No. 6 Squadron RAF

No. 6 Squadron RAF
6 Squadron badge
Active	31 January 1914
Role	Quick Reaction Alert
Garrison/HQ	RAF Leuchars
Equipment	Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldry	An eagle, wings elevated, preying on a serpent
Squadron roundel

No. 6 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 at RAF Leuchars. It was previously equipped with the Jaguar GR.3 in the close air support and tactical reconnaissance roles, and was posted to RAF Coltishall, Norfolk until April 2006, moving to RAF Coningsby until disbanding in May 2007. The squadron officially reformed as a Typhoon squadron on 6 September 2010.

History

World War I

No. 6 Squadron's motto Oculi Exercitus ("The Eyes of the Army") and the badge depicting an eagle attacking a serpent were gained as a result of fighter defence of army units during World War I.

The squadron was formed on 31 January 1914, at Farnborough as No 6 Sqn, Royal Flying Corps. Its first squadron commander was Major J H W Becke.

The bird depicted on the squadron badge is a falcon, with the snake serving two purposes, one the then (World War I) obvious anti-Central Powers symbolism, the second to circumvent the rules about squadron badges featuring a squadron's number. The cunningly coiled snake (rumoured to have been cooked up by No 6 Sqn members Louis Strange and Lanoe Hawker) neatly sidestepped the regulations.

The squadron were pioneers in military aviation, being blessed with the presence of Louis Strange and Lanoe Hawker VC - the former an "ideas man" - almost a mad professor - the latter a skilled engineer who became the first British flying ace. Their dual talents led to some ingenious mountings for machine guns, the use of which won Hawker the first air combat Victoria Cross, and nearly cost Strange his life, when he reached up to change the drum on a Lewis gun he had mounted on the top plane of his Martinsyde (long before the Foster Mount became de rigueur) and the machine flipped on its back, threw Strange from the cockpit and went into a flat spin from 10,000 ft (3,000 m). Strange, hanging for dear life to the drum of the Lewis gun, managed to get back into the cockpit and right the aircraft within 500 ft (150 m) of the ground. He returned to the aerodrome, and quietly disappeared, sleeping for the best part of 24 hours, telling no-one of the incident. Unfortunately for Strange, the German machine he had been firing at witnessed the whole incident, and assumed that their brave attacker had perished. As was the custom, they dropped a wreath and with it a letter describing the manner of Strange's death, and a bashful Strange found his escapade written into aviation history. Needless to say, his next invention was a pilot's safety harness!^{[citation needed]}

Strange went on to be decorated for bravery in combat in both world wars, and help to initiate, develop and organise the UK's sole parachute training facility at RAF Ringway near Manchester in 1940, and then the catapult Hurricane system (CAM ship). Hawker died in 1916, after an epic one-to-one battle with Baron von Richthofen.

Other members of No 6 Sqn RFC included several men who went on to find fame in World War II, including Hugh "Stuffy" Dowding.

Inter-war Years

Hawker Hardy aircraft operating from RAF Ramleh airfield in the 1930s

Following the Armistice the squadron transferred to Iraq, arriving in July 1919. Operating in the Army Co-operation role in Northern Iraq, it was equipped with Bristol Fighters, the squadron remained there for ten years before moving to Egypt in 1929. At the same time it re-equipped with Fairey Gordons and assumed the bomber role, Hawker Harts replacing these in 1935. Following problems in Palestine, the squadron relocated there in 1938 reverting to the Army Co-operation role with Hawker Hardys, adding Gloster Gauntlets and Westland Lysanders later.

World War II

A 6 Sqn Hurricane IID over the Western Desert, 1942.

During the early part of World War II, the squadron operated in the army co-operation role with Westland Lysanders from Palestine, but detached aircraft to the Western Desert until 1941 when Hawker Hurricanes were on strength. Co-operation with ground units was vital during sorties around this time and during one mission Flight Lieutenant McFall, carrying out a Lysander reconnaissance, located the enemy unit and then landed beside Allied gun batteries in order to direct the fire.

Further action in the desert on anti-tank duties continued from 1942 until the end of the North African campaign. Flying the tank-busting, 40 mm cannon-firing Hawker Hurricane Mk. IID the squadron excelled over the desert destroying many axis armoured targets. This is where they earned the nickname "The Flying Tin Openers". One of the Flight Commanders, Flight Lieutenant 'Pip' Hillier was awarded the DFC after some 13 confirmed tank 'kills', unfortunately he was killed in August 1942 whilst demonstrating the squadrons tactics to the press, having served with the squadron since 1938 in Palestine. His DFC citation in the London Gazette speaks for itself; Flight Lieutenant Philip Snowdon-Alexander HILLIER (41409) No. 6 Squadron. .. ''In June, 1942, this officer participated in 2 sorties against a column of enemy armoured vehicles near Sidi Rezegh. On his first sortie, in the face of heavy fire, he made 4 low level attacks on the target, hitting several tanks. On his second sortie, he flew so low that part of the tail, unit snapped off on the turret of one of the vehicles he attacked.Despite the damage sustained to his aircraft he flew it safely to base.Flight Lieutenant Hillier played a gallant part in the operations which were attended with much success.'

