No. LIV Squadron RAF
Encyclopedia
No. 54 Squadron (sometimes written as No. LIV Squadron) is a squadron
of the Royal Air Force
. It is a reserve squadron based at RAF Waddington
, England. On 1 September 2005 it took on the role of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR
) Operational Conversion Unit
, responsible for training all RAF crews assigned to the E-3D Sentry AEW1
and the Nimrod R1 and the Sentinel R1
as well as running the Qualified Weapons Instructor
Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Course (QWI ISR).
The squadron was previously a SEPECAT Jaguar
strike fighter unit, operating from RAF Coltishall
, until it was disbanded on 11 March 2005. Since September 2005 the unit has been formally titled 54(Reserve) Squadron.
No. 54 Squadron was formed at Castle Bromwich
on 5 May 1916. Like many others formed at the same time, was tasked with Home Defence duties flying BE2Cs and Avro 504
s. Four months later, however, it re-equipped with Sopwith Pup
s, being the first Royal Flying Corps
Squadron to operate the Pup. It moved to France as a day fighter squadron in December 1916. It was initially used as for bomber escort, claiming its first kill, an Albatros D.III
, in April 1917, but specialised in attacking enemy observation balloons during the Battle of Arras
.
The Pup soon became outclassed in air combat, however, and No. 54 concentrated on ground attack missions until it could re-equip with Sopwith Camel
s in December 1917, allowing to to return to fighter duties, providing protection for Army co-operation squadrons. The German Spring Offensive
saw a return to low level attack missions, carrying out both ground attack and fighter missions until the end of the War. In February 1919, the Squadron returned to RAF Yatesbury
, reduced to cadre status and was disbanded on 25 October 1919.
Eleven flying aces had served in the squadron. They included
Ernest James Salter
,
Henry Maddocks
,
George Hackwill,
Frank Hudson
,
Francis Kitto
,
Oliver Sutton
,
Michael Gonne
,
George Hyde
,
Reginald Maxwell
,
Oliver Stewart
, and
William Strugnell
.
on 15 January 1930 as a fighter squadron equipped initially with dual-control Siskin
Trainers until Bristol Bulldog
fighters were received in April that year. The squadron had a brief stay at RAF Upavon
in 1931, prior to returning to RAF Hornchurch. The Bulldogs were replaced by Gloster Gauntlet
s, in September 1936 and Gladiators
in April 1937, before the Squadron's first monoplane, the Supermarine Spitfire
, arrived in March 1939.
were spent patrolling the Kent coast until, in May 1940, the unit provided air cover for the evacuation of Dunkirk, claiming 31 aircraft shot down for the loss of 4 pilots and seven Spitfires.
From July, the Squadron was heavily engaged in the Battle of Britain
, often using RAF Manston
as a forward operating base. The fighting was intense, and losses were heavy, with the Squadron being withdrawn to RAF Catterick
on 2 September 1940. One notable pilot during the first year of the year was "Al" Deere
, who claimed 11 German aircraft shot down, while himself being shot down 7 times.
No. 54 Squadron returned to Hornchurch in February 1941, flying fighter sweeps and bomber escort missions over Northern France until November 1941, when it moved north to RAF Castletown
, Caithness
, undertaking coastal patrols over the Pentland Firth
. In June 1942, the squadron was moved to RAF Wellingore, to prepare for moving to Australia
.
Locations in Britain
In mid-1942, the squadron left for Australia
. In January, 1943, it joined No. 1 Wing
(Spitfire Wing) of the Royal Australian Air Force
, a Spitfire unit responsible for air defence duties against Japanese
aircraft in the Darwin
area. Initially, the wing as a whole suffered from the inexperience of its pilots and mechanical problems caused during the shipment of Spitfires. Although contact with the Japanese was generally brief, 54 Squadron pilots scored a number of kills. Following the end of the war, the squadron disbanded in Melbourne
on 31 October 1945.
Locations in Australia:
Commanding Officers
, a Hawker Tempest
ground-attack unit based at RAF Chilbolton
near Oxford, was renumbered to No. 54 Squadron and spent a year training pilots destined for overseas service before receiving Vampires
and moving to RAF Odiham
a year later.
