No. 6 Squadron RAF

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No. 6 Squadron RAF
Wing Commander G Montgomery
Insignia
Squadron tail badge
Roundel
Aircraft codesEA–EZ (Jaguar and Typhoon)

Number 6 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Eurofighter Typhoon FGR.4 at RAF Lossiemouth.[1] It was previously equipped with the

King Abdullah I of Jordan
in October 1950 due to its long period of service in the Middle East.

History

First World War

The squadron was formed on 31 January 1914 (1914-01-31), at

Farnborough Aerodrome as No. 6 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps.[3] Its first squadron commander was Major John Becke.[4][5] The squadron had an initial aircraft inventory of two Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2s and two Farmans, with the squadron also initially incorporating a flight operating man-lifting kites.[6] The squadron, equipped with a mixture of B.E.2s, Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.8s and Farmans crossed the English Channel in October 1914 to support IV Corps in its attempt to prevent the Germans from capturing Antwerp.[5][7] In November, the squadron joined the newly formed 2nd Wing of the RFC, with the role of supporting the Second and Third Corps,[8] taking part in the First Battle of Ypres.[5]

In February 1915,

Lewis machine gun into a German aircraft which went spinning down. The second victory saw a German aircraft driven to the ground damaged, and the third saw a German aircraft – an Albatros C.I of FFA 3 – burst into flames and crash. For this feat he was awarded the Victoria Cross.[13]

The squadron was deployed directing artillery during the Actions of the Bluff near Ypres in February 1916 and the Actions of St Eloi Craters in March–April that year.[14] During the Battle of the Somme from July to November 1916, the squadron carried out bombing attacks, including night bombing operations, against targets in the Ypres salient to prevent the Germans transferring troops to the Somme front.[15] In May 1917, the squadron re-equipped with Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8s.[11] The squadron took part in the Battle of Messines in June 1917, artillery spotting during the preparatory bombardment, and then flying contact patrols.[15] Later that year, the squadron took part in the Battle of Passchendaele,[16] In September 1917, the squadron supported the British Second Army during the Battle of the Menin Road Ridge.[17] In November 1917, the squadron was pulled out of the line and attached to V Corps, which was being held in reserve to exploit a potential breakthrough in the front, and was used to give training on cooperation between aircraft and ground forces to infantry, artillery and staff officers.[18] As the squadron had posted away most of its observers, it was not drafted into action during the German spring offensive from March 1918, being sent to Le Crotoy to be out of the way of the offensive, while its commanding officer, Archibald James, was employed in finding airfields for the squadrons of the RFC (and RAF) as they were forced to relocate owing to the German advance.[19][20]

While most of the squadron continued in its training duties, one flight was attached to the Cavalry Corps when the pressure from the German offensive died down, and in July 1918, the squadron reunited as an operational unit under the command of Major George Pirie in support of the Cavalry Corps.[19] The squadron took part in the Battle of Amiens in August 1918,[21] and the Battles of Bapaume and the Scarpe at the end of the month.[22] The squadron continued to fly in support of the Cavalry Corps until the end of the war.[19]

Inter-war years

Following the Armistice, the squadron was initially employed for communications and photographic duties in France, before being transferred to

army co-operation role, the squadron received Bristol Fighters in July 1920,[11] which it used against the Iraqi Revolt that broke out that year, bombing rebel forces.[23] In 1924, the squadron was part of a large force of aircraft deployed against Kudish revolts led by Mahmud Barzanji, bombing the city of Sulaymaniyah. On 14 September 1924, 6 Squadron Bristol Fighters attacked two Turkish cavalry columns that had crossed into Iraq, dispersing the columns.[24] In 1925, the squadron carried out further operations against forces led by Mahmud.[25] In 1927, the squadron supported operations against Ahmed Barzani which resulted in the occupation of Barzan by Iraqi Levies, and the retreat of Ahmed Barzani to the hills.[26]

