No. 201 Squadron RAF

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Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English Template:Infobox military unit Number 201 Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It currently operates the Boeing Poseidon MRA1 from RAF Lossiemouth, Moray.

It is the only squadron affiliated with Guernsey, in the Channel Islands. This affiliation started in 1935 and is commemorated in the museum on Castle Cornet. Its history goes even further back than the RAF itself, being formed originally as No. 1 Squadron RNAS on 17 October 1914. It had previously operated the Hawker Siddeley Nimrod MR2, based at RAF Kinloss, Moray, between January 1982 and March 2010.

History

Formation and World War I

File:No 1 Squadron RNAS 1914.jpg
Personnel of No 1 Squadron RNAS in late 1914
File:SopTri3.jpg
Sopwith Triplane (serial N5387) of No. 1 Naval Squadron

Despite its high squadron number, 201 Squadron is one of the oldest squadrons in the RAF. It was formed as No. 1 Squadron of the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) on 17 October 1914, and reformed under that designation on 6 December 1916,<ref name="Jefford2001">Jefford 2001, p. 70.</ref> only being renumbered to 201 Squadron on the formation of the RAF on 1 April 1918 – all the RNAS squadrons getting new numbers by adding 200 to their original number.<ref name="Halley1988"/>

A Victoria Cross was won by a member of No. 1 Squadron RNAS when on 7 June 1915 Sub-Lieutenant R.A.J. Warneford shot down Zeppelin LZ.37.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

After the war the squadron was disbanded at RAF Eastleigh on 31 December 1919.<ref name="Halley1988"/><ref name="Jefford2001"/> Eighteen flying aces served in the squadron during the course of the war, including such notables as Samuel Kinkead, Stanley Wallace Rosevear, Richard Minifie, Roderic Dallas, George Gates, Reginald Brading, Maxwell Findlay, Cyril Ridley, Thomas Gerrard, John Jones, James Henry Forman, Charles Dawson Booker, Thomas Culling, future Air Vice-Marshal F. H. Maynard, Robert McLaughlin, and Hazel Wallace.<ref>Shores, Franks & Guest 1990, p. 40</ref>

File:Reginald Warneford portrait 3.jpg
R.A.J. Warneford, V.C. standing in front of a Maurice Farman Shorthorn.
A man in military uniform with peaked cap, sitting in the cockpit of a biplane
Sub-Lieutenant Dallas, No. 1 Squadron RNAS, c. 1916

Flying boat squadron

The squadron was reformed at RAF Calshot on 1 January 1929 by expanding no. 480 Flight, a Supermarine Southampton flying boat unit. In April 1936 the Southamptons gave way to the Saro London, which the squadron still had on strength when World War II broke out. Supermarine Stranraers flew shortly with the squadron in 1939, but by April 1940 the squadron was operational on the Short Sunderland, which would remain the squadron equipment for almost seventeen years up till 28 February 1957, when the squadron was disbanded at RAF Pembroke Dock.<ref name="Halley1988"/><ref name="Jefford2001"/><ref name="Rawlings1982p129">Rawlings 1982, p. 129.</ref>

Shackletons and Nimrods

The squadron was reformed at RAF St. Mawgan, when No. 220 Squadron RAF was renumbered to 201 Squadron. The squadron flew the next twelve years with the Avro Shackleton MR.3, a version that used a tricycle undercarriage as opposed to the earlier tailwheel variants. Following the Shackleton's retirement, the squadron converted to Nimrods in October 1970.<ref name="Halley1988"/><ref name="Jefford2001"/><ref name="Rawlings1982p129"/><ref name="targetlock">Template:Cite web</ref>

File:HS Nimrod MR.1 XV250 201 Sq Kinloss FINN 30.07.77 edited-2.jpg
Nimrod MR.1 of 201 Squadron exhibited at the Queen's Silver Jubilee Review at RAF Finningley in July 1977.

The squadron was active for over a decade in the Gulf region, in support of both Gulf War 1 and 2 and more recently the conflict in Afghanistan. Until March 2010, the squadron was also on active duty in the UK and maintained continuous 24-hour/365-day search and rescue standby, shared with the sister 120 Squadron, both flying from RAF Kinloss. The Nimrod MR2 was withdrawn in March 2010,<ref name="targetlock"/> and the squadron was formally disbanded on 26 May 2011.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It had been preparing to operate the Nimrod MRA4 but this aircraft was cancelled under the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Reformation

In July 2017, it was announced that No. 201 Squadron would be one of two RAF squadrons to fly the P-8A Poseidon, based at RAF Lossiemouth.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It was later confirmed the squadron would stand up in the 'Summer of 2021' operating in the role and at location as previously stated.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> No. 201 Squadron reformed on 7 August 2021, reclaiming their Squadron Standard from Government House in Guernsey on 22 October.<ref name="reform">Template:Cite web</ref>