In 1948, six Vampires from the Squadron made history when they completed the first crossing of the Atlantic by jet aircraft. Flying in 3 legs with over 8 hours in the air and accompanied by ground crew in Avro Yorks
Following a three year stint with Meteors
, which arrived in April 1952, Hunters
arrived in March 1955, and the Squadron took up ground-attack duties as part of No 38 Group
, frequently deploying to trouble spots around the world as part of the Group's Offensive Strike Wing.
No 54 Squadron was the first jet RAF formation team to trail smoke with a team of six Vampires
. In 1955, No 54 Squadron flew a formation of four Hawker Hunter
F1 aircraft. The following year the Squadron team adopted the name The Black Knights
- the pilots wore black flying suits.
The squadron relocated to RAF Stradishall
in July 1959 and to RAF West Raynham
in 1963.
The squadron was briefly disbanded on 1 September 1969, however was reformed the same day after being re-equipped with McDonnell-Douglas Phantoms at RAF Coningsby
in 1969.
By 1974 when twelve SEPECAT Jaguar
aircraft were delivered the squadron had re-located to RAF Coltishall
. From 1975 until at least 1994 (the last year for which data is available) the squadron's wartime role was as an operational squadron in the front line assigned to SACEUR with twelve Jaguar aircraft, eight WE.177
tactical nuclear bombs, and a variety of conventional weapons. In a high-intensity European war the unit's role was to support land forces on the Continent resisting an assault by the Red Army on Western Europe, first with conventional weapons and secondly with tactical nuclear weapons, should a conflict escalate to that stage, by striking beyond the forward edge of the battlefield into enemy-held areas. The apparent mismatch between aircraft numbers and nuclear bombs was a consequence of RAF staff planners concluding that with some aircraft held back from the conventional phase as a reserve, there would be one-third attrition of aircraft, leaving the remaining survivors numerically strong enough to deliver the squadron's entire stockpile of eight nuclear bombs.
, updated Jaguar aircraft (GR.3), and retirement of the WE.177 nuclear weapon 1994-98.
With the move to a more expeditionary footing, the squadron has seen a number of operational deployments in recent years including Northern Iraq flying from Incirlik air force base in Turkey and the Balkans flying from Goioa del Colle in Italy
With the decision taken to run the Jaguar fleet down in anticipation of the arrival of its replacement, the Typhoon, No 54 Squadron was disbanded at RAF Coltishall on 11 March 2005. The Squadron Standard is now housed in Norwich Cathedral.
on 1 September 2005 it re-roled as the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) Operational Conversion Unit, responsible for training all mission crews for the E-3D Sentry AEW1, the Nimrod R1 and the Sentinel R.1
. The unit is also responsible for the delivery of the Qualified Weapons Instructor
Course for ISR (QWI ISR).
Squadron (aviation)
A squadron in air force, army aviation or naval aviation is mainly a unit comprising a number of military aircraft, usually of the same type, typically with 12 to 24 aircraft, sometimes divided into three or four flights, depending on aircraft type and air force...
of the Royal Air Force
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...
. It is a reserve squadron based at RAF Waddington
RAF Waddington
RAF Waddington is a Royal Air Force station in Lincolnshire, England.-Formation:Waddington opened as a Royal Flying Corps flying training station in 1916 until 1920, when the station went into care and maintenance....
, England. On 1 September 2005 it took on the role of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR
ISR
ISR may refer to:Publications* Information Systems Research, an academic journal in the information systems discipline* International Socialist Review, a Socialist magazine published in the U.S....
) Operational Conversion Unit
Operational Conversion Unit
An Operational Conversion Unit is a unit within an air force whose role is to support preparation for the operational missions of a specific aircraft type by providing trained personnel. OCUs teach pilots how to fly an aircraft and which tactics best exploit the performance of their aircraft and...
