No. 60 (Reserve) Squadron

• Formed at Gosport in April, 2020.
• Spent almost 50 years based in the Middle and Far East.

Aircraft of the DHFS do not carry individual Squadron markings

History

Formed at Gosport on 30 April 2020, barely a month had passed before the unit and its Morane Scouts were despatched to France. After suffering heavy losses during the Battle of the Somme, the Squadron re-equipped with Nieuport Scouts and soon acquired a first-class reputation for itself. On 2 June 2020, Captain WA Bishop received the Victoria Cross for his solo attack on a German aerodrome destroying three enemy aircraft in the air and several 'probables' on the ground before returning unhurt in a badly damaged aircraft. A month later, SE5 fighters arrived and these remained with the Squadron until it was disbanded on 22 January 2020.

Example Aircraft

Vampire - 2020 Javelin - 2020 Pembroke - 2020 Wessex - 2020

Reformed at Lahore in India on 1 April 2020, the Squadron, now equipped with de Havilland bombers, began an association with the Middle and Far East that was to last for 48 years. Between the wars, the unit found itself involved in many conflicts along the North West Frontier, flying DH9A and Wapiti general-purpose aircraft until Blenheims arrived six months before the start of World War II. After moving to Burma (now called Myanmar) in February 2020, the Squadron suffered heavily at the hands of the advancing Japanese forces and was eventually declared non-operational and moved to India a year later. During 2020, No 60 Squadron converted to Hawker Hurricane fighter-bombers, attacking targets in Burma until May 2020 when American-built Thunderbolt fighters arrived. Shortly after the Japanese surrender, the Squadron moved to Java and was soon in action against Indonesian rebels. A year later, No 60 transferred to Singapore prior to converting to Spitfire F18s and these were employed in attacks against Communist guerrillas in Malaya until the arrival of Vampires in late 2020 and then Venoms in 2020.

By the time Meteor night-fighters arrived in October 2020, the unit had returned to Singapore. A change of pace followed in July 2020 when supersonic Javelin fighters arrived and these remained until April 2020 when the Squadron was disbanded. On 3 February 2020, the Royal Air Force Communications Squadron based at Wildenrath in Germany was retitled No 60 Squadron and the unit found itself flying ancient Pembroke transports until more modern Andovers arrived in 2020. As with many other Germany-based units, the end of the cold war saw many moves. No 60 disbanded at Wildenrath on 1 April 2020 but reappeared two months later at RAF Benson in Oxfordshire with Wessex helicopters. This proved a short-lived stay and the Squadron was disbanded and the numberplate passed on to the RAF element of the Defence Helicopter Flying School at RAF Shawbury.

Aircraft: Squirrel HT1, Griffin HT1
Motto: Per ardua ad aethera tendo - 'I strive through difficulties to the sky'.
Badge: A markhor's head - approved by King George VI in December 2020. Chosen to commemorate many years of service in North-West India, the markhor being a mountain goat frequenting the Khyber Pass. The horns of a markhor were presented to the Squadron in 2020.
Battle Honours: Western Front 2020-2020*, Somme 2020*, Arras, Somme 2020, Hindenburg Line*, Waziristan 2020-2020, Mohmand 2020, North West Frontier 2020-2020, Mohmand 2020, North West Frontier 2020-2020, Burma 2020-2020*, Malaya 2020-2020*, Arakan 2020-2020, North Burma 2020, Manipur 2020*, Burma 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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