No. 8 Squadron RAF
No. 8 Squadron RAF | |
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E-7 Wedgetail (entering service from 2024) | |
Battle honours |
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Insignia | |
Squadron badge heraldry | A sheathed Arabian dagger known as a jambiya, adopted in recognition of the unit's long association with Arabia. The weapon is sheathed to symbolise the squadron's guardian duties. Approved by King George VI in December 1943. |
Squadron roundel |
Number 8 Squadron (sometimes written as No. VIII Squadron) of the
It was announced in July 2019 that from the early 2020s the squadron will be the first to operate the
History
First World War
As No. 8 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) it was formed at Brooklands, Surrey on 1 January 1915, equipped with the Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2c. The squadron moved to Gosport later in January for further training, and crossed to France on 15 April 1915.[6] While its main equipment was the B.E.2c, it also operated a fighter flight between May 1915 and early 1916 equipped with a mixture of aircraft, including the Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.8 and the Bristol Scout, while it also evaluated the prototype Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.9, a modified B.E.2 that carried the observer/gunner in a nacelle ahead of the aircraft's propeller.[6][7]
Operating from airfields near
In June 1918, No 8 Squadron, part of the Royal Air Force since 1 April 1918 and commanded by Major T. Leigh-Mallory, was allocated to the Tank Corps, flying contact patrols in support of the Tank Corps attacks during the Battle of Amiens, and becoming expert in spotting and destroying German anti-tank guns. The FK.8s and some tanks were equipped with wireless sets, although wireless communications between tanks and aeroplanes remained at a very basic stage for the rest of the war.[11]
On 12 August 1918, Captain
In December 1918, a few weeks after the
Reformation
8 Squadron reformed at Helwan, near Cairo, Egypt, as a day-bomber squadron equipped with the Airco DH.9A on 18 October 1920. It moved to Basra, Iraq in the Air Policing role, with the security of Iraq the responsibility of the RAF, in February 1921.[15] The squadron was deployed to Kirkuk in July 1922, where it operated against a Kurdish rebellion and Turkish infiltration, and helping to evacuate forces allied to the British from the city of Sulaymaniyah in September 1922.[16][17] In November–December 1923 the squadron was deployed against Marsh Arabs in the Mesopotamian Marshes.[16]
In February 1927, in response to unrest in
In April 1935, it re-equipped again with
Second World War
On 10 June 1940, Italy declared war on Britain and France. No 8 Squadron flew its first combat missions of the war on 12 June, when nine Blenheims bombed an airfield at
The squadron's long association with the Middle East gave rise to the adoption of the Arabian Khunjah as the unit's badge. The unit continued to be based at RAF Khormaksar in Aden equipped with Bristol Blenheims. Vickers Wellington XIIIs were flown from December 1943 until May 1945.[24]
Post-War (1945–1971)
On 15 May 1945 No. 8 Squadron was reformed by renumbering
The unit was reformed at Khormaksar on 1 September 1946 by renumbering No. 114 Squadron and the role of fighter bomber was adopted, initially with de Havilland Mosquito FB.6 aircraft. These were replaced by the Hawker Tempest, and the Bristol Brigand. These fighter was supported by Anson C.19s and Auster AOP.6's. Jet equipment was received in 1953 with the de Havilland Vampire FB.9.[24] Continued updating of equipment brought the de Havilland Venom FB.1 and FB.4 and the Hawker Hunter, flown from 1960 until 1967.[26] The squadron disbanded on 21 December 1971.[26]
Shackletons and Sentries (1972–2021)
The squadron reformed at
In early 2015, No. 8 Squadron deployed with two Sentries to RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus, to participate in Operation Shader.[32][33]
Two Sentries (ZH101 and ZH103) deployed to RAF Akrotiri in late May/early June 2021 to support Carrier Strike Group 21 as it passed through the Mediterranean Sea.[34] The E-3D's final operational sortie was carried out on 30 July, with ZH103 returning to Waddington on 2 August followed by ZH101 on 4 August.[35] The Sentry AEW1s were officially retired by the RAF on 28 September 2021.[36]
Future
It was announced in July 2019 that from the mid-2020s the squadron will be the first to operate the
Aircraft operated
Aircraft operated include:
- Royal Aircraft Factory BE.2(1915–1917)
- Armstrong Whitworth F.K.8 (1917–1918)
- Bristol Fighter (1918–1920)
- Airco DH.9A (1920–1927)
- Fairey IIIF (1927–1935)
- Vickers Vincent(1935–1942)
- Bristol Blenheim (1939–1943)
- Lockheed Hudson (1943)
- Vickers Wellington (1944–1945)
- Consolidated Liberator (1945)
- de Havilland Mosquito (1946–1961)
- Hawker Tempest (1947–1949)
- Bristol Brigand (1949–1952)
- de Havilland Vampire FB.9 (1952–1955)
- de Havilland Venom FB.1/FB.4 (1955–1960)
- Gloster Meteor FR.9 (1958–1961)
- Hawker Hunter (1960–1971)
- Avro Shackleton AEW.2 (1973–1991)
- Boeing E-3 Sentry AEW1 (1991–2021)
Magic Roundabout and the RAF
8 Squadron's
- WL741: PC Knapweed
- WL745: Sage
- WL754: Paul
- WL756: Mr Rusty
- WL757: Brian
- WL790: Mr McHenry (later renamed Zebedee) (now in Pima Air and Space Museum, Arizona, USA)
- WL793: Ermintrude
- WL795: Rosalie
- WR960: Dougal (now in the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchesterin the UK)
- WR963: Parsley (later Ermintrude II)
- Isle of Harrison 30 April 1990, killing all ten on board.
