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No. 56 Squadron

Active 1916 (RFC)
Role Operational Evaluation unit
Garrison/HQ RAF Waddington
Motto Quid si coelum ruat
(Latin) "What if heaven falls?"
Equipment Nimrod R1/MR2/MRA4, Sentinal R1 and Sentry AEW Mk1
Insignia
Crest A phoenix appearing from flames

Number 56 (R) Squadron is one of the oldest and most successful squadrons in the Royal Air Force, with battle honours from many of the significant air campaigns of both world wars. RAF Waddington is a Royal Air Force station in Lincolnshire, England. A squadron is a small unit or formation of Cavalry, armour, Aircraft (including Balloons) or Warships Army A world war is a War affecting the majority of the world's most powerful and populous nations

Contents

History

First World War

The squadron was formed on 8 June 1916 and was posted to France in April 1917 as part of the Royal Flying Corps. Events 68 - The Roman Senate accepts emperor Galba. 536 - St Silverius becomes Pope (probable Year 1916 ( MCMXVI) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year The Royal Flying Corps (RFC was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. The squadron was equipped with the then brand new SE5 fighter. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout Its arrival at the front with the latest scout fighter, combined with the unusually high proportion of experienced pilots in its ranks, led to rumours among its German opponents the squadron was specifically the 'Anti-Richtofen Squadron', dedicated to the removal of the Red Baron. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout Although there was no truth in these rumours the squadron did shoot down and kill Richtofen's nearest 1917 rival Leutnant Werner Voss. Werner Voss (Werner Voß ( April 13 1897 &ndash September 23 1917) was a renowned World War I German fighter pilot By the end of the war 56 Squadron had scored 427 'victories' and been home to many famous fighter aces such as Ball, Barlow, Hoidge, Maybery, Rhys Davids and McCudden. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy Aircraft during aerial combat Albert Ball VC, DSO & Two Bars, MC (14 August 1896 - 7 May 1917 was an English First World War fighter pilot and recipient of Lieutenant Leonard Monteagle Barlow, MC and 2 Bars, ( June 5, 1898 – February 5, 1918) was a British World Captain Richard Aveline Maybery MC and Bar (1895&ndash December 19, 1917) was a Welsh World War I Flying ace Arthur Percival Foley Rhys Davids, DSO, MC and bar (26 September 1897 - 27 October 1917 was an ace fighter pilot during the First World War. James Thomas Byford McCudden VC, DSO & Bar, MC & Bar, MM ( 28 March, 1895 &ndash 9 July, 1918) Forty pilots were killed in action, twenty wounded and thirty-one taken prisoner.

Between Wars

56 Sqn. Armstrong Whitworth Siskin, RAF North Weald.
56 Sqn. Armstrong Whitworth Siskin, RAF North Weald. North Weald Airfield is an operational Airfield, near the village of North Weald Bassett in Epping Forest, Essex.
56 Sqn. Bristol Bulldog, RAF Mildenhall, July 1935.
56 Sqn. Bristol Bulldog, RAF Mildenhall, July 1935. RAF Mildenhall is a Royal Air Force (RAF station located at Mildenhall in Suffolk, England.

The squadron disbanded and was reformed several times between the wars. Equipment included:

Second World War

No 56 Squadron's introduction to the war came on 6 September 1939. Events 3114 BC - According to the Proleptic Julian calendar the current era in the Maya Long Count Calendar started Year 1939 ( MCMXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 56 Squadron, then based at RAF North Weald, became the unwitting victims of a friendly fire incident now known as the Battle of Barking Creek. North Weald Airfield is an operational Airfield, near the village of North Weald Bassett in Epping Forest, Essex. Friendly fire or non-hostile fire, a term originally adopted by the United States military, refers to fire from one's own side or allied forces as The Battle of Barking Creek was an incident that happened on 6 September 1939 resulting in the first death of a British Fighter pilot in World War II. [2] Two pilots of the squadron were shot down and one, Montague Hulton-Harrop, was killed, becoming the RAF's first casualty in the defence of the UK.[3]

The squadron entered the Second World War equipped with Hawker Hurricanes which they operated first during the Battle of France, and then as part of No. 11 Group RAF from North Weald throughout the Battle of Britain. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout In World War II, the Battle of France, also known as the Fall of France, was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries No 11 Group was a group in the Royal Air Force for various periods in the 20th century The Battle of Britain (German ''Luftschlacht um England'' is the name given to the sustained strategic effort by the German Luftwaffe during the summer and At the close of the battle they were posted to RAF Boscombe Down to recuperate. MoD Boscombe Down is an aircraft testing site located south of Amesbury, Wiltshire, England. During 1940 the squadron claimed just over a hundred aircraft shot down.

