No. XI Squadron RAF
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| No. XI Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
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| Active | 14 February 1915 |
| Role | Air Defence and Early Warning (Currently inactive) |
| Garrison/HQ | RAF Coningsby (from 2007) |
| Motto | Ociores acrioresque aquilis (Latin: "Swifter and keener than eagles") |
| Equipment | Typhoon F2 |
| Battle honours | Western Front 1915-1918, Loos, Somme 1916, Arras, Cambrai 1917, Somme 1918, Amiens, Hindenburg Line, North-West Frontier 1930-1931, North-West Frontier 1935-1939, East Africa 1940, Egypt and Libya 1940-1942, Greece 1941, Syria 1941, Ceylon April 1942, Arakan 1943-1944, North Burma 1943-1944, Manipur 1944, Burma 1944-1945. |
| Insignia | |
| Identification symbol |
Two eagles volant in pale |
No. XI(F) or 11 Squadron is a Royal Air Force squadron. The squadron operated the Tornado F3 until 2005 when it was disbanded. It was reactivated in 2006 to operate the Typhoon F2, receiving its first aircraft (ZJ931) on October 9, 2006.[1]
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[edit] History
No. XI Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps was formed at Netheravon in Wiltshire on 14 February 1914 for "fighting duties". Since all previous squadrons (Royal Flying Corps or other nations) were reconnaissance or army co-operation units, XI(F) can make a claim to be the oldest fighter squadron in the world. The twin Eagles on the crest represent the twin seat "Vickers Gunbus" of the First World War. The squadron most recently operated the twin seat Panavia Tornado F3 from RAF Leeming between August 1988 and October 2005.
XI Squadron gained some publicity when it was announced in February 2003 that it was some of their Tornado F3s which were modified to carry the ALARM missile (as EF3s) to widen the F3s capabilities to include SEAD. The logic of this is clear, as Tornado GR4s are required to carry large offensive payloads while in recent conflicts the requirement for air superiority fighters has been limited. If the SEAD burden can be moved to the F3 force (and possibly also laser-designation) the potency of the GR4 force can be increased.
Following the publication of the Future Capabilities study on July 21 2004, XI(F) squadron disbanded in October 2005. The RAF has announced that XI(F) Sqn will be the second front line squadron to re-equip with the Typhoon but will now be based at RAF Coningsby. The Squadron stood up at Coningsby on March 29th 2007.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "100th Typhoon arrives at RAF Coningsby", www.raf.mod.uk, Royal Air Force, 2006-10-09. Retrieved on October 26, 2006.
[edit] External links
| Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon squadrons | |
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Current: No. 3 Squadron RAF | No. 11 Squadron RAF |
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Future: No. 6 Squadron RAF |
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Other: No. 17(R) Squadron (Operational Evaluation Unit) | No. 29(R) Squadron (Operational Conversion Unit) |
