| No. 1 (F) Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Air Force |
| Type | Flying squadron |
| Role | Multi–role combat |
| Part of |
|
| Station | RAF Lossiemouth |
| Mottos | In omnibus princeps (Latin for 'First in all things') |
| Aircraft | Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 |
| Insignia | |
| Tail badge |  |
| Post-1950 roundel |  |
| Tail codes | NA (Nov 1938 – Sep 1939)[1][2] JX (Sep 1939 – Apr 1951)[3][4] FA–FZ (2012–2017) |
Number 1 Squadron, also known asNo. 1 (Fighter) Squadron, is asquadron of theRoyal Air Force. It was the first squadron to fly aVTOL aircraft.[5] It currently operatesEurofighter Typhoon aircraft fromRAF Lossiemouth.[5]
The squadron motto,In omnibus princeps ("First in all things") reflects the squadron's status as the RAF's oldest unit, having been involved in almost every major British military operation from theFirst World War to the present time. These include theSecond World War,Suez Crisis,Falklands War,Kosovo War, andOperation Telic (Iraq).
No. 1 Squadron's origins go back to 1878 when its predecessor,No. 1 Balloon Company, was formed at theRoyal Arsenal, Woolwich as part of theBalloon Section.[6] On 1 April 1911 theAir Battalion of theRoyal Engineers was created. The battalion initially consisted of two companies, withNo. 1 Company, Air Battalion taking responsibility forlighter than air flying. The first Officer Commanding was CaptainE. M. Maitland.[7]
On 13 May 1912, with the establishment of theRoyal Flying Corps, No. 1 Company of the Air Battalion was redesignatedNo. 1 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps. No. 1 Squadron was one of the original three Royal Flying Corps squadrons. Maitland continued as the new squadron's Officer Commanding and he was promoted to major several days after the establishment of the squadron. It retained the airshipsBeta andGamma, addingDelta andEta, as well as kites and a few spherical balloons. However, in October 1913 a sudden decision was made to transfer all the airships to the Naval Wing of the RFC (which became theRoyal Naval Air Service byAdmiralty dictat, not Cabinet decision, on 1 July 1914). While retaining kites 1 Squadron was reorganised as an 'aircraft park' for the British Expeditionary Force.[8]
On 1 May 1914, MajorCharles Longcroft was appointed as the new squadron commander. Apart from a few weeks as a supernumerary in August and September 1914, Longcroft continued as the squadron commander until January 1915.[9]
The squadron was reformed as an aircraft squadron in August 1914, and equipped with a mixture ofAvro 504s andRoyal Aircraft Factory B.E.8s, crossed over to France on 7 March 1915,[10] under the command of MajorGeoffrey Salmond, laterChief of the Air Staff.[11] It operated mainly in the reconnaissance role, with a few single seat fighters for escort purposes.[10] The squadron was soon thrown into action, taking part in theBattle of Neuve Chapelle in March 1915, and moved toBalleul at the end of the month, remaining there until March 1918, operating from an airfield next to the town's Asylum.[12][13] In April–May 1915, the squadron flew reconnaissance missions during theSecond Battle of Ypres.[14] On 19 August, Salmond was replaced as commander of the squadron by MajorPhilip Joubert de la Ferté, later anAir Chief Marshal.[15] By October 1915, the squadron had re-equipped with a mixture of variousMorane-Saulnier types, with Morane Parasols (Types L and LA[16]) in the Corps Reconnaissance role andMorane-Saulnier N single-seat fighters.[17] The squadron supplemented its Parasols with more modernMorane-Saulnier P parasols andMorane-Saulnier BB biplanes in 1916,[18] although the last LA remained with the squadron until 1917.[19] The squadron became a dedicated fighter squadron on 1 January 1917, flyingNieuport 17s andNieuport 27.[10]
The obsolete Nieuports were replaced by more modernS.E.5as in January 1918. On incorporation into the RAF on 1 April 1918 the squadron kept its numeral; No 1 Squadron of theRoyal Naval Air Service (RNAS) was displaced to becomeNo. 201 Squadron RAF.[note 1]
No. 1 Squadron had among its ranks no fewer than 31flying aces. They includeRobert A. Birkbeck,Quintin Brand (laterAir Vice Marshal),Douglas Cameron,William Charles Campbell,Percy Jack Clayson,Edwin Cole,Philip Fullard (laterAir Commodore),Eustace Grenfell,Louis Fleeming Jenkin,Tom Hazell,Harold Albert Kullberg,Charles Lavers,Francis Magoun,Guy Borthwick Moore,Gordon Olley,Harry Rigby,William Wendell Rogers andWilliam Rooper.[21]
