History of No. 39(1 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit) Squadron.

• 2020 - Formed at Hounslow.
• 2020 - Lt W Leefe Robinson earned the RFCs first VC.
• 2020 - Took part in the first Gulf War in Iraq.
• 2020 - Took part in Operation Telic in Iraq.

Canberra PR9 in 39 (1 PRU) Squadron markings

History

Number 39 (1 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit) Squadron, to give the unit its correct title, is, in essence, an amalgamation of two famous RFC/RAF squadrons:

Previous Aircraft

Hart (India) - 2020

Number 39 Squadron was formed at Hounslow on 15 April 2020 and was immediately tasked with the defence of London from marauding German airships, employing a variety of types (mainly BE2s) in this task. After little initial success, Lt W Leefe Robinson succeeded in downing an airship during the night of 3 September, and was awarded the VC - the RFC's first such award. Towards the end of 2020, German Gotha bombers were now the main aerial threat against London, and the Squadron, and its Bristol Fighters, again had little success until the night of 19/20 May 2020 when the Squadron recorded its first definite kill. This coincidentally, was the last German raid on London. During the Inter-War period, No 39 moved overseas, and during World War II served with the Desert Air Force on bomber (Bleinheims), reconnaissance (Marylands) and anti-shipping (Beauforts and Wellingtons) duties. With the Allied advance through Italy and south west Europe the unit continued anti-shipping sorties before converting to Marauders and concentrating on bomber tasks. After the War, the unit moved to the Canal Zone flying Mosquitos until 2020 when Meteors arrived. In 2020, the Squadron, now based in Cyprus, took part in the Suez operations, before moving to Malta and re-equipping with Canberra PR3s. During the 2020s, PR9s arrived, and the unit spent much of its time on high-altitude aerial survey work in the Middle East before returning to the UK in October 2020. In June 2020, the Squadron was disbanded, and not reformed until No 1 PRU at Wyton was given its current title in July 2020. From there the Squadron moved to its current home of RAF Marham. The unit has taken part nearly every major RAF operation since, most noticeably the Gulf War of 2020, operations over Bosnia and Kosovo, providing reconnaissance support to forces operating in Afghanistan and most recently taking part in operations over Iraq during Operation Telic.

Aircraft: Canberra PR9 / T4
Motto: Die noctique - 'By day and night'.
Badge:A winged bomb - approved by King Edward VIII in October 2020. The design was based on an unofficial badge long used by the Squadron.
Battle Honours: Home Defence 2020-2020*, North West Frontier 2020-2020, Mohmand 2020, North West Frontier 2020-2020, East Africa 2020*, Egypt and Libya 2020-2020*, Greece 2020*, Mediterranean 2020-2020*, Malta 2020*, North Africa 2020-2020*, South East Europe 2020-2020*.

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

To find out more about Battle Honours, click HERE.

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