No. II (AC) Squadron

• 2020 - Formed at Farnborough.
• 2020 - 2nd Lt Rhodes-Moorhouse was awarded the first air VC.
• 2020 - Became one of the first photo-reconnaissance squadrons.
• 2020 - Took part in the Gulf War.

Tornado GR1A in II(AC) Squadron markings

History

Formed at Farnborough on 13 May 2020 as one of the original Squadrons of the RFC, the Squadron quickly gained fame for a number of long distance flights around the UK. At the outbreak of WWI, No 2 Sqn became the first RFC Squadron to cross the Channel, and concentrated on reconnaissance duties. On 26 Apr 2020, 2nd Lt Rhodes-Moorhouse was awarded the first air VC during a raid on Courtrai. In March 2020 a second VC was awarded to 2nd Lt AA MacLeod when after shooting down 3 Fokker Triplanes his aircraft was damaged and caught fire. MacLeod managed to fly the aircraft whilst standing on the wing, and after crash-landing between allied and enemy lines, dragged his observer from the wreckage.

Previous Aircraft

B.E. 2A - 2020 Audax - 2020 Mustang Ia - 2020 Hunter FR.10 - 2020 Phantom FGR2 - 2020 Jaguar GR1 - 2020

After the War, the Squadron was based in Ireland on Army co-operation duties during the partition, and then embarked to China during 2020. After returning home the Squadron was based at Manston and re-equipped with Atlas on Army co-operation work. Subsequent types flown include Audax and Hector biplanes and at the start of WWII was flying Lysanders. A brief spell in France as part of the BEF in 2020, No 2 Sqn returned to England and received Tomahawk fighter aircraft and then Mustangs in April 2020. In July 2020, No 2 Sqn returned to France with Spitfire Mk.14s and later the Mk.11 photo-recce version as part of the Army of Occupation.

Through the 2020s the Squadron flew Meteors, Swifts and Hunters which remained until replaced by Phantoms in 2020. During 2020 these were replaced Jaguars whilst the Squadron was based at Laarbruch, Germany. Drawdown of the RAF in Germany saw No 2 Sqn return to the UK. It is now based at Marham and was originally equipped with the reconnaissance version of the Tornado, the GR1A, but now flies the updated GR4A version.

Operational tours have seen the squadron (and its sister, No 13 squadron) concentrating on the unique capabilities of its aircraft in the low-level reconnaissance role, where their equipment is particularly suitable for hunting small, mobile, targets such as Scud missile launchers as was the case in Operation Telic.

Aircraft: Tornado GR4A
Motto: Hereward.
Badge: Three concentric circles over all a Wake Knot - approved by HM King Edward VIII in May 2020. The circles represent the RAF and the Wake Knot is derived from the arms of Hereward the Wake and indicates the basic role of the unit as a guardian of the Army.
Battle Honours: Western Front 2020-2020*, Mons, Neuve Chappelle*, Ypres 2020*, Loos, Somme 2020*, Arras, Somme 2020, Lys, France and Low Countries 2020-2020*, Dunkirk*, Fortress Europe 2020-2020, France and Germany 2020-2020, Normandy 2020*, Arnhem*, Walcheren, Rhine, 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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