A year later, in 1941, as part of the Duxford Wing the squadron was the first to receive the troublesome new Hawker Typhoons which they helped turn into a usable fighter. Duxford Aerodrome is located 8 Nautical miles (148 km south of Cambridge in the village of Duxford, Cambridgeshire, England WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout Throughout most of 1942 and 1943 the unit was based with No. 12 Group RAF at RAF Matlaske in Norfolk. No 12 Group RAF was first formed in April 1918 at Cranwell, Lincolnshire, within No Norfolk (ˈnɔrfək is a low-lying county in East Anglia, England, United Kingdom. During this time 56 Squadron's role changed from that of low-medium level defence against Fw 190 and Bf 109 fighter bomber attacks, to becoming fighter bombers themselves, attacking ground and sea targets. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout Ground-attack aircraft are military aircraft designed to attack targets on the ground and are often deployed as Close air support for and in proximity to their own ground forces 56 Sqn was to score one confirmed victory on Typhoons. [4]

In 1944 the squadron moved to RAF Newchurch and converted to Hawker Tempest Vs. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout As a unit of No. 150 Wing RAF, under the command of Wing Commander Roland Beamont 56 Squadron was an Air Defence of Great Britain squadron, involved in defending Britain from V1 flying bombs. Wing Commander ( Wg Cdr in the RAF, WGCDR in the RNZAF and RAAF, W/C in the former RCAF) is a commissioned Wing Commander Roland Prosper "Bee" Beamont CBE, DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar ( August 10[[ 920]] - The Air Defence of Great Britain ( ADGB) refers to two different components of the RAF depending on the time period in question The Fieseler Fi 103, better known as V-1 (German Vergeltungswaffe 1 was an early Cruise missile used during World War Two Between 70 and 77½ of these were shot down before another move, on 28 September of that year, to B. Events 48 BC - Pompey the Great is assassinated on orders of King Ptolemy of Egypt after landing in Egypt. 60 Grimbergen Belgium as part of 122 Wing. Grimbergen is a municipality in the province of Flemish Brabant, in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. The Kingdom of Belgium is a Country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters as well as those [5], Second Tactical Air Force. The former RAF Second Tactical Air Force ( 2TAF) was one of three Tactical air forces within the Royal Air Force (RAF during and after World War During the tough operations that followed 56 Squadron was to become equal highest scoring Tempest unit, along with 486(NZ) Sqn, with 59 confirmed victories. 486(NZ Squadron was a fighter squadron of the Second World War manned by New Zealand pilots trained mostly under the Empire Air Training Scheme, but During the Second World War the squadron claimed a total of 149 aircraft shot down. [4]

Hawker Typhoons of 56 Sqn.

In April 1943 Charles E Brown from "Flight" aviation magazine visited 56 Sqn. at Matlaske. This is part of a portfolio of photos:[6]

EK183 US-A Squadron Leader T.H.V Pheloung (Oamaru, New Zealand). .
EK183 US-A Squadron Leader T. Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence H. V Pheloung (Oamaru, New Zealand). History The vicinity of Oamaru features some important archaeological sites New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island [7].
US-A. Special 18 inch wide identification stripes were painted on the upper wings
US-A. Special 18 inch wide identification stripes were painted on the upper wings
F/L Erik Haabjoern Norway holds the unit scoreboard, his right hand obscures the squadron number.
F/L Erik Haabjoern Norway holds the unit scoreboard, his right hand obscures the squadron number. Flight Lieutenant ( Flt Lt in the RAF; FLTLT in the RAAF and RNZAF, F/L in the former RCAF) is a junior Norway ( Norwegian: Norge ( Bokmål) or Noreg ( Nynorsk) officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Constitutional
Two flights in formation. Sqn. Ldr Pheloung leads in US-A. By 1943 these "vics" of three were only used to impress photographers. This photo appeared in 'Flight' 6 January 1944.
Two flights in formation. Sqn. Ldr Pheloung leads in US-A. By 1943 these "vics" of three were only used to impress photographers. This photo appeared in 'Flight' 6 January 1944. Events 1066 - Harold Godwinson is crowned King of England. 1205 - Philip of Swabia becomes King Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

