No. 25 Squadron RAF

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No. XXV (F) Squadron RAF
No. XXV (F) Squadron badge
Active25 September 1915 – 31 January 1920
1 February 1920 – 23 June 1958
1 July 1958 – 30 November 1962
1 October 1963 – July 1989
July 1989 – 4 April 2008
8 September 2018 – present
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
Part ofNo. 4 Flying Training School RAF
Motto(s)(Latin): Feriens tego
("Striking I defend")[1]
EquipmentBAE Systems Hawk T.2
Battle honours
  • Home Defence 1916
  • Western Front 1916–1918*
  • Somme 1916
  • Arras
  • Ypres 1917*
  • Cambrai 1917*
  • Somme 1918*
  • Lys
  • Hindenburg Line
  • Channel & North Sea 1939–1941
  • Battle of Britain 1940*
  • Fortress Europe 1943–1944*
  • Home Defence 1940–1945*
  • France & Germany 1944–1945*
* Honours marked with an asterisk may be emblazoned on the Squadron Standard
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldryOn a gauntlet a hawk rising affrontée[2] (The badge incorporates a previous badge used unofficially by the Squadron, the hawk being associated with the Squadron's period at RAF Hawkinge.)[3]
Post 1950 squadron roundel
Squadron CodesRX (Dec 1938 – Sep 1939)
ZK (Sep 1939 – Apr 1951)
FA–FZ (July 1989–Apr 2008)
FA–FM (Sep 2018–present)

Number 25 (Fighter) Squadron (alternatively Number XXV (F) Squadron) is a squadron of the Royal Air Force having reformed on 8 September 2018.[4]

During the

RAF Brüggen, West Germany and later RAF Wyton, Cambridgeshire. The Squadron regained its wings in July 1989, operating the Panavia Tornado F.3
interceptor, these were flown until April 2008 when the Squadron disbanded.

Since reforming in 2018, No. 25 Squadron operates the BAE Systems Hawk T.2. It provides Advanced Fast Jet Training (AFJT) for pilots of the RAF and Royal Navy, as part of No. 4 Flying Training School at RAF Valley.

History

First World War

Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2, similar to those operated by No. 25 Squadron from 1916 to 1917.

No. 25 Squadron was initially formed as part of the

Maurice Farman MF.11 Shorthorn and the Avro 504.[6] No. 25 Squadron relocated to Barnham, Norfolk on 31 December and shortly after were equipped with the Vickers F.B.5, these however were exchanged for the Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2b by February.[7][8] The Squadron was deployed to the RFC HQ at Saint-Omer, France on 20 February, as a long-range reconnaissance and fighter unit.[7] No. 25 Squadron was initially tasked with intercepting German aircraft, operating in the routes taken by the Luftstreitkräfte on their way to raid England. However this was proven to be ineffective and the Squadron was transferred in order to protect General Headquarters and Audruicq, flying sorties with No. 21 Squadron.[7]

On 1 April, the Squadron relocated to the aerodrome at

Somme Offensive, the Squadron had its ranked bolstered to 18 machines, 20 pilots and 18 observers. In the prelude to the battle, No. 25 Squadron flew reconnaissance and bombing missions behind enemy lines.[7] On 18 June, Cpl. James Henry Waller, and his pilot 2nd Lt. George Reynolds McCubbin, shot down famous German ace Max Immelmann. This occurred during No. 25 Squadron's second encounter with Immelmann that day, after he previously shot down Lt. C. E. Rogers for his 16th victory. Immelmann, flying a Fokker E.III, engaged No. 25 Squadron over Lens and subsequently shot down Lt. J. R. B. Savage before closing in on McCubbin's F.E.2b, whose gunner, Waller, opened fire and shot him down.[10] For their accomplishment, McCubbin was awarded the Distinguished Service Order while Waller was promoted to Sergeant and received the Distinguished Service Medal.[11] When the offensive started on 1 July, No. 25 Squadron started flying night time bombing missions. It started operating D.H.4 bombers in June 1917.[12]

During the course of the

Noel Webb, Charles Woollven[13] Alexander Roulstone, Leonard Herbert Emsden, and Hartley Pullan.[14]

Interwar years

After the war the squadron acquired

Hawker Demon when the squadron was given a night-fighter role. For night-flying training purposes the squadron also received Gloster Gladiators.[15]