In the spring of 1944, the Squadron moved to a coastal field south-east of Termoli, Italy. The Squadron flew Hurricane Mk.IVs equipped with rocket projectiles. Moored axis ships were attacked at Yugoslav harbours and the Dalmatian islands. They were strongly defended by anti-aircraft gunners on Siebel Ferries with their multiple guns as the ships were used to supply the German Forces. Squadron detachments were also made to Bastia in Corsica, Araxos near Patras in Greece, Brindisi, and near Ancona. A fixed 44-gallon extra petrol tank under the port wing increased the Hurricanes' duration to almost three hours at 160 mph cruising speed. The advanced base on Vis island was usually used to top up tanks before each armed reconnaissance. Occasionally, inland targets like barracks and headquarters were attacked. Combined operations with Tito's forces were also carried out.

Post World War II/Cold War

In July 1945 the Squadron moved to Palestine. They cooperated with the police, patrolling the Kirkuk to Haifa oil pipeline to prevent terrorist attacks. The squadron remained in the Middle East until 1969. During this period the squadron went from being equipped with Hurricanes (and for a brief period four Spitfires due to a lack of available Hurricanes) to Hawker Tempest Mk. VIs and subsequently De Havilland Vampire FB.5s. During the early 1950s the squadron developed a close relationship with Jordan and King Abdullah, through this period it continued to operate Vampires and a twin seat Gloster Meteor T.7.

A 6 Sqn Jaguar GR3 over northern Iraq in 2000.

In 1956, after a brief period back in Iraq the squadron moved the De Havilland Venoms it then operated back to RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus and attacked Egyptian airfields from here during the Suez Crisis. In 1957 the squadron again re-equipped, this time with English Electric Canberras which it continued to operate from Akrotiri until 1969. Having been located outside of the UK for 50 years the squadron returned in 1969 and was the first to receive the Phantom FGR2 at RAF Coningsby the same year, before re-equipping with the Jaguar GR1 and T2 at RAF Lossiemouth in 1974. The squadron then moved to RAF Coltishall, being declared operational in the tactical nuclear role with twelve aircraft and eight WE.177 nuclear bombs until 1994, when the squadron's nuclear role was terminated and the weapons withdrawn.

Post-Cold War

The squadron continued at RAF Coltishall in its non-nuclear role until Coltishall closed on 1 April 2006, and the squadron moved to RAF Coningsby. The squadron's aircraft were deployed to the Gulf as part of Operation Granby (Gulf War), for which it received battle honours, and later as part of the Northern No-Fly-Zone. The squadron deployed to Italy for operations over Bosnia from 1993.

The Squadron was the last to fly the SEPECAT Jaguar, and was disbanded on 31 May 2007. The Jaguar's intended replacement in RAF service was the Eurofighter Typhoon. The RAF announced that No. 6 Squadron was to be the fourth operational front line squadron equipped with the Typhoon and the first with Tranche 2 aircraft, initially scheduled to reform in 2008 at RAF Leuchars in Fife. However this was delayed until 2010, with the squadron reforming at RAF Leuchars on 6 September 2010, when a closed standing-up ceremony was performed to mark the squadron's reforming, including the arrival of the new Typhoon aircraft in 6 Squadron colours from RAF Coningsby. It has taken over the role of Quick Reaction Alert for the north of the United Kingdom from No. 111 Squadron RAF, the RAF's last Panavia Tornado F3 squadron, in March 2011. Four Typhoons from 6 Squadron recently flew to RMAF Butterworth to participate in aerial wargames for the 40th Anniversary of the Five Power Defence Arrangements. In August 2013, several Typhoons from No. 6 were exercising with HMS Dragoon and US Fighters in the Gulf.

Aircraft operated

Two Typhoon of 6 Sqn carry Paveway II training rounds en route to the Cape Wrath range, March 2013

Two Typhoon of 6 Sqn over the UAE during Shaheen Star 5 in June 2013

• Farnham MF 7 "Long Horn" and MF 11 "Short Horn" - 1914
• Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2 varients - 1914
• Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8 - 1918
• Bristol Scout-1915
• Bristol F2B "Brisfit" - 1919 to 1931
• Fairey Gordon
• Gloster Gauntlet
• Hawker Hart - 1935
• Hawker Demon - 1935
• Hawker Hardy - 1938
• Westland Lysander
• Gloster Gladiator
• Hawker Hurricane 1941-
• Hawker Hurricane IID - Famous "Tankbusting" Variant 1942-1944
• Hawker Hurricane IV - Ground Attack Variant - 1944-1946
• Bristol Blenheim
• Supermarine Spitfire 1946
• Hawker Tempest 1946-1949
• de Havilland Vampire 1949-
• de Havilland Venom
• English Electric Canberra 1957-1969
• F4 Phantom FGR2 - 1969-1974
• SEPECAT Jaguar GR3 - 1974-2007
• Eurofighter Typhoon - 2010–present.

