Number 56 (R) Squadron is one of the oldest and most successful squadrons in the RAF, with battle honours from many of the significant air campaigns of both world wars. A Squadron is a small unit or formation of cavalry, aircraft (including balloons), or naval vessels. ... RAF is an three letter acronym for: Royal Air Force -- the Air Force of the United Kingdom (see also Air Ministry) Red Army Faction (Rote Armee Fraktion) -- a German terror organisation Rigas Autobusu Fabrika -- a factory making buses in Riga, Latvia Rapid Action Force in India Računarski Fakultet RAF... A world war is a military conflict affecting the majority of the worlds major nations. ...

Squadron History

The squadron was formed in 1916 and in April 1917, equipped with the then brand new SE5 fighter, it was posted to France. By the end of the war the squadron had scored 427 'victories' and been home to famous fighter aces such as Ball, Barlow, Hoidge, Rhys-Davids and McCudden. 40 pilots were killed in action, 20 wounded and 31 taken prisioner. 1916 (MCMXVI) is a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar) // Events January-February January 1 -The first successful blood transfusion using blood that had been stored and cooled. ...

The squadron disbanded and was reformed several times between the wars, a fact that is ironically reflected by the phoenix on the squadron’s arms. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

The squadron entered the Second World War equipped with Hawker Hurricanes which they flew, first during the Battle of France, and then as part of 11 Group, from North Weald throughout the Battle of Britain. At the close of the battle they were posted to Boscombe Down to recuperate. During 1940 the squadron claimed just over a hundred aircraft shot down. Combatants British Royal Air Force and allies Nazi German Luftwaffe Commanders Hugh Dowding Hermann Göring Strength approx 700 fighters (at the beginning) 1,260 bombers; 316 dive-bombers; 1,089 fighters Casualties 1,547 aircraft; Civilian: 27,450 dead, 32,138 wounded 1,887 aircraft A major campaign of...

A year later, in 1941, the squadron had the honour of being the first to receive the new Hawker Typhoons which they used in the fighter/bomber role against targets in Europe. In 1944 the squadron converted to Hawker Tempests giving the squadron’s pilots the top speed needed to be able to shoot down over sixty V1 flying bombs before moving, in September of that year, to a ground support role for the ongoing invasion of Europe. During WW2 the squadron claimed a total of 149 aircraft shot down. The Vergeltungswaffe 1 Fi 103 / FZG-76 (V-1), known as the Flying bomb, Buzz bomb or Doodlebug, was the first modern guided missile used in wartime and the first cruise missile. ...

Since World War Two the squadron has been the RAF’s display team, ‘The Firebirds’ flying English Electric Lightnings, taken part in the 1974 defence of the British bases in Cyprus and been the RAF’s operational conversion unit flying Tornados.

Despite this remarkable history, many people still remember 56 Squadron as the unwitting victims of a friendly fire incident now known as the Battle of Barking Creek. Tragically two pilots of the squadron were shot down and one, Montague Hulton-Harrop, was killed, becoming the first RAF casualty of the war. Friendly fire (or non-hostile fire) is a term originally adopted by the United States military in reference to an attack on friendly forces by other friendly forces, which may be deliberate (eg. ...

Modern Day

The squadron now flies the Tornado F3 and is based at RAF Leuchars, Leuchars, Fife. The squadron's nickname is the Firebirds and was until 2005 the display squadron for the F3. It was announced in December 2005 that the RAF would no longer do a Tornado F3 display as a cost cutting measure. The squadron will continue to be the Operational Conversion Unit (OCU) for the Tornado F3. The Panavia Tornado is a jet engine fighter-bomber and interceptor jointly developed as the Multi-role combat aircraft - or MRCA - by the United Kingdom, Germany and Italy. ... Categories: Military stubs | Fife | Royal Air Force stations ... Leuchars is situated in the north east neuk of Fife, Scotland, six miles (9. ... Fife (Fìobh in Gaelic) is a council area of Scotland, situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with landward boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

External Links

Details about the 56(R) squadron