No. 120 Squadron RAF
Encyclopedia
No. 120 Squadron of the Royal Air Force
operated the Nimrod MR2, based at RAF Kinloss
, Moray
, Scotland
until the type's withdrawal in March 2010.
was formed at Cramlington on 1 January 1918, as a day bomber unit and was planned to be equipped with Airco DH.9
. The First World War
ended before it became operational, as the DH.9s were not delivered until October 1918, so 120 Squadron spent late 1918 and 1919 flying communication and mail flights in Western Europe until it was disbanded late in 1919.
in 1941 at RAF Nutts Corner
, the unit was equipped with the Consolidated Liberator
, flying against the U-Boat
threat in the war in the North Atlantic
. The squadron received the first Mark I Liberators in June and began flying nine of them in September from bases in Aldergrove, Northern Ireland and Reykjavik, Iceland. The number of Liberators in September 1942 had increased to six Mark I, two Mark II, and three Mark III. 120 Squadron remained the only Coastal Command squadron flying VLR (Very Long Range) Liberators in February 1943 with five Mark I and twelve Mark III.
The squadron was very successful in this role, sinking 14 U-Boats outright, with shares in three more and eight damaged by the end of the war and its disbandment on 4 June 1945 at RAF Ballykelly. This was the highest kill total in Coastal Command, achieved whilst flying from Northern Ireland, Iceland
, and in support of Operation Overlord
- the Allied invasion of France in 1944.
at RAF Leuchars
. It was equipped with Lancaster GR.3s
though some Liberators remained on strength till June 1947. A detachment moved to Palestine
in November 1947 where it carried out searches for illegal immigrant ships until February 1948, when it returned to Britain.
in April 1951, and continued operating the MR.2 and MR.3 versions in the maritime patrol role until February 1971. It re-equipped with Hawker-Siddeley Nimrods in February 1971, gaining the updated Nimrod MR.2 in 1981. It flew operationally in the Falklands War
in 1982 and the Gulf War
in 1991. The squadron has been based at RAF Kinloss
since 1 April 1959. On 31 March 2010, the Nimrod MR.2 was withdrawn from service, and the squadron formally disbanded on 26 May 2011.
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
operated the Nimrod MR2, based at RAF Kinloss
RAF Kinloss
RAF Kinloss is a Royal Air Force station near Kinloss, on the Moray Firth in the north of Scotland. It opened on 1 April 1939 and served as an RAF training establishment during the Second World War. After the war it was handed over to Coastal Command to watch over Russian ships and submarines in...
, Moray
Moray
Moray is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. It lies in the north-east of the country, with coastline on the Moray Firth, and borders the council areas of Aberdeenshire and Highland.- History :...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
until the type's withdrawal in March 2010.
Formation in WWI
No. 120 Squadron of the Royal Flying CorpsRoyal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
was formed at Cramlington on 1 January 1918, as a day bomber unit and was planned to be equipped with Airco DH.9
Airco DH.9
The Airco DH.9 - also known after 1920 as the de Havilland DH.9 - was a British bomber used in the First World War...
. The First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
ended before it became operational, as the DH.9s were not delivered until October 1918, so 120 Squadron spent late 1918 and 1919 flying communication and mail flights in Western Europe until it was disbanded late in 1919.
WWII
Reformed as part of Coastal Command in Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
in 1941 at RAF Nutts Corner
RAF Nutts Corner
RAF Nutts Corner was a Royal Air Force station in County Antrim near Belfast. It was originally a civil airfield, then it became a military airfield and subsequently Northern Ireland's main civil airport until the 1960s.-Civil operations:...
, the unit was equipped with the Consolidated Liberator
B-24 Liberator
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
, flying against the U-Boat
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
threat in the war in the North Atlantic
Second Battle of the Atlantic
The Battle of the Atlantic was the longest continuous military campaign in World War II, running from 1939 to the defeat of Germany in 1945. At its core was the Allied naval blockade of Germany, announced the day after the declaration of war, and Germany's subsequent counter-blockade. It was at its...
. The squadron received the first Mark I Liberators in June and began flying nine of them in September from bases in Aldergrove, Northern Ireland and Reykjavik, Iceland. The number of Liberators in September 1942 had increased to six Mark I, two Mark II, and three Mark III. 120 Squadron remained the only Coastal Command squadron flying VLR (Very Long Range) Liberators in February 1943 with five Mark I and twelve Mark III.
