|
|
|
|
No. 56 Squadron RAF
|
| |
|
| |
Number 56 Squadron is one of the oldest and most successful squadrons of the Royal Air Force, with battle honours from many of the significant air campaigns of both World War I and World War II. As 56 (Reserve) Squadron it is now an operational evaluation unit.
squadron was formed on 8 June 1916 and was posted to France in April 1917 as part of the Royal Flying Corps. The squadron was equipped with the then brand new SE5 fighter.
Discussion
Ask a question about 'No. 56 Squadron RAF' Start a new discussion about 'No. 56 Squadron RAF' Answer questions from other users |
Encyclopedia
Number 56 Squadron is one of the oldest and most successful squadrons of the Royal Air Force, with battle honours from many of the significant air campaigns of both World War I and World War II. As 56 (Reserve) Squadron it is now an operational evaluation unit.
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. The squadron was equipped with the then brand new SE5 fighter. Its arrival at the front with the latest 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-Richthofen Squadron', dedicated to the removal of the Red Baron. Although there was no truth in these rumours, the squadron did shoot down and kill Richthofen's nearest 1917 rival Leutnant Werner Voss. 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. Forty pilots were killed in action, twenty wounded and thirty-one taken prisoner.
Between Wars
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. The squadron, then based at RAF North Weald, became the unwitting victims of a friendly fire incident now known as the Battle of Barking Creek. 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.
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. At the close of the battle they were posted to RAF Boscombe Down to recuperate. 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. Throughout most of 1942 and 1943 the unit was based with No. 12 Group RAF at RAF Matlaske in Norfolk. 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. 56 Sqn was to score one confirmed victory on Typhoons.
In 1944 the squadron moved to RAF Newchurch and converted to Hawker Tempest Vs. As a unit of No. 150 Wing RAF, under the command of Wing Commander Roland Beamont 56 Squadron was an air defence squadron, involved in defending Britain from V1 flying bombs. Between 70 and 77½ of these were shot down before another move, on 28 September of that year, to B.60 Grimbergen Belgium as part of 122 Wing, Second Tactical Air Force. 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. During the Second World War the squadron claimed a total of 149 aircraft shot down.
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:
Post War
The squadron converted to Gloster Meteor F. Mark IIIs in April 1946 at RAF Bentwaters. Other aircraft types flown were the Gloster Meteor F. Mk 8, the unsuccessful Supermarine Swift and the Hawker Hunter F5/F6.
Since World War Two the squadron had 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 Tornado F3 operational conversion unit.
Modern day
In 1976 56 Squadron converted to the McDonnell Douglas Phantom FGR.2 and shared their base of RAF Wattisham initially with 23 Squadron and subsequently, on the departure of 23 Squadron to the Falkland Islands in 1982, with 74 Squadron. Both 56 and 23 Squadron operated the Phantom FGR.2, customised to house British Rolls Royce Spey engines, UK MOD Radar systems, among other small modifications. 74 Squadron was equipped with ex-US Navy/Marine F-4Js (designated as the F-4J(UK) in RAF service)
56 Squadron operated the Phantom FGR.2 for 17 years until finally retiring the last of these in 1992.
In 1992 the Tornado F3 Operational Conversion Unit, 229 OCU, adopted the title of 56(Reserve) Squadron at RAF Coningsby, where it conducted training of ab initio crew and aircrew converting from other aircraft types. Following the announcement that the RAF's new fighter aircraft, the Eurofighter Typhoon would be stationed at Coningsby, it was decided that 56(R) Sqn would relocate to RAF Leuchars in Fife, home to 43(F) Squadron and 111 Squadron, both flying the F3. The Squadron moved north in March 2003, initially moving into the 'Ark Royal' hangar before moving into their new building on the northern side of the airfield.
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 have a Tornado F3 display .
On 5 February 2008, it was reported that 56(R) squadron at RAF Leuchars would disappear after being merged with 43(F) Squadron on 22 April as the Tornado fleet was phased out to be replaced with the Eurofighter Typhoon. 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.
Because of the long history 56 Squadron has had with the fast jet world it is hoped the famous red chequer board & phoenix emblem will be seen one day when the Eurofighter Typhoon is more widely deployed. Once again the squadron seems to be in ashes, ready for the phoenix to rise again with its head held high.
See also
External links
|
| |
|
|