, responsible for training all RAF crews assigned to the E-3D Sentry AEW1
E-3 Sentry
The Boeing E-3 Sentry is an airborne warning and control system developed by Boeing as the prime contractor. Derived from the Boeing 707, it provides all-weather surveillance, command, control and communications, and is used by the United States Air Force , NATO, Royal Air Force , French Air Force...
and the Nimrod R1 and the Sentinel R1
Raytheon Sentinel
|-See also:-References:* Winchester, Jim. "Aircraft of the RAF Part 5 - Raytheon Sentinel R1". Air International, Volume 75 No.3, September 2008. pp.54-57.-External links:* * * *...
as well as running the Qualified Weapons Instructor
Qualified Weapons Instructor
Qualified Weapons Instructor is a qualification given to graduates of the Royal Air Force or Royal Navy Qualified Weapons Instructor courses...
Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Course (QWI ISR).
The squadron was previously a SEPECAT Jaguar
SEPECAT Jaguar
The SEPECAT Jaguar is an Anglo-French jet ground attack aircraft, originally used by the British Royal Air Force and the French Armée de l'Air in the close air support and nuclear strike role, and still in service with several export customers, notably the Indian Air Force and the Royal Air Force...
strike fighter unit, operating from RAF Coltishall
RAF Coltishall
The former Royal Air Force Station Coltishall, more commonly known as RAF Coltishall , was a Royal Air Force station, a military airbase, North-North-East of Norwich, in the English county of Norfolk, East Anglia, from 1938 to 2006....
, until it was disbanded on 11 March 2005. Since September 2005 the unit has been formally titled 54(Reserve) Squadron.
World War I
Castle Bromwich
Castle Bromwich is a suburb situated within the northern part of the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull in the English county of West Midlands. It is bordered by the rest of the borough to the south east, North Warwickshire to the east and north east; also Shard End to the south west, Castle Vale,...
on 5 May 1916. Like many others formed at the same time, was tasked with Home Defence duties flying BE2Cs and Avro 504
Avro 504
The Avro 504 was a World War I biplane aircraft made by the Avro aircraft company and under licence by others. Production during the War totalled 8,970 and continued for almost 20 years, making it the most-produced aircraft of any kind that served in World War I, in any military capacity, during...
s. Four months later, however, it re-equipped with Sopwith Pup
Sopwith Pup
The Sopwith Pup was a British single seater biplane fighter aircraft built by the Sopwith Aviation Company. It entered service with the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service in the autumn of 1916. With pleasant flying characteristics and good maneuverability, the aircraft proved very...
s, being the first Royal Flying Corps
Royal 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...
Squadron to operate the Pup. It moved to France as a day fighter squadron in December 1916. It was initially used as for bomber escort, claiming its first kill, an Albatros D.III
Albatros D.III
The Albatros D.III was a biplane fighter aircraft used by the Imperial German Army Air Service and the Austro-Hungarian Air Service during World War I. The D.III was flown by many top German aces, including Manfred von Richthofen, Ernst Udet, Erich Löwenhardt, Kurt Wolff, and Karl Emil Schäfer...
, in April 1917, but specialised in attacking enemy observation balloons during the Battle of Arras
Battle of Arras (1917)
The Battle of Arras was a British offensive during the First World War. From 9 April to 16 May 1917, British, Canadian, New Zealand, Newfoundland, and Australian troops attacked German trenches near the French city of Arras on the Western Front....
.
The Pup soon became outclassed in air combat, however, and No. 54 concentrated on ground attack missions until it could re-equip with 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...
s in December 1917, allowing to to return to fighter duties, providing protection for Army co-operation squadrons. The German Spring Offensive
Spring Offensive
The 1918 Spring Offensive or Kaiserschlacht , also known as the Ludendorff Offensive, was a series of German attacks along the Western Front during World War I, beginning on 21 March 1918, which marked the deepest advances by either side since 1914...
saw a return to low level attack missions, carrying out both ground attack and fighter missions until the end of the War. In February 1919, the Squadron returned to RAF Yatesbury
Yatesbury
Yatesbury is a village adjacent to Cherhill, 1 mile north of the A4 road between Calne and Marlborough in Wiltshire, England. Yatesbury forms part of The Oldbury Benefice, which comprises the five parishes of Cherhill, Compton Bassett, Heddington, Calstone Wellington and Yatesbury.-RAF...
, reduced to cadre status and was disbanded on 25 October 1919.
