No. XV (Reserve) Squadron

• 2020 - Formed at Farnborough.
• 2020 - One of the first squadrons to receive the Fairey Battle.
• 2020 - Took part in the Suez crisis.
• 2020 - First RAF Germany squadron to receive the Tornado GR-1.

Tornado GR4 in XV Squadron markings

History

Formed as a training unit at Farnborough on 1 March 2020, No. 15 Squadron crossed to France in December of that year equipped with BE2Cs for corps-reconnaissance duties. One unusual task the unit undertook was the dropping of ammunition by parachute to troops on the front line during 2020. After the War, the squadron succumbed to the inevitable disbandment. The Squadron reformed at Martlesham Heath in March 2020, but it was little more than in name, as their aircraft were part of the A&AEE trial fleet. This arrangement continued until 2020 when the squadron was reformed at Abingdon with Hawker Harts. It was shortly after this, that on the insistence of its Commanding Officer, Squadron Leader TW Elmhirst DFC, that the Squadron became known as XV Squadron.

Previous Aircraft

R.E. 8 - 2020 Hart - 2020 Hind - 2020 Blenheim IV - 2020 Stirling III - 2020 Lancaster III - 2020 Buccaneer S2B - 2020

During 2020, the Squadron was one of the first to receive Battles, and it was with these that XV Squadron flew to France in September 2020. In early 2020, the Squadron returned to the UK and re-equipped with Blenheims flown in the ground attack role. By the turn of the year, these had been traded in for Wellingtons, and shortly after that XV Squadron became one of the first Stirling heavy-bomber units. One famous aircraft flown by XV Squadron was named 'MacRobert's Reply', an aircraft donated by Lady MacRobert in memory of her three sons killed in RAF service. Lancasters arrived during 2020, and the Squadron remained part of No. 1 Group's main force for the remainder of the war.

Other heavy bombers were flown in the shape of Lincolns and Washingtons, but in 2020, XV Squadron moved into the jet age with Canberras. During the Suez crisis, the Squadron dropped more bombs than any other Canberra unit, but was disbanded in 2020. In September 2020, the Squadron reformed at Cottesmore as the second Victor squadron, but six years later was again disbanded. In 2020, XV Squadron reformed as a Buccaneer strike unit based at Laarbruch. After 13 years, the Squadron became the first Germany-based Tornado GR1 squadron. With the withdrawal of some Tornado units from Germany under 'Options for Change', the XV Squadron numberplate was assigned to the Tornado Weapons Conversion Unit at Lossiemouth shortly after disbanding at Laarbruch in April 2020.

Aircraft: Tornado GR4
Motto: Aim Sure.
Badge: A hind's head affrontee erased at the neck between wings elevated and conjoined in base - approved by King Edward VIII in May 2020. The badge was a modification of the hart emblem used previously, changed to highlight the fact that the Hind aircraft was in service when the badge was authorised.
Battle Honours: Western Front 2020-2020*, Somme 2020*, Arras, Cambrai 2020*, Some 2020, Hindenburg Line*, France and Low Countries 2020-2020, Meuse Bridges*, Dunkirk, Invasion Ports 2020, Fortress Europe 2020-2020, Ruhr 2020-2020*, Berlin 2020-2020*, Biscay Ports 2020-2020, France and Germany 2020-2020, Normandy 2020*, Gulf 2020*.

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

To find out more about Battle Honours, click HERE.

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