No. 94 Squadron RAF
Encyclopedia
No. 94 Squadron RAF was a unit of the Royal Air Force
that served during World War I
& World War II
. The squadron has been formed a total of four times.
The squadron was formed at RAF Harling Road on 1 August 1917, as a training unit for the Sopwith Camel
. Mobilised in May 1918, the Squadron moved to France
at the end of October with S.E.5A's
but due to the end of the war being imminent, the squadron returned to the UK, without seeing any action, in February 1919 disbanding on 30 June 1919.
On 26 March 1939, the squadron was reformed at RAF Khormaksar
, Aden
as a fighter squadron for the defence of Aden. During April 1941, the squadron handed over operations to the South African Air Force
together with its Gladiator
s. Moving to Egypt
the squadron was re-equipped with Hurricane
s in May.
As part of the Western Desert campaign
and undertaking day and night defensive patrols, the squadron began ground attack missions in November. The squadron coverted to Kittyhawks in February 1942 as part of its change to fighter patrols over the desert until May when it was withdrawn from the front line to receive Hurricanes for defensive duties. In February 1944, the squadron converted to Spitfire
s which were used on sweeps over Crete
and in September the squadron moved to Greece
. In December 1944 it provided air support for the Army during its clashes in Athens with the Communist-controlled EAM-ELAS guerrilla and was disbanded on 20 April 1945.
On 15 December 1950, the squadron was reformed at RAF Celle
in Germany
as a Vampire
fighter-bomber squadron. The squadron was re-equipped with Venoms
in January 1954 and was disbanded on 15 September 1957. The squadron was reformed again at RAF Misson
, near RAF Finningley
on 1 October 1960 as a Bloodhound air defence missile unit which disbanded on 30 June 1963.
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...
that served during World War I
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...
& World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The squadron has been formed a total of four times.
The squadron was formed at RAF Harling Road on 1 August 1917, as a training unit for the Sopwith Camel
Sopwith Camel
The Sopwith Camel was a British First World War single-seat biplane fighter introduced on the Western Front in 1917. Manufactured by Sopwith Aviation Company, it had a short-coupled fuselage, heavy, powerful rotary engine, and concentrated fire from twin synchronized machine guns. Though difficult...
. Mobilised in May 1918, the Squadron moved to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
at the end of October with S.E.5A's
Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5
The Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5 was a British biplane fighter aircraft of the First World War. Although the first examples reached the Western Front before the Sopwith Camel and it had a much better overall performance, problems with its Hispano-Suiza engine, particularly the geared-output H-S...
but due to the end of the war being imminent, the squadron returned to the UK, without seeing any action, in February 1919 disbanding on 30 June 1919.
On 26 March 1939, the squadron was reformed at RAF Khormaksar
RAF Khormaksar
RAF Khormaksar was a Royal Air Force station in Aden. Its motto was "Into the Remote Places". During the 1960s, it was the base for nine squadrons and became the RAF's busiest-ever station. It later became Aden International Airport.-History:...
, Aden
Aden
Aden is a seaport city in Yemen, located by the eastern approach to the Red Sea , some 170 kilometres east of Bab-el-Mandeb. Its population is approximately 800,000. Aden's ancient, natural harbour lies in the crater of an extinct volcano which now forms a peninsula, joined to the mainland by a...
as a fighter squadron for the defence of Aden. During April 1941, the squadron handed over operations to the South African Air Force
South African Air Force
The South African Air Force is the air force of South Africa, with headquarters in Pretoria. It is the world's second oldest independent air force, and its motto is Per Aspera Ad Astra...
together with its Gladiator
Gloster Gladiator
The Gloster Gladiator was a British-built biplane fighter. It was used by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy and was exported to a number of other air forces during the late 1930s. It was the RAF's last biplane fighter aircraft and was rendered obsolete by newer monoplane designs even as it...
s. Moving to Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
the squadron was re-equipped with Hurricane
Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
s in May.
As part of the Western Desert campaign
Western Desert Campaign
The Western Desert Campaign, also known as the Desert War, was the initial stage of the North African Campaign during the Second World War. The campaign was heavily influenced by the availability of supplies and transport. The ability of the Allied forces, operating from besieged Malta, to...
and undertaking day and night defensive patrols, the squadron began ground attack missions in November. The squadron coverted to Kittyhawks in February 1942 as part of its change to fighter patrols over the desert until May when it was withdrawn from the front line to receive Hurricanes for defensive duties. In February 1944, the squadron converted to Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
s which were used on sweeps over Crete
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
and in September the squadron moved to Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. In December 1944 it provided air support for the Army during its clashes in Athens with the Communist-controlled EAM-ELAS guerrilla and was disbanded on 20 April 1945.
On 15 December 1950, the squadron was reformed at RAF Celle
RAF Celle
The former Royal Air Force Station Celle , more commonly known as RAF Celle , was a Royal Air Force station, a military airbase, in Germany, situated in the south-western suburbs of Celle, Lower Saxony...
in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
as a Vampire
De Havilland Vampire
The de Havilland DH.100 Vampire was a British jet-engine fighter commissioned by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Following the Gloster Meteor, it was the second jet fighter to enter service with the RAF. Although it arrived too late to see combat during the war, the Vampire served...
fighter-bomber squadron. The squadron was re-equipped with Venoms
De Havilland Venom
The de Havilland DH 112 Venom was a British postwar single-engined jet aircraft developed from the de Havilland Vampire. It served with the Royal Air Force as a single-seat fighter-bomber and two-seat night fighter....
in January 1954 and was disbanded on 15 September 1957. The squadron was reformed again at RAF Misson
RAF Misson
The site of the former RAF Station Misson, Nottinghamshire, is located 7½ miles south east of Doncaster, South Yorkshire, and approximately south east of the former RAF Station Finningley airfield.-Operational units:...
, near RAF Finningley
RAF Finningley
RAF Finningley is a former Royal Air Force station at Finningley, South Yorkshire, partly within the traditional county boundaries of Nottinghamshire and partly in the West Riding of Yorkshire, now wholly within the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster....
on 1 October 1960 as a Bloodhound air defence missile unit which disbanded on 30 June 1963.