Commanding officers

List of commanding officers

From	To	Name
February 1914	March 1915	Major J H W Becke
March 1915	December 1915	Major G S Shephard
December 1915	September 1916	Major R P Mills, MC, AFC
September 1916	June 1917	Major A S Barratt, MC
June 1917	July 1918	Major A W H James, MC
July 1918	February 1920	Major G C Pirie, MC
February 1920	May 1920	S/Ldr W Sowrey
May 1920	April 1922	S/Ldr E A B Rice
April 1922	January 1924	S/Ldr E R Manning, DSO, MC
January 1924	November 1925	S/Ldr D S K Crosbie, OBE
November 1925	November 1926	S/Ldr D F Stevenson, DSO, MC
November 1926	January 1928	S/Ldr C N Lowe, MC, DFC
January 1928	February 1930	S/Ldr C H Keith
February 1930	February 1931	S/Ldr C R Cox, AFC
February 1934	January 1937	S/Ldr H M Massey, DSO, MC
February 1940	September 1940	S/Ldr W N McKechnie, EGM
September 1940	April 1941	S/Ldr E R Weld
April 1941	February 1942	S/Ldr P Legge
February 1942	January 1943	W/Cdr R C Porteous, DSO
January 1943	May 1943	S/Ldr D Weston-Burt, DSO
May 1943	May 1944	W/Cdr A E Morrison-Bell, DFC
May 1944	August 1944	S/Ldr J H Brown, DSO, DFC
August 1944	November 1944	S/Ldr R H Langdon-Davies, DFC
November 1944	July 1946	S/Ldr R Slade-Betts, DFC
August 1946	December 1946	S/Ldr C E Mould
December 1946	November 1947	S/Ldr C K Gray, DFC
November 1947	July 1950	S/Ldr D Crowley-Milling, DSO, DFC Bar
July 1950	November 1952	S/Ldr P A Kennedy, DSO, DFC, AFC
November 1952	October 1954	S/Ldr E J Roberts
October 1954	November 1956	S/Ldr P C Ellis, DFC
November 1956	July 1957	S/Ldr G P Elliott
May 1969	August 1970	W/Cdr D Harcourt-Smith
August 1970	December 1972	W/Cdr J E Nevill
December 1972	June 1974	W/Cdr B W Lavender
June 1974	Jul 1975	W/Cdr R J Quarterman
Jul 1975	Dec 1977	Wg Cdr N R Hayward
Dec 1977	Mar 1980	Wg Cdr G B Robertson
Mar 1980	Aug 1982	Wg Cdr M N Evans
Aug 1982	Dec 1984	Wg Cdr D W Bramley
Dec 1984	Jun 1987	Wg Cdr N A Buckland
Jun 1987	Dec 1989	Wg Cdr I Reilly
Dec 1989	Feb 1992	Wg Cdr (later Gp Capt) J Connolly, AFC
Feb 1992	Jul 1994	Wg Cdr A D Sweetman
Jul 1994	Dec 1996	Wg Cdr I A Milne
Dec 1996	Jul 1999	Wg Cdr M J Roche
Jul 1999	Jul 2002	Wg Cdr R W Judson
Jul 2002	Jul 2004	Wg Cdr M J Sears, MBE
Jul 2004	Apr 2006	Wg Cdr W A Cruickshank
Apr 2006	May 2007	Wg Cdr J M Sullivan
Sep 2010	Oct 2012	Wg Cdr R Dennis
Oct 2012	Present	Wg Cdr M R Baulkwill

• List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons

References

Bibliography

• Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918-1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
• Jefford, Wing Commander C.G., MBE,BA,RAF (Retd). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury: Airlife Publishing, 2001. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
• Lewis, Peter. Squadron Histories: R.F.C, R.N.A.S and R.A.F., 1912-59. London: Putnam, 1959.
• Moyes, Philip J.R. Bomber Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers) Ltd., 1964 (new edition 1976). ISBN 0-354-01027-1.
• Rawlings, John D.R. Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Jane's Publishing Company Ltd., 1982. ISBN 0-7106-0187-5.
• Rawlings, John D.R. Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers) Ltd., 1969 (new edition 1976, reprinted 1978). ISBN 0-354-01028-X.
• 3556 Supplement to The London Gazzette, 14 August 1942
• Newman, Bertram A. Flying Officer, 6 Squadron, 1944-1945 (Pers. comm).

External links

• 6 Squadron
• RAF 6 Squadron Association
• Air of Authority: A History of RAF organisation