Hawker Hardy aircraft operating from RAF Ramleh airfield in the 1930s

In October 1929, 6 Squadron moved to

Hawker Hardys (another, General Purpose, variant of the Hart),[11] with the squadron continuing to be heavily deployed against the revolt through the rest of 1938 and well into 1939.[33][29]

Second World War

The squadron added

Agedabia[27][36] The Lysander was unsuitable for operations when faced by modern fighters, and one flight was reequipped with Hawker Hurricanes at the start of March 1941.[11][37] When the German North African offensive in the spring of 1941 caused the Allied forces to withdraw, the flights of 6 Squadron were forced to make a number of moves to avoid being overrun, and when Tobruk was besieged the squadron ended up within the perimeter of Tobruk, carrying out reconnaissance operations on behalf of the besieged forces.[38][39] The squadron suffered from spares shortages, while the airfield was subject to German shelling, and the squadron's aircraft were vulnerable to attack by German fighters when landing. Two of the squadron's three flights were ordered to evacuate in 19 April,[40] while the remaining flight left Tobruk on 10 May.[4] In June 1941, the squadron was equipped completely with Hurricanes, discarding its remaining Lysanders,[11][40] At the end of June, the squadron was pulled off the front line and withdrawn to Tel Aviv for a period of rest.[40][41]

In August 1941, the squadron, now equipped with Lysanders and Gloster Gladiator fighters, moved to Wadi Halfa in Sudan, with a detachment at Kufra in south-west Libya.[40][42] On 26 September 1941, one of the squadron's Kufra-based Gladiators intercepted an Italian Savoia-Marchetti SM.79, claiming it as possibly damaged. This was the last combat engagement by an RAF-flown Gladiator.[43] A few Hurricanes were added in September 1941, and four Bristol Blenheims added in November that year.[40] The squadron was withdrawn from operations again early in 1942, and carried out maintenance tasks until its next equipment arrived.[3][40]

Western Desert
during 1942

In April 1942, the squadron moved to RAF Shandur to re-equip with the Hurricane Mk. IID, a specialist ground-attack version armed with two Vickers S 40 mm cannon, designed for anti-armour operations.[44][45] The squadron moved up to RAF Gambut on 4 June 1942 for operations, flying its first, unsuccessful combat operation with the Hurricane II.Ds on 7 June, while on 8 June it claimed one tank destroyed and several other vehicles damaged, at a cost of two Hurricanes shot down by anti-aircraft fire and another damaged.[46] As the Hurricane IID was slow and relatively vulnerable to enemy attack, it was employed under tight conditions - requiring fighter escort and targets whose position was known, could be easily identified from the air and not protected by too much anti-aircraft fire were attacked - this allowed the aircraft to operate effectively while minimising casualties.[47] The squadron took part in the Second Battle of El Alamein in October–November 1942, but in December, the squadron was temporarily withdrawn from its anti-armour role to fly shipping protection duties with Hurricane IICs.[48][49]

The squadron returned to the anti-tank role on 22 February 1943, again equipped with the Hurricane IID.[50] In March 1943, the squadron took part in the Battle of the Mareth Line. The squadron's attacks were effective, but losses were heavy.[51] Fifteen Hurricanes from 6 Squadron were shot down between 22 and 26 March, with six shot down near El Hamma on 25 March.[52] The vulnerability of the unarmoured Hurricane IID to ground fire when carrying out gun attacks led to 3-inch rockets being preferred, and the squadron was therefore pulled out of the front line after the end of the fighting in North Africa until it could receive new equipment, which arrived in July 1943 as the Hurricane IV, which could be armed with rocket projectiles.[51][49][53]

