No. 57 Squadron RAF

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No. 57 Squadron RAF
Active 8 June 1916 - 2002
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
Motto Corpus non animum muto
Latin: I change my body not my spirit

No. 57 Squadron RAF was formed on 8 June 1916 at Copmanthorpe, Yorkshire. In December 1916 the squadron was posted to France equipped with the FE2d. The squadron re-equipped with Airco DH4s in May 1917 and commenced long range bombing and reconnaissance operations near Ypres in June of that year. Following the armistice the squadron was assigned to mail carrying duties before returning to the UK in August 1919 and then disbanding on 31 December of that year.

The squadron re-formed at Netheravon on 20 October 1931 equipped with the Hawker Hart. In May 1936 the squadron converted to the Hawker Hind. At the outbreak of war the squadron was based in France equipped with Bristol Blenheims and was engaged in bombing and reconnaissance operations during the German invasion. The squadron operated from Rosières, then Poix and finally Crécy before returning to England in May 1940. After a brief stay at Wyton the squadron moved to Scotland to commence anti-shipping strikes against the coast of Norway.

The squadron moved to Feltwell in November 1940 to re-equip with the Vickers Wellington . In September 1942 the squadron moved Scampton and converted to Avro Lancasters. This was followed by a move to East Kirkby in August 1943 from where it operated for the remainder of the war until disbanding on 25 November 1945. The following day the squadron was re-formed via the re-numbering of No. 103 Squadron's Avro Lincoln flight.

In May 1951 the squadron converted to Washingtons before re-equipping with the English Electric Canberra in May 1953. The squadron disbanded on 9 December 1957.

The squadron re-formed 1 January 1959 at Honington as part of the V-Bomber force equipped with the Handley Page Victor. In December 1965 the squadron moved Marham to take on the role of a tanker squadron, before disbanding again on 30 June 1986.

The squadron number was assigned to No. 242 OCU at Lyneham from 1 June 1992 until March 2002.

[edit] Aircraft operated

Dates Aircraft Variant Notes
1916 Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2 BE2c
1916 Avro 504 504K
1916-1917 Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2 FE2d
1917-1919 Airco DH.4
1919 de Havilland DH.9 DH.9A
1931-1936 Hawker Hart
1936-1938 Hawker Hind
1938-1940 Bristol Blenheim I
1940 Bristol Blenheim IV
1940-1942 Vickers Wellington IA, IC, II and III
1942-1946 Avro Lancaster I & III
1945-1951 Avro Lancaster B2
1951-1953 Boeing Washington B1
1953-1957 English Electric Canberra B2
1959-1966 Handley Page Victor B1
1966-1977 Handley Page Victor K1
1976-1986 Handley Page Victor K2

[edit] References