The squadron returned to the UK from France in March 1919, being formally disbanded on 20 January 1920. On the next day it reformed atRisalpur in theNorth West Frontier of India (now part of Pakistan), flying theSopwith Snipe and from January 1920. It moved toHinaidi nearBaghdad inIraq in May 1921, to carry out policing duties, retaining its Snipes,[22] although it also received oneBristol Jupiter enginedNieuport Nighthawk for evaluation.[23] It remained in Iraq, carrying outstrafing and bombing against hostile tribal forces until November 1926 when it was disbanded.[24]
In early 1927 it was reformed atRAF Tangmere,Sussex as a Home Defence Fighter Squadron, equipped with theArmstrong Whitworth Siskin.[23] After receiving theHawker Fury Mk.1 in February 1932, the squadron gained a reputation for aerobatics, giving displays throughout the United Kingdom and at theZürich International Air Meeting in July 1937, where its display impressed but it was clear that it was outclassed by the GermanMesserschmitt Bf 109 andDornier Do 17 also displayed at Zurich. The squadron re-equipped with theHawker Hurricane Mk.I in October 1938.[25]
On the outbreak of theSecond World War in September 1939 the squadron was deployed to France as part of theRAF Advanced Air Striking Force. In October it flew over enemy territory for the first time and soon claimed its first victory, shooting down aDornier Do 17 on 31 October.[26] Further successes were made during thePhoney War, until theBattle of France erupted in May 1940. Within a week the squadron was bombed out of its base atBerry-au-Bac, north-west of Paris. A series of retreats followed, ending only when the squadron evacuated from France on 18 June,[27] with a return to Tangmere on 23 June.[13]
In August 1940 the squadron entered theBattle of Britain and was heavily engaged until 9 September, when the squadron was transferred toNo. 12 Group and sent toRAF Wittering to refit, rest and recuperate.[28]
It returned toNo. 11 Group in early 1941 and was employed in fighter sweeps and bomber escort duties. In February, it began "Rhubarb" (low-level sweeps over occupied territory) and night flying missions, and was re-equipped with the Hurricane IIA. In this period its pilots includedKarel KuttelwascherDFC, who was the RAF's highest-scoring night intruder pilot and highest-scoringFree Czechoslovak pilot.[29]
The squadron carried out night intruder patrols until July 1942, when it was re-equipped with theHawker Typhoon fighter-bomber and relocated toRAF Acklington,Northumberland where it reverted to daytime operations.[28]
The squadron was equipped with theSupermarine Spitfire Mk.IX in April 1944, and in June began anti-V1 patrols, shooting down 39 flying bombs. Missions were also flown over theFalaise Gap, strafing targets of opportunity. Later in the year it reverted to bomber escort duties, based atMaldegem. It was involved in supportingOperation Market Garden : the parachute drops into the Netherlands, and later in support of the Allied counter-offensive in the Ardennes. The squadron dropped 250 lb bombs on to 'Key Points' (KPs), directed by radar to counter the adverse weather conditions. In May 1945 it converted to the Spitfire Mk.XXI, but these were only used operationally to cover landings on theChannel Islands.[6]
In 1946, the Squadron returned to Tangmere and took delivery of its first jet aircraft, theGloster Meteor. In October 1948, MajorRobin Olds, USAF, under the U.S. Air Force/Royal Air Force exchange program, was posted in and flying theGloster Meteor jet fighter. He eventually served as commander of the Squadron atRAF Station Tangmere, an unusual posting for anon-commonwealth foreigner in peacetime.[30]
The Squadron was then equipped with theHawker Hunter F.5, which were flown fromRAF Akrotiri,Cyprus during the 1956Suez Crisis. The squadron disbanded on 23 June 1958. However, on 1 July 1958 the squadron was reformed by re-numberingNo. 263 Squadron atRAF Stradishall.[31] It then moved toRAF Waterbeach from where, flying the Hunter FGA.9, it operated in the ground attack role as part ofNo. 38 Group. The Squadron continued in this role for the next eight years, operating out of Waterbeach and thenRAF West Raynham.Flight Lieutenant Alan Pollock of No. 1 Squadron was responsible forthe infamous and very unofficial flying display on the 50th anniversary of the RAF in 1968.[32]