In February 1944, the squadron moved to

Dalmatian islands. They were strongly defended by anti-aircraft gunners on Siebel ferries with their multiple guns, as the ships were being used to supply the German forces. Squadron detachments were also made to Bastia in Corsica, Araxos near Patras in Greece, Brindisi, and near Ancona. A fixed 44-gallon extra petrol tank under the port wing increased the Hurricanes' duration to almost three hours at 160 mph (260 km/h) cruising speed. The airfield on Vis (island) was extensively used as an advanced base from May 1944 to February 1945, usually to top up tanks before each armed reconnaissance.[55][56]

Post-Second World War/Cold War

In July 1945, the squadron returned to Palestine, as British forces faced an

drop tanks. One 213 Squadron Tempest was shot down, with two more 213 Squadron and one six Squadron aircraft damaged.[58]

In October 1949 it received

King Abdullah I of Jordan in recognition of the squadron's service in the Middle East since 1919.[59] In February 1952 the squadron received Vampire FB.9s.[32][55] In September 1952, three of the squadron's Vampires were deployed to Sharjah in response to the Buraimi dispute, when Saudi forces had occupied a village near Al-Buraimi in Oman. The aircraft flew low-level demonstration flights over villages in the region, and after a diplomatic agreement in October, returned to Habbaniya.[60][61] A further increase in tension early in 1953 caused a larger detachment to be sent to Sharjah, which was later relieved by a detachment of Gloster Meteors from {{No. 208 Squadron RAF|208 Squadron]].[60] The squadron re-equipped with de Havilland Venom FB.1 at Amman in February 1954, the first RAF squadron outside Germany to receive the Venom.[62] In June 1955, it was the first squadron to receive the improved Venom FB.4, and in August that year, four of the new aircraft were deployed on Operation Quick Return, a 10,000 mi (16,000 km) round trip to Cape Town in South Africa, which took 14 days, with 13 airfields visited.[63]

On 6 April 1956, the squadron returned to Cyprus, operating from

RAF Labuan in Malaysia as one of a series of deployments to reinforce the Far East Air Force during the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation.[71] It continued to operate the Canberra from Akrotiri until 13 January 1969 when the squadron disbanded.[32]

Having been located outside of the UK for 50 years, the squadron returned in 1969 and was the first to receive the

Phantom FGR.2 at RAF Coningsby the same year, before re-equipping with the Jaguar GR.1 and T.2 at RAF Lossiemouth in 1974. The squadron then moved to RAF Coltishall, being declared operational in the tactical nuclear role with twelve aircraft and eight WE.177 nuclear bombs until 1994, when the squadron's nuclear role was terminated and the weapons withdrawn.[72][73]

Post-Cold War

A No. 6 Squadron SEPECAT Jaguar GR3A in 2006

The squadron continued at RAF Coltishall in its non-nuclear role until Coltishall closed on 1 April 2006, and the squadron moved to RAF Coningsby. The squadron's aircraft were deployed to the Gulf as part of

Bosnia as part of Operation Deny Flight from April 1993.[75]

The squadron was the last to fly the

RMAF Butterworth to participate in aerial war games for the 40th anniversary of the Five Power Defence Arrangements.[77][78] In August 2013, several Typhoons from No. 6 were exercising with HMS Dragon and US fighters in the Gulf.[79] In June 2014, the squadron began to move to its new home in RAF Lossiemouth.[80]

The squadron participated in the

Syrian Civil War.[81]

In March 2020, the squadron was awarded the right to emblazon a

standard, recognising its role in Bosnia during 1995.[82]

The squadron attended

Exercise Spears of Victory 23 during February 2023 at King Abdulaziz Air Base.[83]

Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated included:

Heritage and markings

Several Hawker Hurricane Mk.IID of No. 6 Squadron departing Gabès Airfield in Tunisia for a tank-busting raid on 6 April 1943

No. 6 Squadron's badge features an

King George VI in January 1938.[84] An earlier unauthorised badge featured an eagle sitting within a figure 6.[85]

