No. 20 Squadron RAF
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| No.20 (R) Squadron | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1915 |
| Role | Operational Conversion Unit |
| Garrison/HQ | RAF Wittering |
| Motto | Facta non verba Latin: "Deeds not Words" |
| Equipment | Harrier GR7 |
| Battle honours | Western Front 1916-1918, Somme 1916, Arras, Ypres 1917, Somme 1918, Lys, Hindenburg Line, Mahsud 1919-1920, Waziristan 1919-1925, Mohmand 1927, North West Frontier 1930-1931, Mohmand 1933, North West Frontier 1935-1939, North Burma 1943-1944, Arakan 1943-1944, Manipur 1944, Burma 1944-1945, Gulf 1991. |
No.20 (R) Squadron of the Royal Air Force is the current OCU (Operational Conversion Unit) for the BAE Harrier GR7, GR7A and GR9 operating from RAF Wittering. A reserve squadron, it can be called upon for combat duties if necessary.
Contents |
[edit] History
Formed on 1 September 1915, as a unit of the Royal Flying Corps, the squadron has flown many types - FE2ds, Bristol Fighters, Westland Wapitis, Hawker Audaxes, Westland Lysanders, Hurricanes, Vampires, Sabres, Hunters (Singapore), Tornado GR1s (Germany) and SEPECAT Jaguars. In 1992, No. 233 Harrier OCU at RAF Wittering adopted the squadron crest and became 20 (Reserve) Squadron on 1 September 1992.
In the First World War 20 Squadron RFC & RAF was arguably the highest scoring and possibly most decorated British fighter squadron on the Western Front with 613 combat victories, a posthumous Victoria Cross, four Distinguished Conduct Medals, and over forty Military Crosses and Military Medals awarded to its members.
The squadron transferred from the former Royal Flying Corps to the newly formed Royal Air Force in April, 1918.
Post World War I, 20 Sqn was transferred to the North-West Frontier Province for policing duties, equipped with Bristol Fighters, Wapitis and Audaxes.
At the outbreak of World War II, the squadron was still equipped with Audaxes, which were replaced with Lysanders in 1943, re-equipping with Hurricanes in March 1943. During the Second World War the squadron's Hawker Hurricane IIDs and IVs saw action against the Japanese.
After the war, the squadron re-equipped with Spitfires, retaining these until it disbanded on 1 August 1947, whilst based in India.
20 Squadron reformed at Llanbedr on 11 February 1947 as an Anti-aircraft Co-operation (AAC) squadron, moving to Valley on 19 July 1949, equipped with many miscellaneous aircraft. The squadron disbanded at Valley on 16 September 1951.
In June 1952 the squadron reformed at RAF Jever, Germany operating the de Havilland Vampire. These were replaced in 1953 by Canadair Sabres which were themselves replaced with Hawker Hunters. The squadron was disbanded in 1960, only to be reformed again at RAF Tengah, Singapore, again operating Hunters. Following the withdrawal of the RAF from the Far East the squadron disbanded in 1970.
20 Squadron reformed again in late 1970 at RAF Wildenrath, Germany, operating the Harrier Jump Jet. In 1977 the squadron re-equipped with SEPECAT Jaguars. In 1984 the squadron's Jaguars were replaced by the RAF Tornado GR1. In May 1992 the Options for Change defence review called for the disbanding of 20 Squadron as a front line unit. In late 1992 the squadron numberplate was assigned to the Harrier Operational Conversion Unit.
With the formation of Joint Force Harrier and the decision to withdraw the FAA's Sea Harriers, the personnel of the RN's 899 NAS were absorbed into 20 sqn, making it a joint RAF/RN unit, manned 50/50 by each service.
[edit] Notable airmen
- Donald Cunnell (1893-1917)
- James McCudden (1895-1918)
- Don Bennett (1910–1986)
- James Harry Lacey (1917–1989)
- Samuel Frederick Henry Thompson (Great War)
- John J. Cowell (Great War)
- Alfred Mills (Great War)
- Henry George Crowe (Great War)
- Lovell Dickens Baker (Great War)
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- 20 Squadron at the Royal Air Force