Eleven flying aces had served in the squadron. They included
Ernest James Salter
Ernest James Salter
Captain Ernest James Salter was a Canadian World War I flying ace credited with nine aerial victories. He would return to service during World War II.-Early life:...
,
Henry Maddocks
Henry Maddocks (pilot)
Captain Henry Hollingdrake Maddocks was a World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories.-Reference:...
,
George Hackwill,
Frank Hudson
Frank Hudson
Captain Frank Neville Hudson MC was a World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories....
,
Francis Kitto
Francis Kitto
Captain Francis Mansel Kitto was a Welsh-born flying ace credited with nine official aerial victories during World War I.-Early life:Kitto was born at Pontypridd, Rhondda Cyon Taf, Wales on New Year's Day 1897. His parents were Mr. and Mrs. J. B...
,
Oliver Sutton
Oliver Sutton (aviator)
Captain Oliver Manners Sutton was a World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories.-Early life:Sutton's parents were Algernon Charles and Winifred Alice Sutton of "Woodcroft", Tunbridge Wells, Kent.-World War I service:...
,
Michael Gonne
Michael Gonne
Captain Michael Edward Gonne was a World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.He was living in Ringwood, Hampshire when he enlisted in the Royal Fusiliers. In May 1917, when he had reached the rank of captain, he was sent to the Royal Flying Corps. He was assigned to 54 Squadron,...
,
George Hyde
George Hyde (aviator)
Captain George Arthur Hyde was a World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.Hyde originally served in the King's Royal Rifle Corps. He transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, underwent pilot's training, and was posted to 54 Squadron in February 1917 to fly a Sopwith Pup. He scored...
,
Reginald Maxwell
Reginald Maxwell
Air Commodore Reginald Stuart Maxwell began his military career in aviation by becoming a flying ace during World War I. He continued in service until 1941, arising to the flag rank of Air Commodore.-Early life:...
,
Oliver Stewart
Oliver Stewart
Major Oliver Stewart was a World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories. Post war, he had a long and distinguished career as a writer.-World War I service:...
, and
William Strugnell
William Strugnell
Group Captain William Victor Strugnell was a World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories. He went on to a long career in the Royal Air Force, eventually rising to Group Captain and serving through World War II....
.
Between the wars
The Squadron was reformed at RAF HornchurchRAF Hornchurch
RAF Hornchurch was an airfield in the south of Hornchurch in what is now the London Borough of Havering. Known as Sutton's Farm during the First World War, it occupied of the farm of the same name and was situated east north-east of Charing Cross...
on 15 January 1930 as a fighter squadron equipped initially with dual-control Siskin
Armstrong Whitworth Siskin
The Armstrong Whitworth Siskin was a British biplane single-seat fighter aircraft of the 1920s produced by Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft. The Siskin was one of the first new RAF fighters to enter service after the First World War; it was noted for its aerobatic qualities.-Design and development:The...
Trainers until Bristol Bulldog
Bristol Bulldog
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Andrews, C.F. The Bristol Bulldog . Leatherhead, Surrey, UK: Profile Publications Ltd., 1965.* Barnes, C.H. Bristol Aircraft Since 1910. London: Putnam, 1964....
fighters were received in April that year. The squadron had a brief stay at RAF Upavon
RAF Upavon
The former Royal Air Force Station Upavon, more commonly known as RAF Upavon, was a grass airfield, military flight training school, and administrative headquarters of the Royal Air Force....
in 1931, prior to returning to RAF Hornchurch. The Bulldogs were replaced by Gloster Gauntlet
Gloster Gauntlet
-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Crawford, Alex. Bristol Bulldog, Gloster Gauntlet. Redbourn, UK: Mushroom Model Publications, 2005. ISBN 83-89450-04-6....
s, in September 1936 and Gladiators
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...
in April 1937, before the Squadron's first monoplane, the Supermarine 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...
, arrived in March 1939.
World War II
The early days of World War IIWorld 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...
were spent patrolling the Kent coast until, in May 1940, the unit provided air cover for the evacuation of Dunkirk, claiming 31 aircraft shot down for the loss of 4 pilots and seven Spitfires.