Second World War

No. 25(F) Squadron moved to RAF Northolt on 12 September 1938. During World War II it flew Blenheims on night patrols, which were replaced by Beaufighters and later Mosquitos. By the closing stages of the war, the squadron was almost entirely committed to bomber escort missions.[16] The squadron was particularly successful during Operation Steinbock from January to May 1944.[17]

Cold War

Vampire NF.10 night fighter of No. 25 Squadron in 1954

After the war No. 25 Squadron continued to operate the Mosquito NF.30 night fighter from their base at RAF West Malling until November 1951, when they were replaced by jet powered De Havilland Vampire NF.10, conversion to type having commenced in February 1951. The Vampires were then replaced by Gloster Meteor NF Mk.12 and 14s in March 1954. In 1957 the squadron moved from West Malling to RAF Tangmere, where it disbanded on 23 June 1958.[12] On 1 July 1958 No. 153 Squadron RAF was renumbered No. 25 Squadron and the squadron flew Meteors until their replacement in 1959 by the Gloster Javelin FAW Mk.7s.[12]

The Bloodhound missile years

No. 25 Squadron disbanded again on 30 November 1962, reforming a year later as the RAF's first

Bristol Bloodhound SAM unit, based at RAF North Coates.[12] In this role the squadron moved to RAF Bruggen in 1970, with detachments also protecting RAF Laarbruch and RAF Wildenrath.[12] In 1983 the squadron moved to RAF Wyton, similarly protecting RAF Barkston Heath and RAF Wattisham.[12]

On Tornados

A Tornado F3 of No. 25 Squadron on an air show in Poland

The RAF withdrew the Bloodhound from 25 Squadron in October 1989 and the squadron immediately reformed at

Combat Air Patrol missions below the 33rd parallel, enforcing the southern no-fly zone imposed by Operation Southern Watch.[18] Between October 2004 and January 2005 a contingent of 4 aircraft from 25(F) Sqn was deployed to Siauliana Air Base in Lithuania to provide NATO Air Defence cover to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, following their membership of NATO. Within the United Kingdom the Squadron's primary role, along with 11(F) Sqn prior to their disbandment, was QRA(S), Quick Reaction Alert (South), providing air defence for the Southern UK. Most publicly the Squadron intercepted eight Russian Tu-95 Bear-H strategic bombers and two Tu-160 Blackjack strategic bombers in July 2007. The squadron disbanded on 4 April 2008, its Tornados relocating to RAF Leuchars to join the remaining active Tornado F3 squadrons stationed there.[12]

Hawk T2 Advanced Trainer

Advanced flying training

In August 2018, it was announced that, due to the increased demand for fast jet pilots in both the RAF and the

4 FTS would be split into two, with No. IV (AC) Squadron to be joined by a newly reformed No. 25 Squadron by the end of 2018. No. 25 Squadron will takeover the jet conversion tasks, with No. IV Squadron focusing on tactics and weapons training.[19]

See also

References

Notes

  1. ISBN 0-7100-9339-X
    .
  2. ^ Rawlings 1978, p. 66.
  3. ^ "Squadrons of the Battle of Britain. Aircraft, badges and history - 1 to 25 Squadrons (Archived)". raf.mod.uk. Archived from the original on 8 December 2011. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  4. ^ a b "XXV (F) SQUADRON". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  5. ^ Mason 2001, p. 244.
  6. ^ "No 25 Squadron Aircraft & Markings 1915 - 1916". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  7. ^ a b c d e "No. 25 (F) Squadron History". 25 Squadron. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  8. ^ "No 25 Squadron Aircraft & Markings 1916 - 1924". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  9. ^ "Auchel". Anciens Aerodromes (in French). Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  10. ISBN 978-0-948817-73-1
    .
  11. ISBN 978-1-84603-417-6
    .
  12. ^ a b c d e f g "No 21 - 25 Squadron Histories". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  13. ^ Shores, et al, 1990. pp. 156–157, 176, 253, 320, 378, 390.
  14. ^ Franks, et al, 1997. pp. 73, 85, 91.
  15. ^ Gustavsson, Håkan. "Gloster Gladiator in 25 RAF Squadron service". Biplane Fighter Aces from the Second World War. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
  16. ^ Wragg 2007, p. 1840
  17. ^ Mackay 2011, pp. 144–155.
  18. ^ "Operation Southern Watch". Global Security. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
  19. ^ "No. 25 Squadron returning to fly the Hawk T2". RAF. 1 August 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2018.

Bibliography

External links

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