The squadron formed as a part of Royal Flying Corps in 1915, at Saint-Omer, France, to carry out a mixture of offensive patrolling and reconnaissance, and was disbanded in 1919, shortly after the end of the First World War. The squadron reformed as part of the RAF in 1924, and again took on a reconnaissance role which it continued throughout the Second World War. Post-war, the squadron was disbanded and reformed several times, operating predominately in the bomber role. Equipped with the Tornado GR1 from 1984, the squadron took part in the Gulf War in the early 1990s. It was reformed in November 1991 as the operational conversion unit for the SEPECAT Jaguar, until the Jaguar's imminent withdrawal from service in 2005. No. 16 Squadron reformed again and took on its current role in 2008.
In September 1915, flying-ace Duncan Grinnell-Milne joined the squadron as a junior pilot, and later (1933) published an account of his time in the squadron. His portrait of Dowding (who when the book was originally published had not then attained his later fame) is unflattering.<ref name=wind>Wind in the Wires, by Duncan Grinnell-Milne. London 1933. Revised by the author and republished by Doubleday, New York 1968.</ref>
The squadron was reformed at Old Sarum in Wiltshire in the tactical reconnaissance role on 1 April 1924. Initially, it operated the Bristol F.2 Fighter, but this was replaced by the Armstrong Whithworth Atlas in January 1931, and by the Hawker Audax in December 1933.<ref name=aoa/>
In May 1938, the squadron re-equipped with the Westland Lysander,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and it continued in its tactical role in wartime France from April 1940.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In May 1940, it returned to England and conducted roving sea patrols searching for both downed aircrew and enemy forces.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The Canberra gave way to the Blackburn Buccaneer S.2B on 16 October 1972. The squadron's twelve Buccaneers were equipped with a variety of conventional weapons and eighteen British WE.177 nuclear bombs.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Although Buccaneers could carry two WE.177 weapons, after taking into account attrition in the conventional phase of a high-intensity European war, and after withholding some aircraft in reserve, RAF planners expected that squadron strength remaining would still be sufficient to deliver the nuclear weapons stockpile. The Buccaneer distinguished itself in many bombing exercises; among its victories included the winning of the Salmond Trophy in 1978 and 1979.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The squadron briefly expanded in 1983 and 1984, absorbing some aircraft and personnel from its sister No. 15 Squadron which had converted to the Panavia Tornado GR1. No. 16 Squadron followed in late 1984 following the 'designate' process where a new No. 16 Squadron formed at RAF Honington in Suffolk, before moving to Laarbruch and assuming the squadron standard from the Buccaneer unit which had continued to operate throughout. Despite the change of aircraft, the squadron's role remained unchanged in countering a Soviet threat in Europe with conventional weapons and eighteen WE.177 nuclear bombs. As with the Buccaneer, there was a ratio of 1.5 weapons per aircraft.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In December 2003, the Ministry of Defence announced with the Delivering Security in a Changing World defence review, RAF Coltishall would close in 2007, and the recently upgraded Jaguar fleet would be retired early.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This led to the disbandment of No. 16 Squadron on 11 March 2005 as the Jaguar approached retirement.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The squadron standard was laid up in Notre-Dame Cathedral Saint-Omer, France on 20 March 2005.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On 1 October 2008, the squadron was reformed at RAF Cranwell, Lincolnshire, as part of No. 22 Group, operating the Grob Tutor T1.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> No. 16(R) Squadron continues its training role by instructing new RAF pilots in elementary flying training (EFT)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> as part of No.1 Elementary Flying Training School (1 EFTS). From 2005 to 2008, the unit was known as 1 Squadron, 1 EFTS following a restructuring of the RAF's pilot training.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In the first half of 2015, No. 16 (R) Squadron, along with No. 115 (R) Squadron relocated to RAF Wittering, Cambridgeshire, which saw flying return to the base for the first time since 2010.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The squadron offers courses of up to 70 hours, where students are taught basic aircraft handling, instrument flying, navigation, and formation flying before graduating to the fast-jet, multi-engine and rotary training squadrons for advanced flying training.<ref name=":1" />
The squadron's nickname is 'The Saints', which reflects that the squadron was formed at Saint-Omer in northern France.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A stylised version of the stick-man logo from the 1960s British TV series The Saint has been incorporated into the squadron's aircraft markings and featured prominently in special paint schemes.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
File:Supermarine Spitfire PR XIX G-RRGN 5D4 8391 (52255390332).jpgPreserved Spitfire PR XIX painted in the colours of No. 16 Squadron, 2022 The squadron's first commander was MajorFelton Holt of the Royal Flying Corps who led the squadron between 8 February 1915 and 23 July 1915. He became a brigadier general in the newly established RAF just before the end of the First World War. During the inter-war years, Holt remained in the RAF, serving in several staff appointments before becoming Air Officer Commanding Fighting Area.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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