Notable squadron members

  • John Harris (Royal Air Force), Officer Commanding 1973–75

Aircraft operated

Crucifix, made from an aeroplane propeller, in a cemetery. The inscription reads "Lt. Col. R.S. Dallas DSO DSC ... Killed in Action" 1 June 1918
The cross, made from the propeller of an S.E.5, marking Lt Col. R. Dallas's grave
File:Piddington StNicholas MonumentStone.JPG
Monument made from an aircraft propeller in St Nicholas' parish church, Piddington, Oxfordshire, to Lt. Richard Stone, a 201 Squadron Sopwith Camel pilot killed in action in France on 9 August 1918

The squadron has operated the following aircraft types.<ref name="Jefford2001" /><ref name="Rawlings1982p129" /><ref name="Halley 1971, p. 43">Halley 1971, p. 43.</ref><ref name="Halley 1988, p. 260">Halley 1988, p. 260.</ref>

Squadron bases

File:No. 201 Squadron RAF (Guernsey's Own) Squadron Museum (2014).jpg
Entrance to the No. 201 Squadron RAF museum at Castle Cornet, Saint Peter Port, Guernsey
From To Base
6 Dec 1916 15 Feb 1917 Furnes, Belgium
15 Feb 1917 11 Apr 1917 Chipilly, France
11 Apr 1917 1 Jun 1917 La Belle-vue, France
1 Jun 1917 2 Nov 1917 Bailleul, France
2 Nov 1917 10 Dec 1917 Middle Aerodrome
10 Dec 1917 16 Feb 1918 Dover, Kent
16 Feb 1918 27 Mar 1918 Téteghem, France
27 Mar 1918 28 Mar 1918 Sainte-Marie-Cappel, France
28 Mar 1918 12 Apr 1918 Fienvillers, France
12 Apr 1918 20 Jul 1918 Nœux-lès-Auxi, France
20 Jul 1918 6 Aug 1918 Sainte-Marie-Cappel, France
6 Aug 1918 14 Aug 1918 Poulainville, France
14 Aug 1918 19 Sep 1918 Nœux-lès-Auxi, France
19 Sep 1918 14 Oct 1918 Baizieux, France
14 Oct 1918 27 Oct 1918 Beugnâtre, France
27 Oct 1918 22 Nov 1918 La Targette, France
22 Nov 1918 5 Feb 1919 Béthencourt, France
15 Feb 1919 2 Sep 1919 RAF Lake Down, Wiltshire
2 Sep 1919 31 Dec 1919 RAF Eastleigh, Hampshire
1 Jan 1929 29 Sep 1938 RAF Calshot, Hampshire
29 Sep 1938 7 Oct 1938 RAF Invergordon, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland
7 Oct 1938 9 Aug 1939 RAF Calshot, Hampshire
9 Aug 1939 6 Nov 1939 RAF Sullom Voe, Shetland, Scotland
6 Nov 1939 26 May 1940 RAF Invergordon, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland
26 May 1940 9 Oct 1941 RAF Sullom Voe, Shetland, Scotland
9 Oct 1941 8 Apr 1944 Lough Erne, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland
8 Apr 1944 3 Nov 1944 RAF Pembroke Dock, Pembrokeshire, Wales
3 Nov 1944 2 Aug 1945 RAF Castle Archdale, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland
2 Aug 1945 1 Apr 1946 RAF Pembroke Dock, Pembrokeshire, Wales
1 Apr 1946 18 Jan 1949 RAF Calshot, Hampshire (Det. at Finkenwerder, West-Germany)
18 Jan 1949 28 Feb 1957 RAF Pembroke Dock, Pembrokeshire, Wales
1 Oct 1958 1 Jul 1965 RAF St Mawgan, Cornwall
1 Jul 1965 26 May 2011 RAF Kinloss, Moray, Scotland
7 Aug 2021 present RAF Lossiemouth, Moray, Scotland

<ref name="Jefford2001"/><ref name="Rawlings1982p129"/><ref name="Halley 1971, p. 43"/><ref name="Halley 1988, p. 260"/>

Battle honours

No. 201 Squadron has received the following battle honours. Those marked with an asterisk (*) may be emblazoned on the squadron standard.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Col-begin Template:Col-break

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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.
  • Bowyer, Michael J.F. and John D.R. Rawlings. Squadron Codes, 1937–56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd., 1979. Template:ISBN.
  • Flintham, Vic and Andrew Thomas. Combat Codes: A full explanation and listing of British, Commonwealth and Allied air force unit codes since 1938. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd., 2003. Template:ISBN.
  • Halley, James J. Famous Maritime Squadrons of the RAF, Volume 1. Windsor, Berkshire, UK: Hylton Lacy Publishers Ltd., 1973. 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.
  • Lewis, Peter. Squadron Histories: R.F.C, R.N.A.S and R.A.F., 1912–59. London: Putnam, 1959.
  • Nash, Jeremy. On the Step: A History of 201 Squadron. 201 Squadron Association, 1990.
  • Rawlings, John D.R. Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Jane's Publishing Company Ltd., 1982. Template:ISBN.
  • Rawlings, John D.R. Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers) Ltd., 1969 (new edition 1976, reprinted 1978). Template:ISBN.
  • Template:Cite book

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