No. 51 Squadron RAF

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No. 51 Squadron RAF

Active	15 May 1916 (RFC) - 1919 1937-1950 1958-
Role	Electronic Intelligence
Part of	No. 2 Group RAF
Garrison/HQ	RAF Waddington
Motto	"Swift and Sure"
Equipment	3 Nimrod R1
Battle honours	Home Defence 1916-1918, Norway 1940, Ruhr 1940-1945, Baltic 1940-1944, Italy 1943, France and Germany 1944-1945, Normandy 1944, Rhine, South Atlantic 1982, Gulf 1991, Kosovo.
Insignia
Identification symbol	A goose volant

No. 51 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operate the Nimrod R1 from RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire.

1 History
2 Aircraft operated
3 References
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] History

Formed at Thetford, Norfolk, 51 Squadron Royal Flying Corps flew B.E.2 and B.E.12 aircraft. The squadron's primary role during the First World War was defence of the UK against German Zeppelin raids. It also used the Avro 504K to give night flying training to new pilots. The squadron disbanded in 1919.

The squadron was reborn when part of 158 Squadron was renumbered as 51 Squadron in March 1937, flying Virginias and Ansons. At this time the squadron badge was being chosen and a goose was chosen as a play on words: the squadron was flying the Anson and the Latin for goose is Anser. It was also appropriate for a bomber unit to have a heavy wild fowl to represent it.

51 Squadron dropped leaflets over Germany on the very first night of the Second World War, using the Whitley aircraft; bombs replaced leaflets in early 1940. A brief period as part of Coastal Command patrolling against the U-Boats in the Bay of Biscay preceded the re-equipment with the Halifax in 1942. 51 spent the rest of the war in Europe flying as part of No. 4 Group RAF, RAF Bomber Command's strategic bombing offensive against the Nazis.

The squadron became part of Transport Command with Stirlings and later Yorks following the end of the European war, transporting men and material to India and the far east. The squadron disbanded in 1950, after taking part in the Berlin Airlift.

The squadron again reformed in the 'Special Duties' role when No. 192 Squadron RAF was renumbered at RAF Watton in August 1958, later moving to nearby Wyton. It was only following the end of the Cold War that the electronic intelligence role of the squadron was publicly recognised. The squadron flew this role using de Havilland Comets and English Electric Canberras, the former being replaced by a modified Hawker-Siddeley Nimrod in 1974. The Canberras were retired from service in 1976.

A move to RAF Waddington occurred in 1995 after RAF Wyton changed its role from an operational flying RAF station. Several of the support organisations, EWOSE (Electronic Warfare Operational Support Establishment) and EWAD (Electronic Warfare and Avionics Detachment), relocated at the same time.

Even though the maritime patrol Nimrod is due to be upgraded to MRA4 standard, it was initially thought that the R1 would not be replaced, due to the much lower airframe fatigue they have suffered. Recent reports suggest that a replacement is now more likely.

The squadron has taken part in most operations the British armed forces have been involved with in recent years, including the Falklands War, the first Gulf War, operations in Kosovo and the war in Iraq in 2003. During the Iraq War, a Nimrod detected a radio transmission from a village north of Baghdad. The crew realised that there should not be a transmission from such an isolated village, and sent an American patrol to investigate. It was here that they found Saddam Hussein.

More recently (February 2008) UK press reports suggested that No.51 Squadron had listened in to Taliban insurgents speaking in broad West Yorkshire and West Midlands accents, suggesting that they were British raised, if not British citizens. The Sun inevitably headlined their article "Talibrum".