During the First World War, the squadron was allocated markings of three fuselage bands, which were black on clear doped fabric aircraft and white on dark painted machines, one each side of the aircraft's roundel and one on the rear fuselage just forward of the tailplane. These were carried from 1916 to March 1918.[86] The squadron's operations in cooperation with the Royal Artillery during the First World War gave rise to the "Gunner's Stripe" used as a marking on the squadron's aircraft, consisting of a pale blue stripe with a superimposed red zig-zag, carried on either side of the fuselage roundel or on the tail.[87][88]

The squadron's nickname 'The Flying Tin Openers' originated during the North African campaign of the Second World War when the squadron operated the Hurricane Mk.IID and were known for carrying out low level attacks against German and Italian armoured vehicles and tanks. The nickname is reflected in the squadron's aircraft tail badge which features a tin opener.[89]

The squadron's motto is Oculi Exercitus (

Latin for 'The eyes of the army').[90]

Battle honours

No. 6 Squadron has received the following

battle honours. Those marked with an asterisk (*) may be emblazoned on the squadron standard.[91]

Commanding officers

List of commanding officers[4][92]
From To Name
January 1914 March 1915 Major John Becke[4][5]
March 1915 December 1915 Major
Gordon Shephard[93]
December 1915 September 1916 Major
Reginald Mills, MC AFC[94]
September 1916 June 1917 Major Arthur Barratt, MC[95]
June 1917 July 1918 Major Archibald James, MC
July 1918 February 1920 Major George Pirie, MC[96]
13 February 1920 31 March 1920 S/Ldr W Sowrey[97]
May 1920 April 1922 S/Ldr E A B Rice
April 1922 January 1924 S/Ldr Edye Rolleston Manning, DSO MC
January 1924 November 1925 S/Ldr D S K Crosbie,
OBE
November 1925 November 1926 S/Ldr D F Stevenson, DSO, MC[98]
November 1926 January 1928 S/Ldr Cyril Lowe, MC DFC
January 1928 February 1930 S/Ldr Claude Hilton Keith
February 1930 February 1931 S/Ldr C R Cox, AFC
February 1934 January 1937 S/Ldr Herbert Massey, DSO, MC[99]
February 1940 September 1940 S/Ldr William Neil McKechnie,
September 1940 April 1941 S/Ldr E R Weld
April 1941 February 1942 S/Ldr P Legge
February 1942 January 1943 W/Cdr R C Porteous, DSO
January 1943 May 1943 S/Ldr D Weston-Burt, DSO
May 1943 May 1944 W/Cdr A E Morrison-Bell, DFC
May 1944 August 1944 S/Ldr J H Brown, DSO, DFC
August 1944 November 1944 S/Ldr R H Langdon-Davies, DFC
November 1944 July 1946 S/Ldr R Slade-Betts, DFC
August 1946 December 1946 S/Ldr C E Mould
December 1946 November 1947 S/Ldr C K Gray, DFC
November 1947 July 1950 S/Ldr Denis Crowley-Milling, DSO DFC & Bar
July 1950 November 1952 S/Ldr P A Kennedy, DSO, DFC, AFC
November 1952 October 1954 S/Ldr E J Roberts
October 1954 November 1956 S/Ldr P C Ellis, DFC
November 1956 July 1957 S/Ldr G P Elliott
May 1969 August 1970 W/Cdr David Harcourt-Smith
August 1970 December 1972 W/Cdr J E Nevill
December 1972 June 1974 W/Cdr B W Lavender
June 1974 Jul 1975 W/Cdr R J Quarterman
Jul 1975 Dec 1977 Wg Cdr N R Hayward
Dec 1977 Mar 1980 Wg Cdr G B Robertson
Mar 1980 Aug 1982 Wg Cdr M N Evans
Aug 1982 Dec 1984 Wg Cdr D W Bramley
Dec 1984 Jun 1987 Wg Cdr N A Buckland
Jun 1987 Dec 1989 Wg Cdr I Reilly
Dec 1989 Feb 1992 Wg Cdr (later Gp Capt) J Connolly, AFC
Feb 1992 Jul 1994 Wg Cdr A D Sweetman
Jul 1994 Dec 1996 Wg Cdr I A Milne
Dec 1996 Jul 1999 Wg Cdr M J Roche
Jul 1999 Jul 2002 Wg Cdr R W Judson
Jul 2002 Jul 2004 Wg Cdr M J Seares, MBE
Jul 2004 Apr 2006 Wg Cdr W A Cruickshank
Apr 2006 May 2007 Wg Cdr J M Sullivan
Sep 2010 Oct 2012 Wg Cdr R Dennis
Oct 2012 Aug 2014 Wg Cdr M R Baulkwill
Aug 2014 Nov 2016 Wg Cdr J R E Walls, DSO
Nov 2016 May 2019 Wg Cdr W D Cooper
May 2019 Sep 2021 Wg Cdr M D'Aubyn
Sep 2021 Sep 2023 Wg Cdr N J Rees
Sep 2023 Present Wg Cdr G Montgomery

