| No. 57 Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 8 June 1916 – 1 April 1918 (RFC) 1 April 1918 – 31 Dec 1919 (RAF) 20 Oct 1931 – 25 November 1945 26 Nov 1945 – 9 December 1957 1 January 1959 – 30 June 1986 1 July 1992 – 14 March 2002 1 October 2008 – present |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Air Force |
| Type | Flying squadron |
| Role | Elementary Flying Training |
| Part of | No. 3 Flying Training School |
| Home station | RAF Cranwell |
| Mottos | Corpus non animum muto (Latin for 'I change my body not my spirit')[1] |
| Aircraft | Grob Prefect T1 |
| Battle honours | Western Front (1916–1918)*,Amiens*, France and Low Countries (1939–1940)*,Norway (1940)*, Channel & North Sea (1940)*,Ruhr (1941–1943)*,Fortress Europe (1941–1944),Berlin 1941–1943*,Walcheren, France & Germany (1944–1945)*,South Atlantic (1982) *Honours marked with an asterisk may be emblazoned on the Squadron Standard |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron badge heraldry | Issuant from two logsfesse-wise insaltire aphoenix, commemorating that on one occasion during the First World War the whole of the flying personnel became casualties within a few days, but the squadron remained in action with new personnel. Approved byKing George VI in December 1936. |
| Squadron codes | EQ (Nov 1938 – Sep 1939)[2] DX (Apr 1940 – Apr 1951)[2] QT (1944 – Nov 1945, 'C' Flt)[2] |
Number 57 Squadron, also known asNo. LVII Squadron, is aRoyal Air Force flying training squadron, operating theGrob Prefect T1 fromRAF Cranwell,Lincolnshire.
It was formed in 1916 duringWorld War I as part of theRFC, moving to France as a fighter-reconnaissance unit, and changing to a bomber-reconnaissance unit in 1917. Disbanded in 1919, it reformed in 1931 with light biplane bombers, before receiving the more modernBristol Blenheim bomber in time forWorld War II. No. 57 squadron served in France in support of theBritish Expeditionary Force until the fall of France and withdrawal back to England. They re-equipped with Wellingtons, and later with Lancaster heavy bombers, flying over five thousand sorties from 1939 – 1945.
Post-war, No. 57 continued as a bomber squadron for many years through changes of personnel, home base, and aircraft type, including over 27 years as an element of Britain'sV-bomber force. After another disbandment in 1986, and reformation in 1992, the squadron flew theC-130 Hercules for ten years. Its current reincarnation commenced in 2008 as a training unit flying theGrob Tutor at RAF Cranwell.
No. 57 Squadron of theRoyal Flying Corps was formed on 8 June 1916 atCopmanthorpe, Yorkshire when it was split off fromNo. 33 Squadron, taking on its parent unit's part-time training role to allow No. 33 Squadron to concentrate on its primary duties as anight fighter unit.[3] No. 57 Squadron continued in its training role, equipped with a mixture ofAvro 504s andRoyal Aircraft Factory B.E.2s, until October that year, when it began to prepare for its planned role as a fighter-reconnaissance squadron, receivingRoyal Aircraft Factory F.E.2d two-seatpusherbiplanes in November.[4]
On 16 December 1916, the squadron arrived at St. André-aux-Bois in France, moving toFienvillers on 22 January 1917.[5][6] By April 1917, the F.E.2d was obsolete,[7] and the squadron suffered heavy losses supporting theBritish offensive at Arras.[8] Examples included the loss of five F.E.2s in combat with a formation of German two-seaters on 6 April and the shooting down of three F.E.2s from a formation of seven by a group of 20 German fighters.[9] The squadron re-equipped with more modernAirco DH.4s in May 1917, changing its role to long-range bomber-reconnaissance. After training on the new type, the squadron commenced operations nearYpres in June of that year, moving to Droglandt on 12 June andBoisdinghem on 27 June.[6][10] The squadron joined the 27th Wing, part of theV Brigade Royal Flying Corps, to support the British Army at theYpres Offensive.[11] The squadron's activities included bombing railway junctions and German airfields during theBattle of Langemarck in August 1917 and reconnaissance duties during theBattle of the Menin Road Ridge in September.[12]
