No. 33 Squadron RAF
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| No. 33 Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
| Active | 12 January 1916 |
| Role | Support helicopters |
| Garrison/HQ | RAF Benson |
| Motto | "Loyalty" |
| Equipment | Puma HC.1 |
| Battle honours | Home Defence 1916-1918, Palestine 1936-1939, Egypt and Libya 1940-1943, Greece 1941, El Alamein, France and Germany 1944-1945, Normandy 1944, Walcheren, Rhine, Gulf 1991 |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Marmaduke Pattle, March–April 1941 |
| Insignia | |
| Identification symbol |
A hart's head affrontée, couped at the neck |
No. 33 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Puma HC.1 from RAF Benson, Oxfordshire.
Contents |
[edit] Current role
The squadron is part of the RAF Support Helicopter force, which reports into the Joint Helicopter Command.
Formed in 1971 at RAF Odiham as the RAF's first Puma squadron, the squadron has flown in a large number of operations. These include the Gulf War of 1991, and Operation Agricola, the NATO Kosovo Force, Operation Barwood in Mozambique, NATO operations in Bosnia and in Iraq during Operation Telic.
[edit] History
No. 33 Squadron was formed from part of 12 Sqn at Filton on 12 January 1916. For the remainder of the First World War the squadron was employed in the Home Defence role in Lincolnshire, guarding against German airship raids against northern England. Its headquarters were at Gainsborough, with its flights spread over three separate stations: RAF Scampton (A Flight), RAF Kirton in Lindsey (B Flight) and RAF Elsham Wolds (C Flight). The squadron did not destroy any enemy airships, despite a number of interceptions; it was disbanded in June 1919.
The Squadron was reformed in 1929 as a bomber unit equipped first with Hawker Horsleys and then the Hawker Hart. In 1935 the unit moved to the Middle East where they took part in the Abyssinian crisis in Egypt and in air policing in Palestine.
With the exception of a time in Greece and Crete in 1941 (for part of this time the squadron was commanded by Marmaduke Pattle, one of the RAF's top aces), 33 Sqn remained in the Middle East for most of World War II. Equipped initially with the Gloster Gladiators they had used in Palestine the squadron re-equipped with Hurricanes and flew in support of the Army in the Western Desert, including at the Battle of El Alamein. Returning to the UK in 1944 the squadron flew the Supermarine Spitfire, and later the Hawker Tempest, flying fighter sweeps in North West Europe. They remained in Germany until 1949. Over 200 air kills were claimed 1940-45.
From 1949 to 1970, 33 Squadron was stationed in the Far East. Initially flying their Tempests in ground attack missions during operations against Communist guerrillas in Malaya. A number of different types were operated during several disbandments and reformations throughout the late 1950s and early 1960s. In March 1965 33 Sqn became a Bloodhound surface-to-air missile unit in Malaya.
[edit] Previous aircraft
- Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2 used between January 1916 and November 1916
- Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2 used between November 1916 and June 1918
- Bristol F.2 Fighter used between June 1918 and August 1918
- Avro 504 used between August 1918 and June 1919
- Hawker Horsley used between March 1929 and February 1930
- Hawker Hart used between February 1930 and February 1938
- Gloster Gladiator used between February 1938 and October 1940
- Hawker Hurricane used between September 1940 and December 1943
- Supermarine Spitfire used between February 1943 and December 1944 and from November 1945 till 1946
- Hawker Tempest used between December 1944 and November 1945 (Tempest V) and between 1946 and 1951 (Tempest F.2)
- de Havilland Hornet used between 1951 and March 1955
- de Havilland Venom used between October 1955 and January 1957
- Gloster Meteor used between October 1957 and August 1958
- Gloster Javelin used between July 1958 and November 1962
- Bristol Bloodhound (Missile)
[edit] References
[edit] Notes
[edit] Bibliography
- Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1980. ISBN 0-85130-083-9.
- Moyes, Philip. Bomber Squadrons of the RAF and Their Aircraft. London, Macdonald and Jane's, 1964, Second revised edition 1976. ISBN 0-354-01027-1.
- Rawlings, John D.R. Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and Their Aircraft. London, Macdonald and Jane's, 1969, Second revised edition 1976. ISBN 0-354-01028-X.
