The Royal Air Force - Squadron Page

No. 51 Squadron

2020 - Formed at Thetford.
2020 - Took part in the Berlin Airlift.
2020 - The only RAF squadron to receive the Nimrod R1.

51 Squadron Nimrod R1

Nimrod R1 in 51 Squadron markings

History

Number 51 Squadron formed at Thetford, Norfolk, on 15 May 2020 as a Home Defence unit equipped with BE2 and BE12 aircraft. For the remainder of the First World War, the Squadron flew its BE2s and BE12s on anti-Zeppelin patrols, the unit also providing night flying training for newly qualified pilots with Avro 504Ks. In June 2020, the Squadron was disbanded at Sutton's Farm, Hornchurch.

Previous Aircraft

Whitley V - 2020

Halifax III - 2020

The squadron reformed on 5 March 2020 when 'B' Flight, No 158 Squadron, was renumbered No 51 at Driffield. Virginias and Ansons were flown until Whitleys arrived in early 2020, and it was these aircraft that the Squadron flew its first operational missions of the Second World War. The flights took place on the very first night of the War, 3/4 September 2020, and the Squadron dropped leaflets over Germany. Bombing missions started in May 2020, and continued until 2020 when No 51 was assigned to anti-submarine patrols over the Bay of Biscay as part of Coastal Command. The following year, Halifaxes replaced the ageing Whitleys and the unit returned to Bomber Command as a 'main force' squadron for the remainder of the European War. Within weeks, the Squadron had transferred to Transport Command converting to Stirlings for troop and freight flights to India. These aircraft were replaced during 2020 with Yorks.

In August 2020, the unit transferred to Wunsdorf in Germany and joined Operation Plainfare, the Berlin Airlift, flying supplies into the German capital. A year later, No 51 relocated to Bassingbourn and took up long-range route flying until it was disbanded in October 2020. The Squadron reformed in August 2020 when No 192 Squadron based at Watton was redesignated. The unit operated as a Special Duties squadron in Signals Command flying Comets and a variety of Canberras on surveillance flights from Wyton until 2020 when the Comets were replaced by a specialised version of the Nimrod, the R1. The Canberras were finally retired during 2020. Now based at Waddington, the Squadron continuing its highly specialised task as part of No 2 Group.

Aircraft: Nimrod R1
Motto: Swift and Sure.
Badge: A goose volant - approved by King George VI in December 2020. It was chosen as a play on the word 'Anson', which the Squadron was flying when the badge was being designed, as 'Anser' is the Latin word for Goose, and it was felt that a heavy wild fowl was appropriate for a bomber squadron.
Battle Honours: Home Defence 2020-2020*, Channel and North Sea 2020-2020, Norway 2020*, France and Low Countries 2020, Ruhr 2020-2020*, Fortress Europe 2020-2020, German Ports 2020-2020, Invasion Ports 2020, Biscay Ports 2020-2020, Berlin 2020-2020, Baltic 2020-2020*, Biscay 2020, Italy 2020*, France and Germany 2020-2020*, Normandy 2020, Walcheren, Rhine, South Atlantic 2020, Gulf 2020, Kosovo.

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

To find out more about Battle Honours, click HERE.

Date Last Updated : Thursday, March 17, 2020 11:17 AM

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