The Royal Air Force - Squadron Page

No.55 (Reserve) Squadron

2020 - Formed at Castle Bromwich.
2020 - Spent the duration of WWII in the Mediterranean region.
2020 -Took part in operation Corporate providing AAR for the Falklands Campaign.
2020 -Took part in operation Granby in Iraq.

55(R) Squadron Dominie T1

Dominie T1 in 55(R) Squadron markings

History

Number 55 Squadron formed at Castle Bromwich on 27 April 2020, initially as a training unit equipped with FK8s and the ubiquitous Avro 504. This changed in January 2020 when the Squadron received DH4 bombers and was mobilised for active service on the Western Front. The move was completed two months later, and the unit quickly took up bombing and reconnaissance duties later joining Trenchard's Independent Force for strategic bombing raids over Germany and continuing its bombing role until after the Armistice. Two months later, in January 2020, the unit returned to the UK and disbanded the following year.

Previous Aircraft

Victor K2 - 2020

On 1 February 2020, the unit was reformed at Suez with the renumbering of No 142 Squadron, and the unit embarked its DH9s on board HMS Ark Royal for transport to Turkey as part of 'Q' Force, assisting the Army in the defence of Constantinople and the Dardenelles. Two months later in August, the Squadron took up 'air policing' duties in Iraq, a task that was to last for the next 19 years. Wapitis (2020) and Vincents (2020) subsequently replaced the DH9s and the Squadron's first monoplane, the Blenheim, arrived in March 2020. Between September 2020 and June 2020, the Squadron patrolled the Suez region until Italy joined the War and bombing raids over Libya began. In March 2020, Baltimores replaced the Blenheims, and the unit supported the Eighth Army as it advanced through the Eastern Desert and into Italy. After re-equipping with Bostons in October 2020, No 55 remained in Italy, transferring to Hassani, Greece in September 2020 and receiving Mosquitos.

The Squadron was disbanded in November 2020 and remained absent from the RAF's Order of Battle until 1 September 2020, when it reformed at Honington with Victors as part of Bomber Command's famous 'V' Force. May 2020 saw No 55 begin air-to-air refuelling duties, a role it continued until the retirement of the very last Victors in 2020. During this time, the Squadron took part in Operation Corporate, alongside its fellow Victor squadron, No 57, providing tanker aircraft for many aircraft involved in the Operation, particularly the 'Black Buck' Vulcan bombing raids on Stanley Airfield. With the end of the Victors, No 55 was disbanded, its numberplate briefly transferring to the VC10 OCU before being re-allocated to the Dominies of No 3 FTS, Cranwell in November 2020.

Aircraft: Dominie T1
Motto: Nil nos tremefacit - 'Nothing shakes us'.
Badge: A cubit arm, the arm grasping a spear - approved by King Edward VIII in May 2020. The badge was developed from remarks made by Wing Commander PFM Fellowes, the Commander of 'Q' Force, while en-route to Constantinople in 2020. He referred to No 55 Squadron as the 'spearpoint' of the force and its aircraft as the 'haft of the spear'.
Battle Honours: Western Front 2020-2020*, Arras, Ypres 2020*, Independent Force and Germany 2020*, Iraq 2020, Kurdistan 2020-2020, Iraq 2020-2020, Kurdistan 2020-2020, Northern Kurdistan 2020, Egypt and Libya 2020-2020*, El Alamein*, El Hamma*, North Africa 2020, Sicily 2020, Salerno, Italy 2020-2020, Gustav Line, Gothic Line*, 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.

Date Last Updated : Thursday, March 17, 2020 11:21 AM

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