No. 10 Squadron RAF

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Template:Short description Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox military unit Number 10 Squadron is a Royal Air Force squadron. The squadron has served in a variety of roles since it was formed in 1915, including observation, bombing, transport and aerial refuelling. It currently flies the Airbus Voyager KC2/KC3 in the transport/tanker role from RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire.

History

First World War

File:A.W. F.K.8 (side view 1).jpg
Armstrong Whitworth F.K.8, similar to what No. 10 Squadron operated between 1917 and 1918.

No. 10 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps was formed from a nucleus provided by No. 1 Reserve Aircraft Squadron on Template:Start date at Farnborough Airfield, Hampshire.<ref>Philpott 2013, p.388</ref> It initially acted as a training squadron until 27 July 1915 when it relocated to Saint-Omer on the Western Front in France.<ref name="RAFM">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="halp389">Halley 1988, pp. 38–39</ref> No. 10 Squadron's first major engagement was providing spotting for the Indian Corps during the Battle of Loos in September 1915 with the Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2.<ref name="10sqnarchive">Template:Cite web</ref> The squadron also participated in the Battle of the Somme in 1916.<ref name="10sqn">Template:Cite web</ref> In April 1917, No. 10 Squadron carried out spotting and bombing duties during the Second Battle of Arras.<ref name="10sqnarchive"/> The squadron re-equipped with the Armstrong Whitworth F.K.8 in September 1917.<ref name=aoa/>

In June 1918, No. 10 Squadron began to receive the Bristol F.2b.<ref name="aoa1">Template:Cite web</ref> The squadron participated in the Second Battle of the Somme between August and September 1918.<ref name="10sqn"/> The squadron briefly spent time in Germany as part of the army of occupation after the armistice.<ref name="10sqnarchive"/> On 8 February 1919, the squadron was reduced to a cadre and returned to the UK.<ref name="RAFM"/> It was disbanded on 31 December 1919 following the end of the First World War, like many other squadrons.<ref>Halley 1988, p. 38.</ref>

Interwar

On 3 January 1928, No. 10 Squadron was reformed as a night bomber unit at RAF Upper Heyford with the Handley Page Hyderabad.<ref name="RAFM"/> The unit relocated to RAF Boscombe Down in April 1931 and re-equipped with the Handley Page Hinaidi.<ref name=aoa/> These soon gave way to the Vickers Virginia in September 1932 before being replaced by the Handley Page Heyford in 1934.<ref name=aoa/> On 16 September 1935, the unit helped provide the nucleus to form No. 97 Squadron and later helped form No. 78 Squadron on 1 November 1936.<ref name=aoa/> No. 10 Squadron moved to RAF Dishforth on 25 January 1937 to form part of the newly created No. 4 Group of RAF Bomber Command (which they would remain a part of throughout the Second World War), converting to the monoplane Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Mk.I.<ref name="10sqnarchive"/>

Second World War

File:10 Squadron Halifax Mk II Dec 1941 IWM CH 443.jpg
Handley Page Halifax Mk.II L9619 of No. 10 Squadron based at RAF Leeming, December 1941.

On 8 September 1939, No. 10 Squadron began its first operation of the Second World War when it flew a leaflet dropping mission over Germany with the Whitley Mk.IV.<ref name="RAFM"/> On the night of 11th and 12th June 1940, Whitleys from No. 10 Squadron launched a raid on the Italian cities of Turin and Genoa.<ref name="how">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On 8 July 1940, the unit moved to RAF Leeming, Yorkshire.<ref name="Falconer, p. 140">Falconer, p. 140</ref> On 23 September 1940, the squadron launched a raid on the Boulogne docks in occupied-France.<ref name="how"/>

In December 1941, the squadron converted to the Handley Page Halifax Mk.I and Mk.II.<ref>Halley 1988, p. 39.</ref> In July 1942, the squadron was split in two when a detachment was sent to RAF Aqir, British Mandate, which went on to form No. 462 Squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force.<ref name="how"/> On 19 August 1942, the squadron relocated to RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire, where it would remain until the end of the war in Europe.<ref name="Falconer, p. 140"/>

On 7 May 1945, No. 10 Squadron was transferred to Transport Command and converted over to the Douglas Dakota.<ref name="RAFM"/> The squadron relocated to RAF Broadwell, Oxfordshire, on 6 August 1945.<ref name="how"/>

Post-War

Transport Command (1945–1950)

Following the end of the war, No. 10 Squadron relocated to India in October 1945 where it carried out transport duties until it disbanded on 20 December 1947.<ref name=aoa/> The squadron was reformed once more on 4 October 1948 when No. 238 Squadron was renumbered to No. 10 Squadron at RAF Oakington, Cambridgeshire.<ref name="RAFM"/> Between 1948 and 1949, the squadron took part in the Berlin Airlift,<ref>Ashworth, p. 50</ref> operating from RAF Lübeck.<ref name="10sqnarchive"/> No. 10 Squadron disbanded once more on 20 February 1950.<ref name=aoa>Template:Cite web</ref>

Bomber Command (1953–1964)

On 15 January 1953, No. 10 Squadron reverted to its original bomber role upon its reformation at RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire, with the English Electric Canberra B.2.<ref name="RAFM"/> In April 1955, the squadron moved to RAF Honington, Suffolk, while Scampton was closed for runway works.<ref name="Canberra">Template:Cite book</ref> Between October and November 1956, the squadron deployed to RAF Nicosia, Cyprus, during the Suez Crisis.<ref name="Canberra"/> From RAF Nicosia, a Canberra B.2 of No. 10 Squadron dropped the first RAF bombs on Egypt during a raid on Almaza Air Base on 31 October 1956.<ref name="Canberra"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The squadron disbanded on 15 January 1957.<ref name="RAFM"/>

No. 10 Squadron reformed at RAF Cottesmore on 15 April 1958 flying the Handley Page Victor B.1 until disbandment on 1 March 1964.<ref name=aoa/>

Vickers VC10 (1966–2005)

File:Vickers VC-10 C.1 XV106 FINN 30.07.77 edited-3.jpg
Vickers VC10 C.1 XV106 of No. 10 Squadron in 1977.