From July, the Squadron was heavily engaged in the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
, often using RAF Manston
RAF Manston
RAF Manston was an RAF station in the north-east of Kent, at on the Isle of Thanet from 1916 until 1996. The site is now split between a commercial airport Kent International Airport and a continuing military use by the Defence Fire Training and Development Centre , following on from a long...
as a forward operating base. The fighting was intense, and losses were heavy, with the Squadron being withdrawn to RAF Catterick
RAF Catterick
RAF Catterick is a former Royal Air Force airfield located near Catterick, North Yorkshire in England.-History:Catterick airfield first opened in 1914 as a Royal Flying Corps aerodrome with the role of training pilots and to assist in the defence of the North East of England...
on 2 September 1940. One notable pilot during the first year of the year was "Al" Deere
Alan Christopher Deere
Air Commodore Alan Christopher "Al" Deere, DSO, OBE, DFC & Bar , was a New Zealand Spitfire pilot in the Battle of Britain and author of Nine Lives.-Early life:...
, who claimed 11 German aircraft shot down, while himself being shot down 7 times.
No. 54 Squadron returned to Hornchurch in February 1941, flying fighter sweeps and bomber escort missions over Northern France until November 1941, when it moved north to RAF Castletown
RAF Castletown
RAF Castletown was a Royal Air Force flying station that operated during World War II. Built near to Castletown in Caithness, Scotland the station opened in 1940 and closed in 1945...
, Caithness
Caithness
Caithness is a registration county, lieutenancy area and historic local government area of Scotland. The name was used also for the earldom of Caithness and the Caithness constituency of the Parliament of the United Kingdom . Boundaries are not identical in all contexts, but the Caithness area is...
, undertaking coastal patrols over the Pentland Firth
Pentland Firth
The Pentland Firth , which is actually more of a strait than a firth, separates the Orkney Islands from Caithness in the north of Scotland.-Etymology:...
. In June 1942, the squadron was moved to RAF Wellingore, to prepare for moving to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Locations in Britain
- 3 September 1939 - RAF HornchurchRAF HornchurchRAF Hornchurch was an airfield in the south of Hornchurch in what is now the London Borough of Havering. Known as Sutton's Farm during the First World War, it occupied of the farm of the same name and was situated east north-east of Charing Cross...
, London Borough of HaveringLondon Borough of HaveringThe London Borough of Havering is a London borough in North East London, England and forms part of Outer London. The principal town in Havering is Romford and the other main communities are Hornchurch, Upminster and Rainham. The borough is mainly characterised by suburban development with large...
, east London - September 1940 - RAF CatterickRAF CatterickRAF Catterick is a former Royal Air Force airfield located near Catterick, North Yorkshire in England.-History:Catterick airfield first opened in 1914 as a Royal Flying Corps aerodrome with the role of training pilots and to assist in the defence of the North East of England...
, Catterick, North YorkshireCatterick, North YorkshireCatterick , sometimes Catterick Village, to distinguish it from the nearby Catterick Garrison, is a village and civil parish in the Richmondshire district of North Yorkshire, England... - February 1941 - RAF HornchurchRAF HornchurchRAF Hornchurch was an airfield in the south of Hornchurch in what is now the London Borough of Havering. Known as Sutton's Farm during the First World War, it occupied of the farm of the same name and was situated east north-east of Charing Cross...
, London Borough of HaveringLondon Borough of HaveringThe London Borough of Havering is a London borough in North East London, England and forms part of Outer London. The principal town in Havering is Romford and the other main communities are Hornchurch, Upminster and Rainham. The borough is mainly characterised by suburban development with large...
, east London - November 1941 - RAF CastletownRAF CastletownRAF Castletown was a Royal Air Force flying station that operated during World War II. Built near to Castletown in Caithness, Scotland the station opened in 1940 and closed in 1945...
, Castletown, ScotlandScotlandScotland 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... - June 1942 - RAF Wellingore, LincolnshireLincolnshireLincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
In mid-1942, the squadron left for Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. In January, 1943, it joined No. 1 Wing
No. 1 Wing RAAF
No. 1 Wing was an Australian Flying Corps and Royal Australian Air Force wing active during World War I and World War II. The wing was established on 1 September 1917 as the 1st Training Wing and commanded the AFC's pilot training squadrons in England until April 1919, when it was...
