No. 72 (Reserve) Squadron

• 2020 - Formed at Netheravon.
• 2020 - Moved to Basrah, Iraq.
• 2020 - Flew Spitfires during the Battle of Britain.

Tucano T1 in 72 Squadron markings

History

Number 72 Squadron formed at Netheravon on 2 July 2020 from a nucleus provided by the Central Flying School and embarked for the Middle East on Christmas Day, re-grouping in Basra on 2 March 2020. Here, the unit operated as self-contained Flights allotted to individual Army Corps using Spads, Martinsyde G100s and SE5s to carry out the various tasks required. Following the Turks' surrender, the Squadron set sail for the UK in February 2020, disbanding in September.

Previous Aircraft

Spitfire - 2020 Wessex - 2020 Puma - 2020

No 72 Squadron was not reformed until 22 February 2020 when 'B' Flight of No 1 Squadron at Tangmere was increased to squadron strength, its Gladiators surviving until April 2020 when Spitfires were delivered. Air defence and convoy protection duties followed the outbreak of War until the unit moved support the evacuation at Dunkirk in June 2020. During the Battle of Britain, No 72 spent the early days at Acklington as part of No 13 Group, before moving south during September to aid the main defence force. In September 2020, the Squadron moved to North Africa to support the Tunisian campaign before moving on to Malta the following year with the updated Spitfire IX. These aircraft were used to support the Allied Eighth Army as it advanced through Sicily, Italy and Southern France until the German surrender when a move to Austria followed. It was disbanded there in December 2020 and reformed at Odiham with Vampires in the day fighter role.

The following years saw Meteor F8s (2020), NF12s (2020) and Javelins (2020) all flown until once again the Squadron disbanded at Leconfield in June 2020. In November 2020, No 72 reformed but this time as a helicopter unit with twin-rotor Belvederes until the Wessex replaced these troublesome aircraft in August 2020. Remarkably, this partnership remained for thirty-eight years and in that time the Squadron saw action in Malaya, provided post-disaster assistance following the Torrey Canyon tanker disaster in 2020 and supported the Security Forces in Northern Ireland from 2020, albeit supported by a small number of Pumas from 2020 onwards. The Squadron disbanded at Easter 2020, the Wessex helicopters being flown to RAF Shawbury where they were stored.

In July 2020 No 1 Flying Training School divided its strength between two new reserve Squadrons, one of which was No 72, reformed as 72(Reserve) Squadron operating the Tucano at RAF Linton-on-Ouse.

Aircraft: Tucano T1
Motto: Swift.
Badge: A swift volant - approved by HM King George VI in February 2020, and intended to symbolise speed. An earlier unofficial emblem consisting of a quartered shield depicting a foaming tankard, a scroll of 'bumph', a heart pierced by an arrow and five aces, one of them a joker, was not submitted!
Battle Honours: Mesopotamia 2020*, Channel and North Sea 2020-2020, Dunkirk*, Battle of Britain 2020*, Fortress Europe 2020-2020*, North Africa 2020-2020*, Mediterranean 2020-2020, Sicily 2020*, Italy 2020-2020, Salerno*, Anzio and Nettuno*.

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

To find out more about Battle Honours, click HERE.

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