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No. 16 Squadron RAF
53°01′39″N 0°28′40″W / 53.02743°N 0.47773°W
Number 16 Squadron, nicknamed 'the Saints', is a flying squadron of the Royal Air Force (RAF) which provides elementary flying training and operates the Grob Tutor T1. It is based at RAF Wittering, Cambridgeshire, England.
The squadron formed as a part of Royal Flying Corps in 1915, at Saint-Omer, France, to carry out a mixture of offensive patrolling and reconnaissance, and was disbanded in 1919, shortly after the end of the First World War. The squadron reformed as part of the RAF in 1924, and again took on a reconnaissance role which it continued throughout the Second World War. Post-war, the squadron was disbanded and reformed several times, operating predominately in the bomber role. Equipped with the Tornado GR1 from 1984, the squadron took part in the Gulf War in the early 1990s. It was reformed in November 1991 as the operational conversion unit for the SEPECAT Jaguar, until the Jaguar's imminent withdrawal from service in 2005. No. 16 Squadron reformed again and took on its current role in 2008.
The squadron was formed at Saint-Omer, France on 10 February 1915, from elements of No. 2 Squadron, No. 6 Squadron, and No. 9 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps. It immediately began fighting in the First World War, led by Hugh Dowding who later commanded RAF Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain. It was based at the aerodrome at the Beaupré-sur-la-Lys Abbey in La Gorgue. For the rest of the Great War, the squadron was deployed throughout Northern France and operated a mixture of aircraft on offensive patrol and tactical reconnaissance duties, including the Bleriot XI, the Martinsyde S.1 and the Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2c. The squadron disbanded on New Year's Eve 1919.
In September 1915, flying-ace Duncan Grinnell-Milne joined the squadron as a junior pilot, and later (1933) published an account of his time in the squadron. His portrait of Dowding (who when the book was originally published had not then attained his later fame) is unflattering.
The squadron was reformed at Old Sarum in Wiltshire in the tactical reconnaissance role on 1 April 1924. Initially, it operated the Bristol F.2 Fighter, but this was replaced by the Armstrong Whithworth Atlas in January 1931, and by the Hawker Audax in December 1933.
In May 1938, the squadron re-equipped with the Westland Lysander, and it continued in its tactical role in wartime France from April 1940. In May 1940, it returned to England and conducted roving sea patrols searching for both downed aircrew and enemy forces.
From April 1942, No. 16 Squadron re-equipped with the Allison-engined North American Mustang I. It carried out fighter sweeps and reconnaissance duties over France from its base at RAF Weston Zoyland in Somerset. The Supermarine Spitfire Mk.V took over this role from September 1943. On 2 June 1943, the squadron became part of the Strategic Reconnaissance Wing of the 2nd Tactical Air Force as a high-altitude photo reconnaissance unit, equipped with the Spitfire PR Mk.IX based at Hartford Bridge. In the build-up to D Day, the squadron supplied photographs instrumental to the planning of the Allied landings.
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No. 16 Squadron RAF AI simulator
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No. 16 Squadron RAF
53°01′39″N 0°28′40″W / 53.02743°N 0.47773°W
Number 16 Squadron, nicknamed 'the Saints', is a flying squadron of the Royal Air Force (RAF) which provides elementary flying training and operates the Grob Tutor T1. It is based at RAF Wittering, Cambridgeshire, England.
The squadron formed as a part of Royal Flying Corps in 1915, at Saint-Omer, France, to carry out a mixture of offensive patrolling and reconnaissance, and was disbanded in 1919, shortly after the end of the First World War. The squadron reformed as part of the RAF in 1924, and again took on a reconnaissance role which it continued throughout the Second World War. Post-war, the squadron was disbanded and reformed several times, operating predominately in the bomber role. Equipped with the Tornado GR1 from 1984, the squadron took part in the Gulf War in the early 1990s. It was reformed in November 1991 as the operational conversion unit for the SEPECAT Jaguar, until the Jaguar's imminent withdrawal from service in 2005. No. 16 Squadron reformed again and took on its current role in 2008.
The squadron was formed at Saint-Omer, France on 10 February 1915, from elements of No. 2 Squadron, No. 6 Squadron, and No. 9 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps. It immediately began fighting in the First World War, led by Hugh Dowding who later commanded RAF Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain. It was based at the aerodrome at the Beaupré-sur-la-Lys Abbey in La Gorgue. For the rest of the Great War, the squadron was deployed throughout Northern France and operated a mixture of aircraft on offensive patrol and tactical reconnaissance duties, including the Bleriot XI, the Martinsyde S.1 and the Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2c. The squadron disbanded on New Year's Eve 1919.
In September 1915, flying-ace Duncan Grinnell-Milne joined the squadron as a junior pilot, and later (1933) published an account of his time in the squadron. His portrait of Dowding (who when the book was originally published had not then attained his later fame) is unflattering.
The squadron was reformed at Old Sarum in Wiltshire in the tactical reconnaissance role on 1 April 1924. Initially, it operated the Bristol F.2 Fighter, but this was replaced by the Armstrong Whithworth Atlas in January 1931, and by the Hawker Audax in December 1933.
In May 1938, the squadron re-equipped with the Westland Lysander, and it continued in its tactical role in wartime France from April 1940. In May 1940, it returned to England and conducted roving sea patrols searching for both downed aircrew and enemy forces.
From April 1942, No. 16 Squadron re-equipped with the Allison-engined North American Mustang I. It carried out fighter sweeps and reconnaissance duties over France from its base at RAF Weston Zoyland in Somerset. The Supermarine Spitfire Mk.V took over this role from September 1943. On 2 June 1943, the squadron became part of the Strategic Reconnaissance Wing of the 2nd Tactical Air Force as a high-altitude photo reconnaissance unit, equipped with the Spitfire PR Mk.IX based at Hartford Bridge. In the build-up to D Day, the squadron supplied photographs instrumental to the planning of the Allied landings.