No. 54 Squadron
No. 54 Squadron is a Royal Air Force unit now stationed at Waddington Airfield .
history
First World War
The Royal Flying Corps presented on 15 May 1916, the No. 54 Squadron at Castle Bromwich . The main task was to defend the cities of Birmingham , Coventry , Nottingham and Lincoln . In July 1916, a part was split off that provided the core for No. 38 Squadron formed, which should take over the defense tasks. With that, No. 54 Squadron to be relocated to France in December 1916. The squadron was armed with Sopwith Pup aircraft.
On December 24, 1916, the squadron arrived in St. Omer . This was followed by operations from Bertangles, Chipilly, Flez, Bray Dunes, Leffrinckoucke and Teteghem. The relay took part in the fighters for Arras , Messines , Ypres and Cambrai . In December 1917 the Sopwith Pup were replaced by Sopwith Camel . In March 1918, the squadron flew from Champien and was now also used to provide close support to the ground troops, for reconnaissance and for escorting bomber planes. At the beginning of the fighting for Amiens , the squadron was stationed in Fienvilliers. Then she moved to Merchin.
In February 1919, the squadron returned to the UK after relocating their aircraft to No. 151 Squadron had passed. On October 25, 1919, the Yatesbury squadron was disbanded.
Between the wars
On January 15, 1930, the No. 54 Squadron re-established as a fighter pilot unit in Hornchurch , Essex . The squadron was equipped with Armstrong Whitworth Siskin IIIA . A few months later they were traded for Bristol Bulldog , and in September 1936 Gloster Gauntlet arrived . These were then replaced by Gloster Gladiator . In March 1939 the squadron type aircraft got Supermarine Spitfire Mk. I .
Second World War
When the Second World War broke out , the squadron was given the task of protecting convoys in the area of the Thames . On February 13, 1940, she achieved her first aerial victory in World War II. The squadron was involved in securing the evacuation of Dunkirk . After losses in the Battle of England, the squadron was moved to Catterick in September 1940 . In February 1941 the squadron returned to Hornchurch. From there she flew hunting missions over France and the Netherlands. In November 1941 the season was relocated to Castletown, Caithness. From there she flew again to protect shipping.
In June 1942 the Stafeel was withdrawn from active service and preparations began for her transfer to Australia. In January 1943, the squadron arrived in Darwin and began a training program with Supermarine Spitfires Mk. V. It was the only British squadron that was used in Australia. In March 1944 she exchanged the Supermarine Spitfire Mk. V for Mk. VII.
On October 31, 1945, the Melbourne squadron was disbanded.
post war period
As early as November 15, 1945, the squadron in Chilbolton, Hants was set up again. She was now equipped with Hawker Tempest Mk. II . When they moved to Odiham in July 1946, they were exchanged for de Havilland DH.100 vampires .
In 1947, the squadron formed the RAF's first aerobatic team equipped with jet aircraft.
In July 1948 six aircraft of the squadron crossed the Atlantic with jet aircraft for the first time. The planes took off from Stomoway . After stopping over in Iceland and Labrador, they reached Montreal .
In 1953 the Vampires were replaced by Gloster Meteor . These were flown until March 1955. Then Hawker Hunter F.1 arrived.
On September 1, 1969, the season was briefly disbanded. On the same day it was set up again with a McDonnell Phantom FGR.2 . In March 1974 the conversion to SEPECAT Jaguar GR.1A took place .
On March 11, 2005, the Coltishall unit was disbanded. The squadron was set up again on September 1, 2005 in Waddindton. She is now responsible for training the crews of the E-3D Sentry AEW.1 , Nimrod R.1 and the Sentinel R.1 .
literature
- James J. Halley: The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918–1988. Air Britain (Historians), 1988, ISBN 0-85130-164-9 .
- Norman Franks: Sopwith Pup Aces of World War 1. Osprey Publishing, ISBN 1-84176-886-3 .
- Norman Franks: Albatros Aces of World War 1. Osprey Publishing, ISBN 1-85532-960-3 .