See also

References

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d McManamon, Craig (7 September 2010). "Typhoons mark a new era at RAF Leuchars". The Courier (Dundee). Archived from the original on 11 September 2010. Retrieved 7 September 2010.
  2. ^ Dsouza, Cavin (5 October 2010). "Eurofighter Typhoon replaces Tornado F3 in No. 6 Squadron of the Royal Air Force". Defence Aviation. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d Halley 1988, p. 29
  4. ^ a b c d e f Rawlings 1982, p. 17
  5. ^ a b c d Yoxall 1950, p. 618
  6. ^ Yoxall 1950, p. 617
  7. ^ Raleigh 1922, p. 346
  8. ^ Raleigh 1922, p. 435
  9. ^ a b Yoxall 1950, p. 619
  10. ^ Jones 1928, p. 84
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Halley 1988, p. 31
  12. ^ Jones 1928, p. 142
  13. ^ "No. 29273". The London Gazette. 24 August 1915. p. 8395.
  14. ^ Jones 1928, pp. 190–192
  15. ^ a b Yoxall 1950, p. 620
  16. ^ Yoxall 1950, pp. 620–621
  17. ^ Jones 1934, pp. 180–181
  18. ^ Jones 1934, pp. 272–273
  19. ^ a b c d Yoxall 1950, p. 621
  20. ^ Jones 1934, p. 354
  21. ^ Jones 1937, p. 433
  22. ^ Jones 1937, pp. 469, 485
  23. ^ Bowyer 1988, pp. 65, 67
  24. ^ Bowyer 1988, p. 90
  25. ^ Bowyer 1988, p. 93
  26. ^ Bowyer 1988, p. 94
  27. ^ a b c d Halley 1988, pp. 29–30
  28. ^ Moyes 1964, p. 10
  29. ^ a b c d e Yoxall 1950, p. 622
  30. ^ Bowyer 1988, pp. 134–136
  31. ^ Bowyer 1988, p. 136
  32. ^ a b c d Halley 1988, p. 30
  33. ^ Bowyer 1988, pp. 137–142
  34. ^ a b Yoxall 1951, p. 11
  35. ^ Moyes 1964, p. 11
  36. ^ Shores, Massimello & Guest 2012, p. 127
  37. ^ Shores, Massimello & Guest 2012, p. 135
  38. ^ Yoxall 1951, pp. 11–12
  39. ^ Shores, Massimello & Guest 2012, pp. 138, 143, 147, 148
  40. ^ a b c d e f Yoxall 1951, p. 12
  41. ^ Shores, Massimello & Guest 2012, p. 234
  42. ^ Shores, Massimello & Guest 2012, pp. 246, 252
  43. ^ Shores, Massimello & Guest 2012, p. 268
  44. ^ Yoxall 1951, pp. 12–13
  45. ^ Shores et al. 2012, p. 89
  46. ^ Shores et al. 2012, pp. 131–133
  47. ^ Yoxall 1951, p. 13
  48. ^ Yoxall 1951, pp. 13–14
  49. ^ a b Halley 1988, pp. 29, 31
  50. ^ Shores et al. 2012, p. 518
  51. ^ a b Yoxall 1951, p. 14
  52. ^ Shores et al. 2012, pp. 546–547, 549–554
  53. ^ Shores et al. 2018, pp. 58–59
  54. ^ Yoxall 1951, p. 15
  55. ^ a b c d e f g h i Jefford 2001, p. 26
  56. ^ The "Tin-opener". No 6 Squadron (RAF) Association Newsletter. July 2014.
  57. ^ a b c Yoxall 1951, p. 16.
  58. ^ Williamson 2005, pp. 5–8.
  59. ^ "6 Squadron Standards". 6 Squadron RAF Association. 13 January 2017. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  60. ^ a b Fairburn 1991, p. 168.
  61. ^ Pitchfork 2008, p. 293.
  62. ^ Harrison 2005, p. 8.
  63. ^ a b Harrison 2005, p. 9.
  64. ^ Lee 1980, p. 106.
  65. ^ Jackson 1980, p. 61.
  66. ^ a b Brookes 2014, p. 62.
  67. ^ Jackson 1988, p. 54.
  68. ^ a b Jackson 1988, p. 55.