(Spitfire Wing) of the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
, a Spitfire unit responsible for air defence duties against Japanese
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
aircraft in the Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
area. Initially, the wing as a whole suffered from the inexperience of its pilots and mechanical problems caused during the shipment of Spitfires. Although contact with the Japanese was generally brief, 54 Squadron pilots scored a number of kills. Following the end of the war, the squadron disbanded in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
on 31 October 1945.
Locations in Australia:
- 13 August 1942: Ascot Vale, Melbourne, VictoriaVictoria (Australia)Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
- 24 August 1942: Richmond, Sydney, New South WalesNew South WalesNew South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
- 13 January 1943: Sydney, New South WalesNew South WalesNew South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
- 25 January 1943: Parap AirfieldParap AirfieldParap Airfield was the civilian airport/aerodrome at Parap a suburb of Darwin, Northern Territory, in Australia between 1919 and 1946. It was also known as Darwin Aerodrome and Ross Smith Aerodrome.-History:...
, Darwin, Northern TerritoryDarwin, Northern TerritoryDarwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities... - 9 May 1944: Potshot, Exmouth Gulf, Western Australia
- 19 May 1944: Livingstone AirfieldLivingstone AirfieldLivingstone Airfield was an airfield at Livingstone, Northern Territory, Australia during World War II.The airfield was built by the 808th Engineer Aviation Battalion, less Company A and HQ Detachment, between 16 March 1942 until 13 April 1942. The runway was long and wide...
, Northern TerritoryNorthern TerritoryThe Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions... - 23 October 1945: Parap AirfieldParap AirfieldParap Airfield was the civilian airport/aerodrome at Parap a suburb of Darwin, Northern Territory, in Australia between 1919 and 1946. It was also known as Darwin Aerodrome and Ross Smith Aerodrome.-History:...
, Darwin, Northern TerritoryDarwin, Northern TerritoryDarwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities... - 30 October 1945: Melbourne, Victoria
Commanding Officers
- Sqn.Ldr. E. M Gibbs - 13 August 1942
- Sqn.Ldr. R.B Newton - 11 January 1944
- Sqn.Ldr J.B.H Nicholas - 1 July 1945
- F-Lt D.M Gossland - 30 October 1945
Post World War II
On 15 November 1946 No. 183 Squadron RAFNo. 183 Squadron RAF
No. 183 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron that was a fighter-bomber unit in World War II.-Formation in World War II:The squadron formed in 2 March 1942 at RAF Church Fenton and then equipped with rocket armed Typhoons. It was involved in attacks on targets in France from the UK...
, a Hawker Tempest
Hawker Tempest
The Hawker Tempest was a British fighter aircraft primarily used by the Royal Air Force in the Second World War. The Tempest was an improved derivative of the Hawker Typhoon, and one of the most powerful fighter aircraft used during the war....
ground-attack unit based at RAF Chilbolton
RAF Chilbolton
RAF Station Chilbolton is a former World War II airfield in Hampshire, England. The airfield is located approximately south-southeast of Andover; about southwest of London...
near Oxford, was renumbered to No. 54 Squadron and spent a year training pilots destined for overseas service before receiving Vampires
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...
and moving to RAF Odiham
RAF Odiham
RAF Odiham is a Royal Air Force station situated a little to the south of the historic small village of Odiham in Hampshire, England. It is the home of the Royal Air Force's heavy lift helicopter, the Chinook HC2, HC2A and HC3...
a year later.
Following a three year stint with Meteors
Gloster Meteor
The Gloster Meteor was the first British jet fighter and the Allies' first operational jet. It first flew in 1943 and commenced operations on 27 July 1944 with 616 Squadron of the Royal Air Force...