Post War

The squadron converted to Gloster Meteor F. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout Mark IIIs in April 1946 at RAF Bentwaters. RAF Bentwaters is a former Royal Air Force station about 80 miles NE of London, 10 miles ENE of Ipswich, near Woodbridge, Suffolk Other aircraft types flown were the Gloster Meteor F. Mk 8, the unsuccessful Supermarine Swift and the Hawker Hunter F5/F6. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout Since World War Two the squadron has been the RAF’s display team, ‘The Firebirds’ flying Lightnings, taken part in the 1974 defence of the British bases in Cyprus and been the RAF’s operational conversion unit flying Tornado F3s. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout

Modern day

The squadron now flies the Tornado F3 and is based at RAF Leuchars in Fife. RAF Leuchars is the most northerly air defence station in the United Kingdom. Fife ( Gaelic: Fìobha) is a Council area of Scotland, situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland The squadron, nicknamed the Firebirds, was until 2005 the display squadron for the F3. It was announced in December 2005 that, as a cost cutting measure, the RAF would no longer do a Tornado F3 display . The squadron will continue to be the Operational Conversion Unit (OCU) for the Tornado F3. On February 5, 2008, it was reported that 56(R) squadron at RAF Leuchars would disappear after being merged with 43(F) Squadron on April 22 as the Tornado fleet was phased out to be replaced with the Eurofighter. Events 1576 - Henry of Navarre converts to Roman Catholicism in order to ensure his right to the throne of France. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common No 43 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Panavia Tornado F3 from RAF Leuchars Events 1500 - Portuguese Navigator Pedro Álvares Cabral becomes the first European to sight Brazil. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout The 56 Squadron nameplate was transferred to the AIR C2ISR OEU at RAF Waddington on 22 April 2008 as 56(R) Sqn, The ISTAR OEU. The ISTAR OEU is the centre of excellence for the RAF's AWACS, Nimrod R1/MR2 and Sentinel aircraft.

See also

References

Notes
  1. ^ http://www.raf.mod.uk/Bob1940/54to72.html Note:80 Squadron renumbered. This is a list of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons. It includes Royal Flying Corps (RFC and Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS squadrons incorporated into the See also List of RAF stations Organisational Structure During the Battle of Britain the UK's airspace was divided into four Groups The Battle of Britain (German ''Luftschlacht um England'' is the name given to the sustained strategic effort by the German Luftwaffe during the summer and Squadron disbanded September 1922; Reformed November 1922.
  2. ^ Ramsay, 1987. Pages 26-33.
  3. ^ First casualties of the RAF were crews from Bomber Command.
  4. ^ a b Thomas and Shores 1988
  5. ^ 3 Sqn., 56 Sqn. No 3 (F Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Typhoon F2 /FGR4 and T1 from RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire , 80 Sqn. , 274 Sqn. (to March 1945), and 486(NZ) Sqn.
  6. ^ Flight Global archive, listed below. No 274 Squadron RAF began to form at Seaton Carew in November 1918 a few days before the end of World War I and reformed at Amriya on 19 August 1940 as 486(NZ Squadron was a fighter squadron of the Second World War manned by New Zealand pilots trained mostly under the Empire Air Training Scheme, but
  7. ^ Thomas and Shores 1988. Note: On 20 June 1943, Sqn Ldr Pheloung flying EK184, US-C, was hit by flak and crashed into the sea while attacking shipping. Events 451 - Battle of Chalons: Flavius Aetius ' defeats Attila the Hun. Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Anti-aircraft warfare, or air defense, is any method of engaging hostile military Aircraft in defence of ground objectives, ground or naval forces
Bibliography

External links

No 54 or LIV Squadron is a Squadron of the Royal Air Force. It is a reserve squadron based at RAF Waddington, England No 72 Squadron Royal Air Force is currently a training reserve squadron based at RAF Linton-on-Ouse.
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