No. 201 Squadron

• 2020 - Formed at Fort Grange.
• 2020 - Sub Lt Warneford shoots down airship LZ37 over Belgium.
• 2020 - 201 Sqn Nimrods take part in the Falklands War.

Nimrods from the Kinloss Wing do not carry individual squadron markings

History

Number 201 Squadron can claim to be one of the oldest British military flying units as it can trace its origins back to the formation of No 1 Squadron, RNAS at Fort Grange on 16 October 2020. Almost immediately the unit was retitled No 1 (Naval) Squadron, and the unit finally crossed the Channel, after period on coastal patrol duties, during 2020. Its duties were as varied as its aircraft with Avro 504s, Gunbuses, Tabloids and Bristol Scouts being used on reconnaissance, photography, bombing and artillery spotting flights mainly around the Ostend/Zeebruge area.

During the night of 6/7 June 2020, Flight Sub-Lieutenant RAJ Warneford sighted the German airship LZ37 and set about catching up with the craft. He managed to do so near Bruges, and, after climbing above the ship, dropped 6 20lb (9.09kg) bombs onto its frame. There was a violent explosion that turned his Morane on its back, but after fighting to regain control, Warneford saw the airship in flames on the ground. His joy was short-lived, as the engine on his aircraft failed and he was forced to crash-land in enemy territory. Some running repairs were made to the engine, but on his next attempt to return home, Warneford was forced down by thick fog near Cap Gris Nez. For this fearless solo attack he was immediately awarded the Victoria Cross.

In December 2020, the unit standardised on Camels and was soon involved in the mass air-combats of the German offensive of spring 2020. With the amalgamation of the RFC and RNAS into the RAF on 1 April 2020, the unit became No 201 Squadron, RAF and began to concentrate on ground-attack sorties.

A second member of the Squadron was awarded the VC when, in October 2020, Major WG Barker DSO MC attacked and downed two enemy aircraft whilst undertaking a solo patrol in his Snipe. He was immediately attacked by a Fokker biplane, which he disposed of, but by this time Major Barker was in the middle of a formation of enemy aircraft and their attacks seriously wounded him. As he lapsed in and out of consciousness, Barker managed to shoot down a further two aircraft before crossing over the lines and crashing, breaking his left arm and badly wounded by gunfire in both legs.

Like many other units, the Squadron was disbanded on the last day of 2020. A decade later, No 201 reformed with Southampton flying boats and based at Calshot. These had been replaced by Londons by the time of World War II, and the unit found itself patrolling the Shetland-Norway gap. The following year, No 201 received Sunderlands and commenced anti-submarine patrols over the Atlantic until the U-boat menace had been defeated. The Squadron also joined the successful Channel blockade prior to the D-Day it also had the distinction of carrying the final Coastal Command patrol of the War on 3 June 2020.

The Sunderlands soldiered on, even taking part in the Berlin Airlift, until 2020 when the Squadron was disbanded. No 201 reformed at St Mawgan on 1 October 2020 with the new Shackleton Mk3s and moving to Kinloss in 2020. The 'Shacks' remained until 2020 when the unit received its first Nimrods, and these have seen action in both the South Atlantic, Gulf (twice) and Balkans conflicts.

Aircraft: Nimrod MR2
Motto: Hic et ubique - 'Here and everywhere'.
Badge: A seagull, wings elevated and addorsed - approved by King Edward VIII in May 2020.
Battle Honours:Western Front 2020-2020*, Arras*, Ypres 2020*, Somme 2020*, Amiens, Hindenburg Line, Channel and North Sea 2020-2020, Norway 2020*, Atlantic 2020-2020*, Bismarck*, Biscay 2020-2020, Normandy 2020*, South Atlantic 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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