The squadron was very successful in this role, sinking 14 U-Boats outright, with shares in three more and eight damaged by the end of the war and its disbandment on 4 June 1945 at RAF Ballykelly. This was the highest kill total in Coastal Command, achieved whilst flying from Northern Ireland, Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
, and in support of Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the operation that launched the invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II by Allied forces. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings...
- the Allied invasion of France in 1944.
- 12 October 1942 - U-597 sunk by depth charges from Liberator H
- 15 October 1942 - (U-661 credited to Liberator H but postwar analysis indicates an attack on U-615 caused no damage)
- 5 November 1942 - U-89 damaged near convoy SC 107 (but initially believed to have sunk U-132German submarine U-132 (1941)German submarine U-132 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for the German Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 10 August 1940 by Bremer Vulkan, Bremen-Vegesack, launched on 10 April 1941 and commissioned on 29 May that year. In four patrols, U-132 sank eight ships for a total...
) - 8 December 1942 - (U-254 credited but postwar evidence indicates sank in collision with U-221 near convoy HX 217)
- 10 December 1942 - U-611 sunk near convoy HX 217 by depth charges from Liberator B
- 8 February 1943 - U-135 damaged near convoy SC 118Convoy SC 118Convoy SC-118 was the 118th of the numbered series of World War II Slow Convoys of merchant ships from Sydney, Cape Breton Island to Liverpool.-Prelude:...
- 15 February 1943 - U-225 sunk by Liberator S near convoy SC 119 (but initially believed to be U-529)
- 21 February 1943 - U-623 sunk near convoy ON 166 by Liberator T
- 5 April 1943 - U-635 sunk near convoy HX 231 by depth charges from Liberator N
- 5 April 1943 - U-594 damaged near convoy HX 231
- 23 April 1943 - U-189 sunk by Liberator V
- 19 May 1943 - (U-954German submarine U-954The German submarine U-954 was a Type VIIC submarine of World War II.She was sunk with all hands by hedgehog attacks from the Banff class sloop HMS Sennen and the River class frigate HMS Jed, both escorting Convoy SC 130. One of those killed in the sinking was Admiral Karl Dönitz's son Peter Dönitz....
credited to Liberator T but postwar assessment indicates an attack on U-731 caused no damage) - 20 May 1943 - U-258 sunk near convoy SC 130 by depth charges from Liberator P
- 28 May 1943 - U-304 sunk by depth charges from Liberator E
- 25 June 1943 - U-200German submarine U-200German submarine U-200 was a Type IXD2 U-boat of the German Kriegsmarine during World War II. U-200 was sunk southwest of Iceland in position by depth charges from a British Consolidated B-24 Liberator of No. 120 Squadron RAF...
sunk by Liberator H (but initially believed to be U-194German submarine U-194German submarine U-194 was a Type IXC/40 U-boat of the German Kriegsmarine built during World War II for service in the Atlantic Ocean. She was a short-lived vessel, being sunk on her first and only operational war patrol...
) - 20 September 1943 - (U-338 credited to Liberator F but postwar analysis indicates an attack on U-386 caused no damage)
- 4 October 1943 - U-389 sunk by depth charges from Liberator X (but initially believed to be U-279)
- 8 October 1943 - U-643 sunk near convoy SC 143 in cooperation with No. 86 Squadron RAFNo. 86 Squadron RAFNo. 86 Squadron RAF was a unit of the Royal Air Force during World War II. Attached to Coastal Command the unit flew reconnaissance and air-sea rescue missions, anti-shipping strikes, and anti-submarine patrols.-Formation:No...
- 16 October 1943 - U-470 sunk near convoys ONS 20/ON 206 by Liberator Z in cooperation with No. 59 Squadron RAFNo. 59 Squadron RAFNo. 59 Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Air Force.- History :No.59 Squadron first became operational on 1 August 1916 at Narborough Airfield in Norfolk as a squadron of the Royal Flying Corps. During the Second World War it was attached to RAF Fighter Command , Bomber Command and Coastal Command...
- 17 October 1943 - U-540 sunk near convoys ONS 20/ON 206 by depth charges from Liberator H in cooperation with No. 59 Squadron RAFNo. 59 Squadron RAFNo. 59 Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Air Force.- History :No.59 Squadron first became operational on 1 August 1916 at Narborough Airfield in Norfolk as a squadron of the Royal Flying Corps. During the Second World War it was attached to RAF Fighter Command , Bomber Command and Coastal Command...