The squadron was deployed against theGerman spring offensive of 1918, attacking railway targets,[13] taking part in both low- and high-level attacks to try to stem the German advance.[14] From August 1918, the squadron carried out operations in support of the series of Allied offensives against the Germans that became known as theHundred Days Offensive.[15]
It was one of the few bomber units to produceflying aces, having five on strength.William Edward Green scored nine wins,[16] andForde Leathley eight,[17]E. Grahame Joy seven with the squadron,[18][a] andArthur Thomas Drinkwater scored six, all in Airco DH.4s.[19] In total, the squadron claimed 166 German aircraft during the war, dropping 285 tons of bombs and taking 22,030 photos.[20]
Following theArmistice in November 1918 the squadron was assigned to mail carrying duties before returning to the UK in August 1919.[20] It was based atRAF South Carlton from 4 August 1919 as acadre before being disbanded on 31 December 1919.[21]
The squadron re-formed atRAF Netheravon on 20 October 1931 equipped with theHawker Hart single-engined light bomber.[22][23] It moved toRAF Upper Heyford on 5 September 1932.[6] In 1933, No. 57 Squadron took part in the annual RAF Air Display atRAF Hendon, and together withNo. 18 Squadron and No. 33 Squadron, demonstrated a formation takeoff by a three-squadron light bomber wing, repeating this display (this time in conjunction withNo. XV Squadron and No. 18 Squadron) at the 1935 show.[24] Another highlight was participation in the Royal Review of the RAF by KingGeorge V atRAF Mildenhall andRAF Duxford on 6 July 1935.[25][26] The squadron started to receive theHawker Hind, an improved development of the Hart, in March 1936, replacing the Hart by May 1936.[6][27][28] On 1 May 1936, the squadron joined the newly establishedNo. 1 Group, which became part ofRAF Bomber Command on 14 July 1936.[29] The squadron re-equipped withBristol Blenheim Mk I twin-enginedmonoplane bombers from March 1938, discarding its last Hinds in May that year.[6] The squadron joinedNo. 2 Group on 1 January 1939,[30] training for both anti-shipping missions and low-level close support operations.[31]
Following the outbreak of theSecond World War the squadron moved to France as part of the Air Component of theBritish Expeditionary Force,[30] operating from Roye/Amy from 24 September 1939 in the strategic reconnaissance role and moving toRosières-en-Santerre on 18 October.[4] Following theGerman invasion of May 1940, the squadron re-added bombing to its reconnaissance duties, but was forced to frequently change bases to avoid the German advance, moving toPoix on 17 May andCrécy-en-Ponthieu (the site of theBattle of Crécy in 1346) before evacuating to England on 21 May.[4] After a brief stay atWyton[21] the squadron was tasked with carrying out anti-shipping strikes against the coast of Norway and moved toRAF Elgin in Scotland.[21]
The squadron moved toFeltwell in November 1940 to re-equip with theVickers Wellington medium bomber. In September 1942 the squadron moved toScampton and converted toAvro Lancaster heavy bombers. This was followed by a move toEast Kirkby in August 1943 from where it operated for the remainder of the war, until disbanding on 25 November 1945.[32]
During the War the squadron flew 5151 operational sorties and lost 172 aircraft.[33]
The squadron was re-formed on 26 November 1945 atRAF Elsham Wolds by the re-numbering of103 Squadron; it operated the Lancaster I and II and theAvro Lincoln.[21] On 2 December 1945 the squadron moved toRAF Scampton before moving toRAF Lindholme with the Lincolns, then moved again in October 1946 toRAF Waddington.[21] In May 1951, the squadron moved toRAF Marham,Norfolk, where it converted to theBoeing Washington B.1.[21][b] After converting it moved in June 1951 to RAF Waddington and in April 1952 toRAF Coningsby.[21]