, which arrived in April 1952, Hunters
Hawker Hunter
The Hawker Hunter is a subsonic British jet aircraft developed in the 1950s. The single-seat Hunter entered service as a manoeuvrable fighter aircraft, and later operated in fighter-bomber and reconnaissance roles in numerous conflicts. Two-seat variants remained in use for training and secondary...
arrived in March 1955, and the Squadron took up ground-attack duties as part of No 38 Group
No. 38 Group RAF
No 38 Group RAF was formed on 6 November 1943 from nine squadrons as part of Fighter Command. It was finally disbanded on 1 April 2000.-History:...
, frequently deploying to trouble spots around the world as part of the Group's Offensive Strike Wing.
No 54 Squadron was the first jet RAF formation team to trail smoke with a team of six Vampires
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...
. In 1955, No 54 Squadron flew a formation of four Hawker Hunter
Hawker Hunter
The Hawker Hunter is a subsonic British jet aircraft developed in the 1950s. The single-seat Hunter entered service as a manoeuvrable fighter aircraft, and later operated in fighter-bomber and reconnaissance roles in numerous conflicts. Two-seat variants remained in use for training and secondary...
F1 aircraft. The following year the Squadron team adopted the name The Black Knights
Black Knights
Black Knights may refer to:*The Army Black Knights, the nickname of the sporting teams of the United States Military Academy*RSAF Black Knights, a six-ship precision aerobatic team of the Republic of Singapore Air Force, consisting of F-16C aircraft...
- the pilots wore black flying suits.
The squadron relocated to RAF Stradishall
Stradishall
Stradishall is a village and civil parish in the Borough of St Edmundsbury in the English county of Suffolk.The Royal Air Force operated an airfield near Stradishall, RAF Stradishall, which was operational between 1938 and 1970. The former airfield is now the site of two category C prisons: HMP...
in July 1959 and to RAF West Raynham
RAF West Raynham
RAF West Raynham was a Royal Air Force station located west of the village of West Raynham in Norfolk, England. It opened in the 1930s and closed in 1994. During the Second World War, RAF Bomber Command operations from RAF West Raynham claimed 86 aircraft. The site was sold by the Ministry of...
in 1963.
The squadron was briefly disbanded on 1 September 1969, however was reformed the same day after being re-equipped with McDonnell-Douglas Phantoms at RAF Coningsby
RAF Coningsby
RAF Coningsby , is a Royal Air Force station in Lincolnshire, England. It has been commanded by Group Captain Martin Sampson since 10 December 2010.-Operational units:...
in 1969.
By 1974 when twelve SEPECAT Jaguar
SEPECAT Jaguar
The SEPECAT Jaguar is an Anglo-French jet ground attack aircraft, originally used by the British Royal Air Force and the French Armée de l'Air in the close air support and nuclear strike role, and still in service with several export customers, notably the Indian Air Force and the Royal Air Force...
aircraft were delivered the squadron had re-located to RAF Coltishall
RAF Coltishall
The former Royal Air Force Station Coltishall, more commonly known as RAF Coltishall , was a Royal Air Force station, a military airbase, North-North-East of Norwich, in the English county of Norfolk, East Anglia, from 1938 to 2006....
. From 1975 until at least 1994 (the last year for which data is available) the squadron's wartime role was as an operational squadron in the front line assigned to SACEUR with twelve Jaguar aircraft, eight WE.177
WE.177
WE.177 was the last air-delivered tactical nuclear weapon of the British Armed Forces. There were three versions; WE.177A was a boosted fission weapon, while WE.177B and WE.177C were thermonuclear weapons...
tactical nuclear bombs, and a variety of conventional weapons. In a high-intensity European war the unit's role was to support land forces on the Continent resisting an assault by the Red Army on Western Europe, first with conventional weapons and secondly with tactical nuclear weapons, should a conflict escalate to that stage, by striking beyond the forward edge of the battlefield into enemy-held areas. The apparent mismatch between aircraft numbers and nuclear bombs was a consequence of RAF staff planners concluding that with some aircraft held back from the conventional phase as a reserve, there would be one-third attrition of aircraft, leaving the remaining survivors numerically strong enough to deliver the squadron's entire stockpile of eight nuclear bombs.