See also
References
Citations
- ^ Bozyk, Piotr (10 October 2022). "RAF Lossiemouth Base preparing for arrival of UK E-7 Wedgetail fleet".
- ISBN 0-7100-9339-X.
- ^ "Ministry of Defence: The Equipment Plan 2019 to 2029" (PDF). National Audit Office. 27 February 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
- ^ "RAF E-3D Sentry returning to Waddington after final mission". The Lincolnite. 4 August 2021.
- ^ "Boeing Names STS Aviation Services in Birmingham as Key Wedgetail Supplier". Boeing. 20 May 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f Rawlings 1982, p. 19.
- ^ Bruce 1982, pp. 379, 382, 384.
- ^ Ashworth 1989, p. 43.
- ^ Halley 1980, p. 29.
- ^ Halley 1980, p. 30.
- ^ Fuller 1920, pp. 242–4, 248.
- ^ "Air Commodore Ferdinand Maurice Felix West VC CBE MC - A Biography". 8 Squadron Royal Air Force. 19 May 2012. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
- ^ Fuller 1920, pp. 246–7.
- ^ "8 Squadron" Archived 4 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Royal Air Force. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
- ^ Ashworth 1989, pp. 43–44.
- ^ a b ""Exile" - Between The Wars - 1920-1939: No 8 Squadron is Posted Overseas". 8 Squadron Royal Air Force. 4 September 2006. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
- ^ "Editorial Comment: The RAF in Iraq". Flight, 23 November 1922, pp. 681–682.
- ^ "8 Squadron Moves to Aden" Archived 15 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine. 8 Squadron Royal Air Force. 4 September 2006. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
- ^ Thetford Aeroplane Monthly May 1994, pp. 34–35.
- ^ Ashworth 1989, p. 44.
- ^ Shores 1996, p. 18–19.
- ^ "The Ethiopian Campaign - 1940-1941" Archived 15 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine. 8 Squadron Royal Air Force, 4 September 2006. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
- ^ Shores 1996, pp. 45–54.
- ^ a b Halley, 1988, p. 35
- ^ Halley, 1988, p. 34
- ^ a b "Hawker Hunter FGA9". RAF Museum. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
- ^ "Magnificent men and their 'shack' flying machines". The Press and Journal. 6 October 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
- ISBN 978-1-870384-24-7.
- ^ March 1992, p. 74.
- ^ March 1993, p. 86.
- ^ "No. 8 Squadron celebrating 100 years". Insight. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
- ^ "The E-3D Sentry Arrives in RAF Akrotiri". forces.tv. 28 January 2015. Archived from the original on 2 February 2015. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
- ^ Hoyle, Craig (2 March 2015). "UK details extent of combat activity over Iraq". Flight Global. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
- ^ Ripley, Tim (28 June 2021). "UK retires Sentry AEW1". Janes.com. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
- ^ "UK Sentry fleet stands down as disposal options considered". key.aero. 6 August 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
- ^ Jennings, Gareth (28 September 2021). "UK retires Sentry AEW1". Janes.com. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
- ^ Jennings, Gareth (17 July 2019). "RAF announces AEW&C, space, 'drone' test squadrons". IHS Janes. London. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
- ^ "Airborne Early Warning: The Shackleton Years 1972–1991 – The Importance of Airborne Early Warning" Archived 15 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 23 August 2013.
Bibliography
- Ashworth, C. Encyclopedia of Modern Royal Air Force Squadrons. Wellingborough, UK:PSL, 1989. ISBN 1-85260-013-6.
- Bruce, J. M. The Aeroplanes of the Royal Flying Corps (Military Wing). London, UK: Putnam, 1982. ISBN 0-370-30084-X.
- Fuller, J. F. C. Tanks in the Great War: 1914-1918. New York: E. P. Dutton and Company, 1920.
- Halley, J. J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force. Tonbridge, UK: Air-Britain (Historians), 1980. ISBN 0-85130-083-9.
- Halley, J. J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918-1988. Air-Britain (Historians), 1988. Tonbridge, UK. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
- Lewis, P. Squadron Histories: R.F.C, R.N.A.S and R.A.F., 1912–59. London, UK: Putnam, 1959.
- March, P. (1992). Royal Air Force Yearbook 1992. Fairford, UK: Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund.
- March, P. (1993). Royal Air Force Yearbook 1993. Fairford, UK: Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund.
- Rawlings, John D. R. Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London, UK: Jane's Publishing Company, 1982. ISBN 0-7106-0187-5.
- Shores, C. Dust Clouds in the Middle East: The Air War for East Africa, Iraq, Syria, Iran and Madagascar, 1940–42. London, UK: Grub Street, 1996. ISBN 1-898697-37-X.
- Thetford, O. "By Day and By Night: Fairey IIIF and Gordon in Service". Aeroplane Monthly, Vol 22 No 5, May 1994. pp. 32–38. ISSN 0143-7240.