No. 45 Squadron RAF
No. 45 Squadron RAF | |
---|---|
Latin for 'Through difficulties I arise')[1] | |
Aircraft | Embraer Phenom T1 |
Battle honours | * Honours marked with an asterisk are those emblazoned on the Squadron Standard |
Insignia | |
Squadron badge heraldry | A winged camel, commemorating the Sopwith Camel used for a large part of the First World War, and the squadron's long association with the Middle East. Approved by King Edward VIII in October 1936. |
Squadron roundel |
Number 45 Squadron is a flying squadron of the Royal Air Force. The squadron, which was established on 1 March 1916 as part of the Royal Flying Corps, currently provides flying training using Embraer Phenom T1s and operates under the command of No. 3 Flying Training School at RAF Cranwell, Lincolnshire.
History
First World War
Formed during World War I at Gosport on 1 March 1916 as Number 45 Squadron, the unit was first equipped with Sopwith 1½ Strutters which it was to fly in the Scout role. Deployed to France in October of that year, the Squadron found itself suffering heavy losses due to the quality of its aircraft. This did not change until it transitioned to the Sopwith Camel in July 1917. Transferred to the Austro-Italian front at the end of 1917, 45 Squadron there engaged in ground attack and offensive patrols until September 1918 when it returned to France and joined the Independent Force.[2]
During the course of the war, some thirty
Inter-war period
The squadron returned to England in February 1919 and disbanded in December 1919. In April 1921 it reformed at Helwan, Egypt. Assigned Vickers Vernon bomber-transports, the unit provided troop transportation and ground support and mail services throughout the Middle East, notably in support of anti-rebel operations in Iraq and Palestine. The unit transitioned to DH9As in 1927,to Fairey IIIs in 1929 and to Fairey Gordons in 1935. At some point the unit adopted the nickname "The Flying Camels". The Squadron Badge is a winged camel, approved by King Edward VIII in October 1936. The badge and nickname derive from the Sopwith used by the unit in World War I and its long service in the Middle East.[5]
Second World War
At the start of World War II, 45 Squadron converted to
During late 1940 the squadron supported Allied ground forces in the
In June 1941 to August 1941 the squadron was based at RAF Aqir in Palestine where it was involved in operations against the Vichy French in Lebanon and during an attack on Beirut on 10 July three were shot down in flames by Vichy French D-520 fighters. The crew of one were ordered to bail out but only the pilot, Sgt. Wilton-Jones, survived although badly burned and hospitalized in Tripoli, Lebanon. The mission was a success as a ceasefire was declared at one minute past midnight on 12 July and the allies took over the hospital on 16 July. [10]
From mid-1942 the unit was deployed to Burma and India, for service against the Japanese. Three aircraft from the Squadron participated in the first Allied bombing raid against Bangkok.[11]
Malayan Emergency
After the Second World War, No. 45 Squadron served in the
1960s to 1980s
Photos of 45 Squadron 1961
After re-equipping with English Electric Canberra B.15s in 1962, the squadron became involved in the Brunei Revolution and the subsequent Confrontation with Indonesia until its resolution in 1966. The squadron disbanded on 13 January 1970 after the UK's withdrawal from East of Suez.[2]
On 1 August 1972, the squadron was reformed at RAF West Raynham, equipped with Hawker Hunter FGA.9s, as a ground-attack training unit. The squadron disbanded in July 1976 at RAF Wittering after this role was taken over by the Tactical Weapons Unit.[2]
In January 1984, the squadron number, as No. 45 (Reserve) Squadron, was assigned to the
On 1 April 1992, the unit was disbanded and TWCU title dropped, with its aircraft and personnel becoming No. 15 (Reserve) Squadron, whilst maintaining the same training role.[15]
1992 onwards
On 1 July 1992, the No. 45(R) Squadron identity was resurrected and adopted by the Multi-Engined Training Squadron (METS) at No. 6 FTS,
Commanding officers
1 March 1916 to 31 December 1919
- 20 to 27 March 1916 Captain C E Ryan
- 27 March to 24 April 1916 Major L A Strange
- 24 April 1916 to 24 April 1917 Major W R Read
- 24 April to 18 August 1917 Major H P Van Ryneveld
- 18 to 24 August 1917 Captain A T Harris (acting)[18]
- 24 August 1917 to 16 July 1918 Major A M Vaucour (killed in action on 16 July 1918)
- 16 to 23 July 1918 Captain R J Dawes
- 23 to 28 July 1918 Captain N C Jones
- 28 July to 21 October 1918 Captain J A Crook
- 21 October 1918 to 3 February 1919 Major A M Miller
- 3 February to 26 September 1919 Captain J W Pinder
- List incomplete
1 April 1921 to 18 February 1970
- List incomplete
- 1 November to 20 November 1922 Squadron Leader T F Hazell[19]
- 20 November 1922 to 14 October 1924 Squadron Leader A T Harris[18]
- 14 October 1924 to 30 November 1925 Squadron Leader R M Hill
- List incomplete
- 15 November 1928 to 4 March 1932 Squadron Leader F J Vincent[20]
- 1932 to 1935 Squadron Leader H W L Saunders[21]
- 14 September 1935 to 1937 Squadron Leader A R Churchman[22]
- List incomplete
- March 1940 to 2 October 1940 Squadron Leader John Walter Dallamore (killed in action)[23]
- 2 October 1940 – ? Squadron Leader Patrick Phillip Troughton-Smith
- 1944 to 1945 Squadron Leader George Oswald Leonard Dyke DFC
- List incomplete
- 24 November 1947 to 1948 Squadron Leader F L Dodd[24]
- 23 July 1948 to 1950 Squadron Leader E D Crew[25]
- List incomplete
- 27 August 1951 to ? Squadron Leader I S Stockwell[26]
- 1956 to ? Squadron Leader G S Cooper
- 1960 to November 1961 Squadron Leader J W Valentine
- List incomplete
1 August 1972 to present
- List incomplete
- February 2005 to April 2007 Squadron Leader JDR Bowland
- List incomplete
- June 2014 to August 2016 Wing Commander D Catlow
- August 2016 to September 2020 Wing Commander R Tomala
- September 2020 to Present Wing Commander J Radley
References
Notes
- ISBN 0-7100-9339-X.
