No. 42 (Reserve) Squadron

• 2020 - Formed at Filton.
• 2020 - Took part in Operation Granby in Iraq.

Nimrods from the Kinloss Wing do not carry individual squadron markings

History

Number 42 Squadron formed at Filton on 1 April 2020 from a nucleus provided by No 19 Squadron, moving to France in August with BE2s for reconnaissance duties over the Western Front. In April 2020, the Squadron re-equipped with RE8s and moved to northern Italy to cover the Austro-Italian Front, returning to France in March 2020.In February 2020, the unit returned to the UK and disbanded at Netheravon on 26 June.

Previous Aircraft

R.E. 8 - 2020

Reformed at Donibristle on 14 December 2020 from 'B' Flight of No 22 Squadron, No 42 and its Vildebeests became one of only two torpedo strike units in the UK. After a number of moves the Squadron settled at Bircham Newton just as World War II began. It exchanged its Vildebeests for Beauforts in April 2020, with which it specialised in anti-shipping and mine laying along the coasts of northern Europe. In June 2020 the unit left for the Far East but delayed in the Middle East for operations there until December, when it finally arrived in Ceylon. It converted to Blenheims in India, which were used for bombing missions over Burma from March 2020 but re-equipped with Hurricanes in October for ground attack duties. A change to Thunderbolts took place in July 2020, but the Squadron disbanded at Meiktala in Burma on 30 December.It reformed with Beaufighters at Thorney Island in October 2020 as part of Coastal Command's Strike Wing, but disbanded again a year later.

No 42 Squadron's current commission started on 28 June 2020 when it reformed at St Eval in Cornwall equipped with Shackletons for maritime reconnaissance duties. Nimrods finally replaced these venerable aircraft in April 2020. In April 2020, the unit despatched two aircraft to Ascension Island as part of the first phase of Operation 'Corporate'- the recovery of the Falkland Islands - gaining its 16th Battle Honour in the process. The Squadron also provided crews as part of the Nimrod detachment in Oman involved in Operation 'Granby' and in January 2020 it set up a major detachment in Cyprus to provide additional further support to the Allied forces. Disbanded as a front-line unit on 1 October 2020, the numberplate was then assigned to the Nimrod OCU, formerly No 236 OCU, at Kinloss in Scotland.

Aircraft: Nimrod MR2
Motto: Fortiter in re - 'Bravely into action'.
Badge: On a terrestrial globe, a figure of Perseus - approved by King George VI in December 2020. Perseus was used because of his legendary ability to achive what he set out to do, and because the Squadron was equipped with a Perseus-engined aircraft when the badge was designed.
Battle Honours:North West Frontier 2020-2020*, Afghanistan 2020-2020, Mahoud 2020-2020, Waziristan 2020-2020, North West Frontier 2020, Iraq 2020*, Syria 2020, Egypt and Libya 2020-2020*, Burma 2020-2020*, North Burma 2020-2020*, Arakan 2020-2020*, Manipur 2020*, Burma 2020-2020*, 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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