F.C, R.N.A.S and R.A.F., 1912–59. London: Putnam.
Moyes, Philip (1964). Bomber Squadrons of the R.A.F. And Their Aircraft. London: Macdonald.
Shores, Christopher; Cull, Brian; Malizia, Nicola (1987). Air War for Yugoslavia, Greece and Crete 1940–41. London: Grub Street. ISBN0-948817-07-0.
Shores, Christopher (1996). Dust Clouds in the Middle East: The Air War in East Africa, Iraq, Syria, Iran and Madagascar, 1940–1942. London: Grub Street. ISBN1-898697-37-X.
Shores, Chris; Massimello, Giovanni; Guest, Russell (2012). A History of the Mediterranean Air War 1940–1945: Volume One: North Africa June 1940–January 1942. London: Grub Street. ISBN978-1-908117-07-6.
Shores, Christopher; Franks, Norman; Guest, Russell (1990). Above The Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915–1920. London: Grub Street. ISBN0-948817-19-4.
Warner, Graham. The Bristol Blenheim: A complete history 2nd Edition. Crecy Publishing, 2005. ISBN0-85979-101-7.
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A No. 11 Squadron English Electric Lightning F.3 on display at the 1976 International Air Tattoo at RAF Greenham Common.
Panavia Tornado F3 in No. 11 Squadron markings, seen at RAF Waddington in 1992.
A Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 of No. 11 Squadron at RAF Coningsby in 2012.
United Kingdom
Royal Air Force 