- ^ a b c "No.45 Squadron". Royal Air Force Museum. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
- ^ Shores, Franks & Guest 1990, pp. 34–35
- ^ Shores, Franks & Guest 1990, p. 122
- ^ "RAF Badges - Nos 1 - 100 Squadrons". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
- ^ Playfair, Vol. I, page 112.
- ^ Playfair, Vol. I, pages 110, 112.
- ^ Håkan Gustavsson, 2015, "Biplane fighter aces, Italy, Sergente Maggiore Luigi 'Gino' Baron", Biplane Fighter Aces from the Second World War (4 June 2015). (See also the Italian language Wikipedia article on Gino Baron.)
- ^ "Patrick Troughton-Smith". Unit Histories. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
- ^ "No. 45 Squadron (RAF) during the Second World War". www.historyofwar.org.
- ^ Air fighting, Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 8, 10 January 1942, Page 7
- ^ "Armourers of the Royal Air Force attach rockets to a Bristol Beaufighter aircraft of 45 Squadron prior to its flying a strike operation on a communist terrorist target in the Malayan jungle". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
- ^ "Air Commodore Geoffrey Cooper - obituary". The Telegraph. 16 February 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
- ^ "RAF nuclear frontline Order-of-Battle 1984". Retrieved 13 September 2013.
- ISBN 1-899808-06-X.
- ^ "No 45 Squadron". Air of Authority. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
- ^ "1st Phenom flight under military register for UK military flying training system". Royal Air Force. Archived from the original on 29 June 2019. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
- ^ a b "A T Harris". Rafweb.org. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
- ^ "Royal Air Force: Appointments". Flight. XIV (731): 791. 28 December 1922. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
- ^ "F J Vincent". Rafweb.org. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
- ^ "H W L Saunders". Rafweb.org. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
- ^ "A R Churchman". Rafweb.org. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
- ^ J.N. Houterman. "Royal Air Force Officers 1939–1945 – D". Unithistories.com. Archived from the original on 7 October 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
- ^ "F L Dodd". Rafweb.org. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
- ^ "E D Crew". Rafweb.org. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
- ^ "I S Stockwell". Rafweb.org. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
Bibliography
- Ashworth, Chris. Encyclopedia of Modern Royal Air Force Squadrons. Wellingborough, UK: Patrick Stephens Limited, 1989. ISBN 1-85260-013-6.
- Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1980. ISBN 0-85130-083-9.
- Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
- Jefford, C.G. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury: Airlife Publishing, 1998 (second edition 2001). ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
- Jefford, C.G.The Flying Camels: The History of No. 45 Squadron, RAF. High Wycombe, UK: Privately Printed, 1995.
- Lewis, Peter. Squadron Histories: R.F.C., R.N.A.S. and R.A.F. 1912–59. London: Putnam, 1959.
- Moyes, Philip J.R. Bomber Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers) Ltd., 1964 (new edition 1976). ISBN 0-354-01027-1.
- ISBN 978-1-84574-065-8.
- Rawlings, John D.R. Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers) Ltd., 1969 (new edition 1976, reprinted 1978). ISBN 0-354-01028-X.
- Shores, Christopher F., ISBN 978-0-948817-19-9.
External links
- Official website
- Air of Authority: No 41–45 Squadron Histories
- 45 Squadron, Justin Museum of Military History
- Peter A. Weston, Lancaster Radar/Radio/Navigator, 186 Sqdn, Stradishall, East Anglia (World War Two) / 45 Sqdn (Malaya)/ 209 Sqdn (Korea), RAF, Justin Museum of Military History
- 45 Squadron Photograph, Tengah, Singapore, 1950, Justin Museum of Military History
- Peter Weston Bristol Brigand Photograph Collection, Justin Museum, photographs of 45 Squadron Brigands in Action
- Peter Weston Bristol Beaufighter Photograph Collection, Justin Museum, photographs of 45 Squadron Beaufighters in Action