  69. ^ a b Jackson 1988, p. 56.
  70. ^ Brookes 2014, p. 63.
  71. ^ Brookes 2014, p. 73.
  72. ^ Burnell, Brian. "WE.177C". A Guide to British Nuclear Weapon projects. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  73. ^ Burnell, Brian (2009). "Nuclear weapons details and No. 6 Squadron data for 1975". A Guide to British Nuclear Weapon projects. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  74. ^ "1991-2003". 6 Squadron Association. 13 January 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  75. ^ Pitchfork 2008, p. 111.
  76. ^ "Squadron with Style". Royal Air Force. 30 June 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  77. ^ "MINDEF". Singapore Ministry of Defence. 2 November 2011. Archived from the original on 5 August 2012. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  78. ^ "Malaysian exercise resounding success for RAF Typhoon squadron". Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  79. ^ "Dragon controls Typhoon in test of ultimate air and sea power". Navy News. 21 August 2013. Archived from the original on 30 April 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  80. ^ Gibson, Ali (23 June 2014). "6 Squadron Mark Relocation to RAF Lossiemouth". Forces TV. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  81. ^ "Strikes on Syria: Tornado back at war". Air Forces Monthly. 14 April 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  82. ^ "RAF Squadrons Receive Battle Honours from Her Majesty The Queen". Royal Air Force. 24 March 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  83. Key Publishing Ltd
    . May 2023. p. 60.
  84. ^ a b Smith 1974, p. 14.
  85. ^ "6 Sqn". RAF Heraldry Trust. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  86. ^ Ashworth 1989, p. 39.
  87. ^ Yoxall 1950, pp. 618–619.
  88. ^ Ashworth 1989, pp. 39–40.
  89. ^ "1939 – 1945". 6 Squadron RAF Association. 12 January 2017. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  90. ^ Pine 1983, p. 160.
  91. ^ "6 Squadron / Battle Honours". Raf.mod.uk. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  92. ^ Rawlings 1978, pp. 33, 561.
  93. ^ Barrass, M. B. (2015). "G S Shephard". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  94. ^ Barrass, M. B. (2015). "R. P. Mills". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  95. ^ Barrass, M. B. (2015). "A. S. Barratt". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  96. ^ Barrass, M. B. (2015). "G. C. Pirie". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  97. ^ Barrass, M. B. (2015). "W. Sowrey". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  98. ^ Barrass, M. B. (21 June 2022). "D. F. Stevenson". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  99. ^ Barrass, M. B. (14 May 2021). "H M Massey". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 24 July 2015.

Bibliography

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