The Washingtons were retired in 1953 and the squadron re-equipped with the twin jetEnglish Electric Canberra B.2 from May 1953. The following year the squadron moved toRAF Cottesmore, in February 1955 it moved toRAF Honington,Suffolk, and in November 1956 returned toRAF Coningsby.[21] The squadron disbanded at Coningsby on 9 December 1957.[21]
The squadron re-formed on 1 January 1959 at RAF Honington as part of theV bomber strategic nuclear force equipped with theHandley Page Victor B.1. In 1963 8 Victors were sent from Honington and Gaydon to support FEAF during the Indonesian Confrontation. Aircrew, Groundcrew and aircraft from 55 and 57 Squadrons rotated as required until August 1965 when 57 Sqn returned to Honington.[34] In December 1965, the squadron moved to RAF Marham to take on the role of a tanker squadron with the Victor K.1 after theVickers Valiant tanker fleet was withdrawn due to wing spar issues.[2]
In June 1976, the squadron began to convert over to the Victor K.2.[35] On 25 June 1979, No. LVII Squadron helped supportMcDonnell Douglas Phantom FGR.2XV424 across the Atlantic on its flight to mark the 60th anniversary of theTransatlantic flight of Alcock and Brown.[36]
In response to theArgentine invasion of the Falkland Islands on 2 April 1982, No. 57 Squadron, along withNo. 55 Squadron, deployed toWideawake Airfield,Ascension Island.[37] The squadron went on to support the complexOperation Black Buck raids, which saw multiple extreme long-range missions launched againstPort Stanley Airport,East Falkland, withAvro Vulcan B.2s in May and June 1982.[38]
In March 1984, No. LVII Squadron sent a detachment of Victors toRAF Leuchars,Fife, to participate in Exercise Teamwork 84.[39][40] In 1985, the squadron helped supportPanavia Tornado GR.1s ofNo. 27 Squadron participate in theStrategic Air Command Bomb Competition.[39][41] No. 57 Squadron disbanded at RAF Marham on 30 June 1986,[42] due to the operations in the Falklands using up a lot of the Victor fleet's remaining flying hours.[43]
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TheLockheed C-130 Hercules training unit,No. 242 OCU, atRAF Lyneham, was reassigned as No. 57 (Reserve) Squadron on 1 June 1992.[44] The unit continued flying the Hercules until 14 March 2002 when the squadron disbanded.[2]
On 1 October 2008, another change saw No. 2 Squadron (part of 1 Elementary Flying Training School), atRAF Wyton, reassigned as the once-again re-formed No. 57 (R) Squadron, flying theGrob Tutor T.1. The squadron was then moved toRAF Cranwell,Lincolnshire, as part ofNo. 3 Flying Training School in 2014.[45]
On 1 February 2018, the RAF rescinded all squadron (Reserve) suffixes, changing No. 57 (Reserve) Squadron to just No. 57 Squadron.[46] In 2018, No. 57 Squadron converted over to theGrob Prefect T.1 as part of theUK Military Flying Training System contract. This sees student pilots from all three services undertake a 20-hour package before being streamed Fast Jet, Rotary or Multi-Engine (depending on service).[47]
| Dates | Aircraft | Variant | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1916 | Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2 | BE2c | |
| 1916 | Avro 504 | 504K | |
| 1916–1917 | Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2 | FE2d | |
| 1917–1919 | Airco DH.4 | ||
| 1919 | de Havilland DH.9 | DH.9A | |
| 1931–1936 | Hawker Hart | ||
| 1936–1938 | Hawker Hind | ||
| 1938–1940 | Bristol Blenheim | I | |
| 1940 | Bristol Blenheim | IV | |
| 1940–1942 | Vickers Wellington | IA, IC, II and III | |
| 1942–1946 | Avro Lancaster | I & III | |
| 1945–1951 | Avro Lincoln | B2 | |
| 1951–1953 | Boeing Washington | B1 | |
| 1953–1957 | English Electric Canberra | B2 | |
| 1959–1966 | Handley Page Victor | B1 | |
| 1966–1977 | Handley Page Victor | K1 | |
| 1976–1986 | Handley Page Victor | K2 | |
| 1992–2002 | Lockheed C-130 Hercules | ||
| 2008–2018 | Grob Tutor | T1 | |
| 2018–present | Grob Prefect | T1 |
