No. 47 Squadron RAF
No. 47 Squadron RAF | |
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Latin for 'The name of the Nile is an omen of our strength')[1] | |
Battle honours |
erased. The unofficial badge had been a sun rising over a pyramid, but tours in Russia and Sudan inspired the use of a crane (found in both countries) which, when navigating, flies high like a bomber. The fountain commemorates the amphibious role when seaplanes were flown off the River Nile. Approved by King George VI in November 1938. |
Squadron Codes | EW (Apr 1939 – Sep 1939) KU (Sep 1939 – Sep 1942) (Feb 1945 – Mar 1946) |
Number 47 Squadron is an inactive
History
First World War
No. 47 Squadron
It retained a mixture of aircraft, with two flights being used for reconnaissance and bombing while the third flight operated fighters. When the German
Interwar
After the end of
Although it was not a fighter unit, the squadron did have at least two aces serve in it: Samuel Kinkead[12] and Charles Green.[13]
On 1 February 1920 the squadron was re-formed at
In October 1927 the squadron moved completely to Khartoum
In July 1936 the squadron re-equipped with the
Second World War
East Africa and the Mediterranean (1939–1944)
To counter
The squadron moved to Egypt using the now old Wellesleys in anti-submarine patrols around the eastern Mediterranean, while in July 1942 it acquired a detachment of Bristol Beaufort torpedo bombers from 42 Squadron. It flew its first anti-shipping strikes against enemy convoys supplying the Afrika Korps in Libya on 8 October 1942.[15] It carried on operating Beauforts on anti-shipping as well as convoy escort duties until 1943. In June 1943 the Squadron, by now based in Tunisia, re-equipped with Bristol Beaufighters. Now better equipped at striking against enemy shipping, they carried out armed reconnaissance in different areas of the Mediterranean and Aegean sea looking for shipping to attack.[6][22]
India and the Far East (1944–1945)
The squadron moved with the Beaufighters to India in March 1944, re-equipping with de Havilland Mosquitos in October that year. This was not a success as the Mosquito was almost immediately grounded owing to failures of the wooden structure due to the hot and humid Indian climate, and it re-acquired the Beaufighter in November.[6] They were soon supporting operations in Burma in both day and night attacks with rockets. The squadron partly re-equipped with Mosquitos in February 1945, with both its Beaufighters and Mosquitos being heavily used to support General Slim's 14th Army in its attack against Mandalay. It completely re-equipped with Mosquitos in April 1945, continuing operations against Japanese forces until the end of the war. After the war it moved to Java to operate against Indonesian nationalist forces but it was disbanded at Butterworth on 21 March 1946.[23]
Transport (1946–1967)
On 1 September 1946 the squadron was re-formed at
In May 1956 the squadron became the first to re-equip with the Blackburn Beverley heavy-lift transport,[14] the large aircraft were used on Transport Command trooping and freight routes. The squadron also supported operations in Cyprus, Kuwait and East Africa and carried out mercy flights related to floods, droughts and natural disasters. The Beverley was withdrawn and the squadron disbanded on 31 October 1967.[19]
Hercules (1968–present)
C-130K (1968–2013)
The squadron was re-formed at
During the Falklands War, the squadron airlifted supplies to Ascension Island and, later, air dropped men and supplies to ships of the British task force in the South Atlantic. To make the trip from Ascension to the Falklands, several Hercules were given additional fuel tanks and fitted with refuelling probes.[27] No. 47 Squadron also prepared to fly elements of the Special Air Service to Argentina for the aborted Operation Mikado.[28]
The Hercules C.1/C.3s were withdrawn from service on 28 October 2013.[29]
C-130J (1999–2023)
No. 47 Squadron received its first Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules on 21 November 1999.[29]
The squadron was subsequently heavily involved in
On 25 August 2017, Hercules C4 ZH873, operated by the squadron, was seriously damaged in flight operations during Operation Shader.[32] In response to an issue of "crew fatigue" over this incident, the RAF approved an uplift of trained aircrews for the C-130J from 20 to 28.[33]
In March 2020, the squadron was awarded the right to emblazon a
On 4 June 2023, No. 47 Squadron carried out the RAF's last Hercules operational flight when Hercules C4 ZH871 returned from RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus, to RAF Brize Norton.[35] On 8 June 2023, No. 47 Squadron held its disbandment parade at RAF Brize Norton, in a service led by the Princess Royal, ahead of its official stand down on 21 September 2023 due to the retirement of the Hercules.[36] On 14 June 2023 No.47 Squadron led a three aircraft flypast round all four nations of the United Kingdom,taking in many sites linked to the history of the Hercules and 47 Squadron.[37] On 23 June 2023, at a farewell party for the Hercules at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, 47 Squadron's band performed in front of a Hercules rear cargo ramp, joined by vocalist Bruce Dickinson for songs by Dickinson's band Iron Maiden.[38][39]
The squadron disbanded on 21 September 2023, after the squadron standard was laid up at RAF Cranwell on 31 July 2023.[40]
References
- Citations
- ^ Pine (1983), p. 151
- ^ "47 Squadron". Royal Air Force. Archived from the original on 7 March 2015. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
- ^ Yoxall (1955), pp. 454–455
- ^ Ashworth (1989), p. 123
- ^ a b c Yoxall (1955), p. 455
- ^ a b c d e Halley (1980), p. 82
- ^ a b c Halley (1980), p. 176
- ^ Rogers (2005), p. 70
- ^ Yoxall (1955), pp. 455–456
- ^ Rogers (2005), pp. 69, 70–71
- ^ Rogers (2005), p. 73
- ^ Shores, Franks & Guest (1990), pp. 225–226
- ^ Shores, Franks & Guest (1990), p. 175
- ^ a b c d e f g Ashworth (1989), p. 124
- ^ a b c d e f Yoxall (1955), p. 456
- ^ "Cairo-Kano-Cairo Flight Concluded". Flight. Vol. XVII, no. 883. 26 November 1925. p. 784.
