No. 12 Squadron RAF

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No. 12 Squadron RAF
12 Squadron badge
Active 14 February 1915
Role Strike/attack
Garrison/HQ RAF Lossiemouth
Motto "Leads the Field"
Equipment Tornado GR4
Battle honours Western Front 1915-1918, Loos, Somme 1916, Arras, Cambrai 1917, Somme 1918, Hindenburg Line, France and Low Countries 1939-1940, Meuse Bridges, Fortress Europe 1940-1944, German Ports 1941-1945, Biscay Ports 1940-1945, Berlin 1941-1945, Ruhr 1941-1945, France and Germany 1944-1945, Rhine*, Gulf 1991*, Iraq 2003
Insignia
Identification
symbol
A fox's mask

No. 12 Squadron of the Royal Air Force currently operates the Tornado GR4 from RAF Lossiemouth.

Contents

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[edit] History

No. 12 Squadron Royal Flying Corps was formed in February 1915 from a flight of No. 1 Squadron RFC at Netheravon. The squadron moved to France in September 1915 and operated a variety of aircraft on operations over the Western Front. In March 1918 the squadron was re-equipped with the Bristol F2b Fighter just before the squadron became part of the newly formed Royal Air Force. The squadron then based at Bickendorf in Germany was disbanded in 1922.

The squadron reformed at RAF Northolt on the 1 April 1923 to operate the de Havilland DH.9A. In 1924 it moved to RAF Andover and converted to the Fairey Fawn a single-engined biplane bomber. The Fawns were replaced in 1926 with the Fairey Fox, which influenced the adoption of the Foxes head as part of the squadron emblem. In 1931 the squadron re-equipped with the Sydney Camm designed Hawker Hart. In October 1935 the squadron moved to the Middle East, but returned to Andover in August 1936. The Harts were replaced by the Hawker Hind in 1936 and in 1938 the squadron was equipped with Fairey Battles.

On the first day of the Second World War the squadron moved to France to begin operations. On 12 May 1940, over the Albert Canal, Belgium, one bridge in particular was being used by the invading army, with protection from fighter aircraft, anti-aircraft and machine-guns. The RAF was ordered to demolish this vital bridge, and five Fairey Battles from the squadron were dispatched. They met an inferno of anti-aircraft fire, but the mission was accomplished, much of the success being due to the coolness and resource of the pilot Flying Officer Garland of the leading aircraft and the navigation of Sergeant Gray. Unfortunately the leading aircraft and three others did not return. Flying Officer Garland and Sergeant Gray were both posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.

The squadron returned to England in November 1940 and re-equipped with the Vickers Wellington at RAF Binbrook. The squadron moved again in 1942 to operate the Avro Lancaster. In 1946 the squadron re-equipped with the Avro Lincoln until in 1952 it joined the jet-age and re-equipped with the Canberra jet bomber. After 44 years continious service the squadron was disbanded on July 1961.

From 1962 to 1967 the squadron was reformed to operate the Avro Vulcan V-bomber, initially from RAF Coningsby then RAF Cottesmore.

Reformed again at RAF Honnington in October 1969 to operate the Blackburn Buccaneer in the anti-shipping role, with Martel missiles (from 1974). It moved to RAF Lossiemouth in 1980. In 1993 it was disbanded.

In September 1993, No. 27 Squadron RAF then at RAF Marham disbanded and immediately re-formed as No 12 Squadron operates the Tornado GR1.

During the period January to April 2001, the Tornado GR1s were replaced with upgraded Tornado GR4s.

[edit] Current role

No. 12 Squadron currently operates from RAF Lossiemouth and operates the Tornado GR4 in a variety of roles, from close air support and strike bombing to training missions that keep the Aircrew current in the latest tactics and methods as well as giving them the continued hands on experience with the vast and varied weapon systems that are available to them.

The squadron continues to support Coalition forces in Iraq currently as part of Operation TELIC. As part of a seven squadron rotation cycle, of all the operational Tornado GR4 squadrons, the squadron spends two months at an American controlled base in Qatar. The squadron conducts close air support operations as well as providing a reconnaissance role.

12(B) Squadron are better than 617 Squadron by a mile PLUS they have the Paveway King, AKA Mauser Doolerz.

[edit] Aircraft operated

[edit] References

  • G G Jefford, RAF Squadrons, second edition 2001, Airlife Publishing, UK, ISBN 1-84037-141-2.