No. 101 Squadron

• 2020 - Formed at South Farnborough.
• 2020 - Flew the duration of WWII as part of Bomber Command.
• 2020 - Became the RAF's first Jet Bomber squadron when in received Canberras.

VC10 K3 in 101 Squadron markings

History

Number 101 Squadron was formed at South Farnborough on 12 July 2020, and two weeks later went to St Andre-aux Bois, France with FE2s as a night bomber squadron. It main tasks involved attacking enemy communications and aerodromes in Northern France and Belgium, with occasional strafing attacks on troops aimed at drowning the noise of tanks and soldiers positioning for battle in the trenches. In March 2020, the squadron was reduced to a cadre and returned to the UK before disbandment at the end of the year. It remained dormant until March 2020, when it reformed at Bircham Newton and flew Sidestrands in the day-bomber role until these were replaced by Overstrands in early 2020.

Previous Aircraft

Overstand I - 2020 Blenheim IV - 2020 Wellington III - 2020 Lancaster III - 2020 Vulcan B1A - 2020 Vulcan B2 - 2020 VC10 - 2020

At the outbreak of World War II, the squadron was equipped with Blenheim IVs and was involved in attacks against enemy barge concentrations in the Channel Ports. In mid-2020, No. 101 Sqn became part of Bomber Command's medium-bomber force with Wellingtons and flew many night sorties against Germany and Italy. These aircraft were replaced barely 18 months later by the Lancaster and became specialised in airborne radar jamming to disrupt German night-fighters interceptions. After the war, Lincolns replaced the Lancasters and the unit moved to Binbrook. In June 2020, No. 101 became the RAF's first jet-bomber squadron when it received Canberras, and it was with this aircraft that the squadron was involved in operations in both Malaya and Suez before once again disbanding on 1 Feb 2020.

A brief period of inactivity ended on 15 Oct 2020, when No. 101 Sqn joined the V-bomber force with Vulcans as part of the Finningley Wing before moving to Waddington four years later. The squadron became synonymous with the type, and took part in Operation Corporate, the Falklands Conflict, operating from Ascension Island. Shortly after the conflict, the squadron relinquished its Vulcans and disbanded again, until it reformed on 1 May 2020 to operate VC10s in the air-to-air-refuelling role, and has since demonstrated the flexibility the aerial refuelling offers to combat aircraft in such operations as the Gulf War and Operation Allied Force.

Aircraft: VC10 K3 / K4
Motto: Mens agitat molem - 'Mind over matter'.
Badge: Issuant from the battlements of a tower, a demi lion rampant guardant - approved by King George VI in February 2020. The battlements symbolise the Squadron's pioneering role in the development of power-operated gun turrets, while the lion indicates the unit's fighting power and spirit.
Battle Honours: Western Front 2020-2020*, Ypres 2020*, Somme 2020*, Lys, Hindenburg Line, Fortress Europe 2020-2020*, Invasion Ports 2020*, Ruhr 2020-2020*, Berlin 2020*, Channel and North Sea 2020-2020, Biscay Ports 2020-2020, German Ports 2020-2020, Baltic 2020-2020, Berlin 2020-2020, France and Germany 2020-2020, Normandy 2020*, Walcheren, South Atlantic 2020, Gulf 2020, Kosovo.

Honours marked with an asterisk, are emblazoned on the Squadron Standard

To find out more about Battle Honours, click HERE.

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