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Under the command of Squadron Leader Bryan Baker, the squadron became the world's first operator of aV/STOL aircraft with the arrival of theHawker Siddeley Harrier in 1969, declared operational the following year.[5]
A detachment from No. 1 Squadron was deployed aboard the Carrier Battle Group (TG 317.8) during theFalklands War, operating fromHMSHermes after being hastily adapted for shipboard use.[33]
Six GR.3s were delivered to the South Atlantic aboardSS Atlantic Conveyor, arriving atHermes between 18 and 20 May 1982. On 1 June 1982, two more completed a 3,800‑mile (6,100 km)ferry flight fromAscension Island, supported by RAFVictor tanker aircraft. A second ferry flight followed on 8 June 1982, adding two more Harriers to the Task Force.[34]
No. 1 Squadron flew 126 sorties, averaging six sorties per aircraft per day. They supported operations on Mounts;Harriet,Longdon,Tumbledown andSapper Hill.[39]
Losses during the conflict
| Aircraft type & serial | Pilot | Date | Location | Cause / Weapon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harrier GR.3 XZ972 | Flt‑Lt Jeff Glover | 21 May 1982 | Port Howard, West Falkland | Shot down byBlowpipe SAM[35] |
| Harrier GR.3 XZ988 | Sqn Ldr Bob Iveson | 27 May 1982 | Near Goose Green | Hit by20mm cannon AA fire[37] |
| Harrier GR.3 XZ963 | Sqn Ldr Jerry Pook | 30 May 1982 | West of Port Stanley | Damaged by small-arms fire, crashed (fuel exhaustion)[40] |
| Harrier GR.3 XZ989 | Wg Cdr Peter Squire | 8 June 1982 | Port San Carlos area | Mechanical failure on landing[41] |
The squarden replaced its first generation Harriers withHarrier IIs from 23 November 1988, being declared fully operational on the Harrier GR.5 on 2 November 1989.[42] The squadron was the subject of an episode of the BBC documentary seriesDefence of the Realm before and during its participation in the Bosnian War as part of NATO'sOperation Deny Flight.[43] During the Kosovo war the Squadron flew sorties as part ofNATO'sOperation Allied Force.[44]
No. 1 Squadron left the "home of the Harrier" atRAF Wittering forRAF Cottesmore on 28 July 2000.[45] Cottesmore became home to all operational RAF Harrier squadrons –No. 20 (Reserve) Squadron, later renumbered asNo. 4 (R) Squadron, the HarrierOperational Conversion Unit remained at Wittering. The squadrons both flew missions during theIraq War and were awarded the "Iraq 2003" battle honour.[46]
The squadron was awarded abattle honour in March 2020, recognising its role in theWar in Afghanistan.[47]
One outcome of theStrategic Defence and Security Review by the coalition government in 2010 was the decision to take the RAF's Harriers out of service almost immediately. All Harrier units, including No. 1 (F) Squadron, ceased Harrier flying on 15 December 2010, with No. 1 (F) Squadron formally disbanding on 28 January 2011.[5]
On 15 September 2012, the squadron reformed on theEurofighter Typhoon atRAF Leuchars.[48][49] The squadron participated in multiple exercises in foreign countries including Exercise Shaheen Star in theUnited Arab Emirates during January 2013 and Exercise Bersama Shield inMalaysia during March 2013.[50]
On 8 September 2014, No. 1 (F) Squadron relocated toRAF Lossiemouth, to operate alongsideNo. 6[51] andXV (R) squadrons, as well as "D" Flight,No. 202 Squadron (SAR) andNo. 5 Force Protection Wing.[52]
On 14 November 2019 the squadron deployed 4 fighters toKeflavik Air Base as part of theNATO Air Policing, Iceland. The squadron also deployed an additional 100 personnel to support the squadron and forces based inIceland.[53]
No.1 Squadron's badge features a winged numeral "1" and was approved byKing Edward VIII in July 1936. It is the authorised version of an earlier badge used during the First World War which had a "1" on the national roundel marking with alaurel wreath and two Royal Flying Corps wing.[54][55]
The squadron's motto isIn omnibus princeps (Latin for 'First in all things').[56]
As of March 2025, aircraft operated by No. 1 Squadron use the following peacetime air traffic controlcall signs within UK airspace:Jedi, Psycho, Stampede, Tribal, Vega, andWinston.[57]
No. 1 Squadron has received the followingbattle honours. Those marked with an asterisk (*) may be emblazoned on thesquadron standard.[58]
List of commanding officers of No. 1 Squadron, including date of appointment, sourced from Halley,[13] Shaw[59][60] and Franks & O'Connor.[61]