The squadron's numberplate was transferred back from Bomber Command to Transport Command in 1965,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and on 1 July 1966 the squadron reformed at RAF Brize Norton as the first operators to receive the new Vickers VC10 C.1<ref name=aoa/>

Fourteen VC10 C.1 were delivered to the squadron between 1966 and 1967. The C.1 was a variant of the civil 'Standard VC10' fitted with the wing and more powerful engines of the 'Super VC10'. The C.1 could carry 139 passengers in rear-facing seats, eight standard pallets or up to 78 medical evacuation stretchers. These VC10s were named after airmen who had been awarded the Victoria Cross.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The most visible role No. 10 Squadron's VC10s played was that of VIP transport and aeromedical evacuations. In the VIP role, the C1 flew the British royal family, government ministers and Prime Ministers around the world. Later the VC10 VIP role was phased out, with VIP transport being carried out by the RAF's BAe 146 fleet and Boeing 767 airliners chartered from British Airways. However, former Prime Minister Tony Blair reverted to the VC10 for more sensitive flights, notably during his diplomatic trips to Pakistan and the Middle East after the 11 September 2001 attacks.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The rationalisation of the VC10 force led to No. 10 Squadron being disbanded on 14 October 2005, with their C.1(K) aircraft transferred to No. 101 Squadron.<ref name="aoa" />

Airbus Voyager (2011–present)

File:Royal Air Force, ZZ335, Airbus KC2 Voyager (A330-243MRTT) (20881316626).jpg
Airbus Voyager KC3 ZZ335 at Tallinn Airport, Estonia, August 2015.

In 2011, with the closure of RAF Lyneham and the transfer of the RAF's Lockheed C-130 Hercules force to RAF Brize Norton, it was announced that No. 10 Squadron would be reformed as the first operator of the new Airbus Voyager.<ref>RAF Hercules fleet moves to Brize Norton Template:Webarchive – MOD, 4 July 2011</ref> The squadron was officially reformed on 1 July 2011.<ref>Chairman's Message Template:Webarchive - RAF 10 Squadron Association</ref> The first Voyager (ZZ330) was delivered to Brize Norton on 5 April 2012.<ref name="ukserials">Template:Cite web</ref> Operations began with the Voyager on 12 May 2012, with a sortie flown from Brize Norton to RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The first air-to-air refuelling flight with the Voyager took place on 20 May 2013, when No. 10 Squadron refuelled several Panavia Tornado GR4.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

No. 10 Squadron has helped support Operation Shader since September 2014.<ref name="10sqn" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated include:<ref name="aoa1"/><ref name="ukserials"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Template:Div col

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Heritage

Badge and motto

The squadron's badge features a winged arrow with wings. It was designed by Wing Commander Arthur T. Whitelock who was inspired by watching archery practice in Oxford. He thought the bomb was the modern equivalent of the medieval arrow, and the wings were added to represent speed. the badge was approved by King George VI in September 1937.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The squadrons motto is Template:Language with name/for.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Battle honours

No. 10 Squadron has received the following battle honours.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Div col

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See also

References

Notes

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Bibliography

  • Ashworth, Chris. Encyclopedia of Modern Royal Air Force Squadrons. Wellingborough, UK: Patrick Stevens Limited, 1989. Template:ISBN.
  • Bennett, Donald C.T. Pathfinder (Bomber Crews). Goodall Publications, 1958 (reprinted 1988 and 1998 and by Crécy Publishing in 1999). Template:ISBN.
  • Falconer, Jonathan. RAF Airfield of World War 2. Ian Allan Publishing, 1995 Template:ISBN.
  • Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. Template:ISBN.
  • Jefford, C.G. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury: Airlife Publishing, 2001. Template:ISBN.
  • Macmillan, Ian; King, Richard From Brooklands to Brize - A Centennial History of No 10 Squadron 1915 - 2015 10 Squadron Association, 2015
  • Moyes, Philip J.R. Bomber Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers) Ltd., 1964 (new edition 1976). Template:ISBN.
  • Philpott, Ian The Birth of the Royal Air Force. Pen and Sword, 2013. Template:ISBN
  • Rawlings, John D.R. Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Jane's Publishing Company Ltd., 1982. Template:ISBN.
  • Sawyer, Group Captain Tom, DFC. Only Owls & Bloody Fools Fly at Night. London: Kimber, 1982 (republished by Crécy Publishing in 1985). Template:ISBN.
  • Shirt, J. Gordon. Gordon's Tour with Shiny 10: Wartime Record of a Tour with RAF No.10 Squadron. Compaid Graphics, 1994. Template:ISBN.
  • Silver, L. Ray. Last of the Gladiators: A World War II Bomber Navigator's Story. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd., 1995. Template:ISBN.
  • Smith, Arthur C. Halifax Crew: the Story of a Wartime Bomber Crew. Carlton Publications, 1983. (2nd edition, Yorkshire Air Museum Publications, 1987).
  • Travers, E. Cross Country. Sittingbourne, Kent, UK: Hothersall & Travers, 1989. (from log books & letters of 3 10 Squadron pilots: James Lindsay Travers, Herbert Gardner Travers & Charles Tindal Travers)
  • Ward, Chris. 10 Squadron (Bomber Command Profile no. 3). Berkshire, UK: Ward Publishing, 1996.

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