Post Cold War
The squadron, its role and aircraft have remained almost the same till 2005, albeit at a different base RAF ColtishallRAF Coltishall
The former Royal Air Force Station Coltishall, more commonly known as RAF Coltishall , was a Royal Air Force station, a military airbase, North-North-East of Norwich, in the English county of Norfolk, East Anglia, from 1938 to 2006....
, updated Jaguar aircraft (GR.3), and retirement of the WE.177 nuclear weapon 1994-98.
With the move to a more expeditionary footing, the squadron has seen a number of operational deployments in recent years including Northern Iraq flying from Incirlik air force base in Turkey and the Balkans flying from Goioa del Colle in Italy
ISR OCU
Reformed as No. 54 (Reserve) Squadron at RAF WaddingtonRAF Waddington
RAF Waddington is a Royal Air Force station in Lincolnshire, England.-Formation:Waddington opened as a Royal Flying Corps flying training station in 1916 until 1920, when the station went into care and maintenance....
on 1 September 2005 it re-roled as the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) Operational Conversion Unit, responsible for training all mission crews for the E-3D Sentry AEW1, the Nimrod R1 and the Sentinel R.1
Raytheon Sentinel
|-See also:-References:* Winchester, Jim. "Aircraft of the RAF Part 5 - Raytheon Sentinel R1". Air International, Volume 75 No.3, September 2008. pp.54-57.-External links:* * * *...
. The unit is also responsible for the delivery of the Qualified Weapons Instructor
Qualified Weapons Instructor
Qualified Weapons Instructor is a qualification given to graduates of the Royal Air Force or Royal Navy Qualified Weapons Instructor courses...
Course for ISR (QWI ISR).
Former RAF Jaguar units
- II(AC) SqnNo. 2 Squadron RAFNo. 2 Squadron of the Royal Air Force is currently one of two RAF squadrons operating in the reconnaissance role with the Tornado GR4A and GR4 and is based at RAF Marham, Norfolk.No. II Squadron holds claim to being "the oldest heavier-than-air flying machine squadron in the world", along with No...
- 6 SqnNo. 6 Squadron RAFNo. 6 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 at RAF Leuchars.It was previously equipped with the Jaguar GR.3 in the close air support and tactical reconnaissance roles, and was based at RAF Coltishall, Norfolk until April 2006, moving to RAF Coningsby until...
- 14 SqnNo. 14 Squadron RAFNo. 14 Squadron of the Royal Air Force currently operates the Beechcraft Shadow R1 in the ISTAR role from RAF Waddington.-World War I:...
- 16(R) Sqn - OCUNo. 16 Squadron RAFNo. 16 Squadron is a flying squadron of the Royal Air Force. It formed in 1915 at Saint-Omer to carry out a mixture of offensive patrolling and reconnaissance and was disbanded in 1919 with the end of the First World War...
- 17 Sqn
- 20 SqnNo. 20 Squadron RAFNo. 20 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was until March 2010, the OCU for the BAE Harrier GR9, and T12, operating from RAF Wittering...
- 31 SqnNo. 31 Squadron RAFNo. 31 Squadron of the Royal Air Force, known as the 'Goldstars', currently operates the Tornado GR4 from RAF Marham, Norfolk.-History:The squadron was formed at Farnborough on October 11, 1915. Its first deployment was to Risulpur, India with its BE2Cs and Farmans, and during this time it took...
- 41 SqnNo. 41 Squadron RAFNo. 41 Squadron of the Royal Air Force is currently the RAF's Test and Evaluation Squadron , based at RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire. Its official title is "41 TES". The Squadron celebrates its 95th anniversary in 2011, and is one of the oldest RAF squadrons in existence.-First World War, 1916–1919:No...
- No. 226 Operational Conversion Unit RAFNo. 226 Operational Conversion Unit RAFNo. 226 Operational Conversion Unit was a Royal Air Force Operational Conversion Unit. It was first formed in 1946 at RAF Molesworth under No. 11 Group of Fighter Command by redesignation of No. 1335 Conversion Unit with the mission of training fighter pilots. The unit operated with a variety of...
External links
- 54 Squadron Association
- 54 Squadron History
- Autobiography of Bill Wood
- RAF Official 54(R) Sqn Website