- ^ Thetford (May 1994), pp. 33–34
- ^ Thetford (June 1994), pp. 17–18.
- ^ a b c Halley (1980), p. 83
- ^ Thetford (1995), p. 22
- ^ a b Chorlton (2014), p. 42
- ^ Yoxall (1955), pp. 456–457
- ^ Yoxall (1955), pp. 457, 468
- ^ Jackson (1989), p. 4
- ^ Yoxall (1955), p. 468
- ^ Jackson (1989), p. 5.
- ^ Burden et al. (1986), pp. 405–409
- ^ "The secret Falklands 'suicide mission'". The Telegraph. 22 March 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
- ^ a b "C-130J Hercules". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
- ^ "Royal Air Force squadrons recognised for gallantry". Ministry of Defence. 11 October 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
- ^ "47 Squadron". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
- ^ "RAF lost C-130J in Iraq". London. IHS Janes. 29 June 2018. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
- ISSN 2399-8334.
- ^ "RAF Squadrons Receive Battle Honours from Her Majesty The Queen". Royal Air Force. 24 March 2020. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
- ^ "RAF Hercules marks the completion of operations with flypast". Royal Air Force. 7 June 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
- ^ "Number 47 Squadron Mark the End of an Era with a Royal Parade". Royal Air Force. 8 June 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
- ^ "The C-130J Hercules completed it's farewell flypast". Royal Air Force. 15 June 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
- ^ "Watch Brucr Dickinson sing Iron Maiden Classics With Covers Band In Royal Air Force Hangar". Blabbermouth. 26 June 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
- ^ "Watch Bruce Dickinson sing Iron Maiden classic The Trooper with a covers band in an RAF hangar in Oxfordshire". Metal Hammer. 26 June 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
- ^ "Number 47 Squadron - Standard Lodgement". Royal Air Force. 31 July 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
- Bibliography
- Ashworth, Chris (1989). Encyclopaedia of Modern Royal Air Force Squadrons. Wellingborough, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 1-85260-013-6.
- Burden, Rodney A.; Draper, Michael I.; Rough, Douglas A.; Smith, Colin R. & Wilton, David (1986). Falklands: The Air War. Twickenham, UK: British Aviation Research Group. ISBN 0-906339-05-7.
- Chorlton, Martyn (November 2014). "Battle Honours – 47 Squadron: Harassing the Italians out of East Africa". Aeroplane. Vol. 42, no. 11. pp. 42–46.
- Halley, James J. (1980). The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians). ISBN 0-85130-083-9..
- Jackson, Paul (September–December 1989). "The Hastings...Last of a Transport Line". Air Enthusiast. No. 40. pp. 1–7, 47–52.
- Lewis, Peter (1959). Squadron Histories: R.F.C, R.N.A.S and R.A.F. 1912–59. London: Putnam.
- Pine, L. G. (1983). A dictionary of mottoes (1 ed.). London: Routledge & Kegan Paul. ISBN 0-7100-9339-X.
- Rogers, M. W. (May–June 2005). "Walter F. Anderson Canadian Hero: The RAF in South Russia 1919–1920". Air Enthusiast. No. 117. pp. 69–75.
- 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. ISBN 0-948817-19-4.
- Thetford, Owen (May 1994). "By Day and By Night: Fairey IIIF and Gordon in Service". Aeroplane. Vol. 22, no. 5. pp. 32–38.
- Thetford, Owen (June 1994). "By Day and By Night: Fairey IIIF and Gordon in Service". Aeroplane. Vol. 22, no. 6. pp. 16–20.
- Thetford, Owen (March 1995). "By Day and By Night: Vincents in Service". Aeroplane. Vol. 23, no. 3. pp. 18–22.
- Yoxall, John (8 April 1955). "No. 47 Squadron: History of a Famous Transport Command Unit". Flight. Vol. 67, no. 2411. pp. 454–457, 468.
External links
- "47 Squadron". Royal Air Force.