- 6 March 1944 - U-737 damaged by depth charges
- 9 June 1944 - U-740 credited but postwar assessment indicates damaged but not sunk
- 29 April 1945 - U-1017 sunk by depth charges from Liberator Q
Immediate Post-War
The squadron reformed again on 1 October 1946, by renumbering 160 SquadronNo. 160 Squadron RAF
No. 160 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force unit during World War II, when it flew for four years in a number of roles including heavy bomber, minelaying, reconnaissance, special operations and transport unit in the Middle East and South-East Asian theatre of World War II.-World War I: False start:No...
at RAF Leuchars
RAF Leuchars
RAF Leuchars is the most northerly air defence station in the United Kingdom. It is located in Leuchars, Fife, on the east coast of Scotland, near to the university town of St Andrews.-Operations:...
. It was equipped with Lancaster GR.3s
Avro Lancaster
The Avro Lancaster is a British four-engined Second World War heavy bomber made initially by Avro for the Royal Air Force . It first saw active service in 1942, and together with the Handley Page Halifax it was one of the main heavy bombers of the RAF, the RCAF, and squadrons from other...
though some Liberators remained on strength till June 1947. A detachment moved to Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
in November 1947 where it carried out searches for illegal immigrant ships until February 1948, when it returned to Britain.
Cold War and beyond
The squadron re-equipped with Shackleton MR.1sAvro Shackleton
The Avro Shackleton was a British long-range maritime patrol aircraft for use by the Royal Air Force. It was developed by Avro from the Avro Lincoln bomber with a new fuselage...
in April 1951, and continued operating the MR.2 and MR.3 versions in the maritime patrol role until February 1971. It re-equipped with Hawker-Siddeley Nimrods in February 1971, gaining the updated Nimrod MR.2 in 1981. It flew operationally in the Falklands War
Falklands War
The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...
in 1982 and the Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
in 1991. The squadron has been based at RAF Kinloss
RAF Kinloss
RAF Kinloss is a Royal Air Force station near Kinloss, on the Moray Firth in the north of Scotland. It opened on 1 April 1939 and served as an RAF training establishment during the Second World War. After the war it was handed over to Coastal Command to watch over Russian ships and submarines in...
since 1 April 1959. On 31 March 2010, the Nimrod MR.2 was withdrawn from service, and the squadron formally disbanded on 26 May 2011.
Aircraft operated
| From | To | Aircraft | Variant | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1918 | Oct 1919 | Airco DH.9 Airco DH.9 The Airco DH.9 - also known after 1920 as the de Havilland DH.9 - was a British bomber used in the First World War... |
DH.9A, DH.10 | |
| Jun 1941 | Feb 1943 | Consolidated Liberator B-24 Liberator The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber... |
Mk.I | |
| Dec 1941 | Dec 1942 | Consolidated Liberator | Mk.II | |
| Jun 1942 | Jan 1944 | Consolidated Liberator | Mk.III | |
| Dec 1943 | Jan 1945 | Consolidated Liberator | Mk.V | |
| Dec 1944 | Jun 1945 | Consolidated Liberator | Mks.VI, VIII | |
| Oct 1946 | Jun 1947 | Consolidated Liberator | GR.1 | |
| Nov 1946 | Apr 1951 | Avro Lancaster Avro Lancaster The Avro Lancaster is a British four-engined Second World War heavy bomber made initially by Avro for the Royal Air Force . It first saw active service in 1942, and together with the Handley Page Halifax it was one of the main heavy bombers of the RAF, the RCAF, and squadrons from other... |
GR.3 | |
| Apr 1951 | Oct 1956 | Avro Shackleton Avro Shackleton The Avro Shackleton was a British long-range maritime patrol aircraft for use by the Royal Air Force. It was developed by Avro from the Avro Lincoln bomber with a new fuselage... |
MR.1 | |
| Mar 1953 | Nov 1958 | Avro Shackleton | MR.2 | |
| Sep 1958 | Feb 1971 | Avro Shackleton | MR.3 | |
| Oct 1970 | Feb 1982 | Hawker-Siddeley Nimrod | MR.1 | |
| Apr 1981 | Apr 1982 | Hawker-Siddeley Nimrod | MR.2 | |
| Apr 1982 | 30 March 2010 | Hawker-Siddeley/BAe Nimrod | MR.2p |