No. 103 Squadron was a Royal Air Force bomber squadron during World War I, World War II and the Cold War, switching to helicopters in the late 1950s until it was disbanded for the last time in 1975.
Western Front, 1918* Hindenburg Line* France & Low Countries, 1939-40* Invasion Ports, 1940* Fortress Europe, 1940-44* Biscay Ports, 1941-43 Berlin, 1941-44* German Ports, 1941-45 Baltic, 1941-45 Ruhr, 1941-45* France & Germany, 1944-45* The honours marked with an asterisk(*) are those emblazoned on the squadron standard.
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldry
A swan, wings elevated and addorsed[3] A swan was chosen because this bird is very strong on the wing and also well able to defend itself[2]
In May 1918 the Squadron was transferred to France and flew reconnaissance and day bombing operations on the Western Front. That June, following the foundation of the Royal Air Force, the squadron became part of No. 80 Wing RAF. The Squadron was disbanded on 1 October 1919 at RAF Shotwick, Flintshire.[1][3]
Reformationedit
The Squadron was reformed on 10 August 1936 at RAF Andover, Hampshire as No. 103 (Bomber) Squadron, a light bomber Squadron flying biplane Hawker Hind bombers.[8] The Squadron was then posted to RAF Usworth in County Durham. In July 1938[1] 103 Squadron was re-equipped with the more advanced Fairey Battle monoplane bomber.
At the outbreak of the Second World War the Squadron was deployed to France as part of the RAF Advanced Air Striking Force. On 10 May 1940 the Luftwaffe and the German Army invaded France, Belgium and the Netherlands. The Squadron suffered many losses. In mid June 1940 the Squadron withdrew from France for RAF Abingdon in England. 103 Squadron was transferred to RAF Newton near Nottingham and reverted to the control of No. 1 Group RAF, Bomber Command. In October 1940 it was re-equipped with Wellington bombers. Operations were carried out with this type on targets on mainland Europe. The Squadron moved into the new airfield at RAF Elsham Wolds in July 1941. In July 1942 the Wellingtons were replaced by Halifax bombers. These were in turn replaced in late October 1942 by Avro Lancaster bombers, which 103 Squadron flew on many operations to Germany and occupied Europe for the rest of the war.[1]
During the war 103 Squadron flew over 6,000 operational sorties, at a high cost in men and machines. On 14 February 1943, the squadron was sent to bomb Milan in Northern Italy but the bomber leading the formation was hit by incendiary bombs dropped from another Lancaster over the target and crashed in the southern outskirts of the city. Some parts of the bomber were discovered in 1990 during the extension of the Milan Metro. After the war, on 26 November 1945, the Squadron was disbanded by renumbering it to 57 Squadron.[1][2][3]
On jet bombers in RAF Germanyedit
103 Squadron was subsequently reformed at RAF Gütersloh, West Germany on 30 November 1954 and was part of the 2nd Tactical Air Force. During this short period the unit flew the English Electric Canberra bomber. The Squadron was however again disbanded on 1 August 1956.[1][3]
On helicopters in Cyprusedit
103 Squadron reformed at RAF Nicosia, Cyprus on 1 August 1959 after renumbering of 284 Squadron.[3] From then onwards it became a support unit with Bristol Sycamore HR.14 helicopters operating in search and rescue, casualty evacuation and internal security roles. 103 Squadron was disbanded on 31 July 1963 by breaking the squadron up into Nos. 1563 (at Nicosia) and 1564 (at El Adem) flights.[3][9]
In the Far Eastedit
103 Squadron itself was reformed in the Far East at RAF Seletar, Singapore on 1 August 1963 by renumbering 110 Squadron.[3] At that time it was equipped with Westland Whirlwind HAR.10 helicopters. In 1969 the Squadron was posted to RAF Changi and subsequently moved to RAF Tengah in 1971. In November 1972 the Westland Whirlwind was replaced with the more modern and capable Westland Wessex helicopter, but three years later 103 Squadron was disbanded for the last time, on 1 August 1975 at RAF Tengah.[3][9]
Aircraft operatededit
Aircraft operated by No. 103 Squadron RAF[1][3][10]
Finn, Sid. Black Swan: A History of 103 Squadron RAF. Newton Publishers, 1989. ISBN1-872308-00-7.
Flintham, Vic and Andrew Thomas. Combat Codes: A full explanation and listing of British, Commonwealth and Allied air force unit codes since 1938. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd., 2003. ISBN1-84037-281-8.
Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918-1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. ISBN0-85130-164-9.
Jefford, C.G. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1988 (second edition 2001). ISBN1-85310-053-6.
Moyes, Philip J.R. Bomber Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers) Ltd., 2nd edition 1976. ISBN0-354-01027-1.
Public Record Office AIR 27 103 Squadron files.
Rawlings, John D.R. Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Jane's Publishing Company Ltd., 1982. ISBN0-7106-0187-5.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to No. 103 Squadron RAF.
Squadron history on RAF site
History of No.'s 101–105 Squadrons at RAF Web
A brief history of No. 103 Squadron RFC 1917-1918
History of 103 Squadron RAF 1917 - 1975
RAF Elsham Wolds North Lincolnshire Airfield
January 01, 1970
squadron, squadron, royal, force, bomber, squadron, during, world, world, cold, switching, helicopters, late, 1950s, until, disbanded, last, time, 1975, squadron, badgeactive1, 1917, 1919, 1936, 1945, 1954, 1956, 1959, 1963, 1963, 1975, countryunited, kingdomb. No 103 Squadron was a Royal Air Force bomber squadron during World War I World War II and the Cold War switching to helicopters in the late 1950s until it was disbanded for the last time in 1975 No 103 Squadron RAFNo 103 Squadron badgeActive1 Sep 1917 1 Oct 1919 10 Aug 1936 26 Nov 1945 30 Nov 1954 1 Aug 1956 1 Aug 1959 31 Jul 1963 1 Aug 1963 31 Jul 1975 1 CountryUnited KingdomBranchRoyal Air ForceNickname s Swindon s own Squadron unofficial 2 Motto s Latin Noli me tangere 2 3 Translation Touch me not or more modern Don t touch me Battle honoursWestern Front 1918 Hindenburg Line France amp Low Countries 1939 40 Invasion Ports 1940 Fortress Europe 1940 44 Biscay Ports 1941 43 Berlin 1941 44 German Ports 1941 45 Baltic 1941 45 Ruhr 1941 45 France amp Germany 1944 45 The honours marked with an asterisk are those emblazoned on the squadron standard InsigniaSquadron Badge heraldryA swan wings elevated and addorsed 3 A swan was chosen because this bird is very strong on the wing and also well able to defend itself 2 Squadron CodesGV Apr 1939 Sep 1939 4 5 PM Sep 1939 Nov 1945 6 7 Contents 1 History 1 1 Formation in World War I 1 2 Reformation 1 3 World War II 1 4 On jet bombers in RAF Germany 1 5 On helicopters in Cyprus 1 6 In the Far East 2 Aircraft operated 3 Squadron bases 4 References 5 External linksHistory editFormation in World War I edit nbsp A scoreboard listing the claims for aircraft destroyed by No 80 Wing between July and November 1918 No 103 Squadron was formed during the Great War as No 103 Squadron RFC 2 at RAF Beaulieu Hampshire on 1 September 1917 1 equipped with Airco DH 9 aircraft 8 In May 1918 the Squadron was transferred to France and flew reconnaissance and day bombing operations on the Western Front That June following the foundation of the Royal Air Force the squadron became part of No 80 Wing RAF The Squadron was disbanded on 1 October 1919 at RAF Shotwick Flintshire 1 3 Reformation edit The Squadron was reformed on 10 August 1936 at RAF Andover Hampshire as No 103 Bomber Squadron a light bomber Squadron flying biplane Hawker Hind bombers 8 The Squadron was then posted to RAF Usworth in County Durham In July 1938 1 103 Squadron was re equipped with the more advanced Fairey Battle monoplane bomber World War II edit nbsp 103 Squadron Lancaster over the German V 2 launch site at Wizernes France nbsp 103 Squadron Sycamore over Cyprus 1961 At the outbreak of the Second World War the Squadron was deployed to France as part of the RAF Advanced Air Striking Force On 10 May 1940 the Luftwaffe and the German Army invaded France Belgium and the Netherlands The Squadron suffered many losses In mid June 1940 the Squadron withdrew from France for RAF Abingdon in England 103 Squadron was transferred to RAF Newton near Nottingham and reverted to the control of No 1 Group RAF Bomber Command In October 1940 it was re equipped with Wellington bombers Operations were carried out with this type on targets on mainland Europe The Squadron moved into the new airfield at RAF Elsham Wolds in July 1941 In July 1942 the Wellingtons were replaced by Halifax bombers These were in turn replaced in late October 1942 by Avro Lancaster bombers which 103 Squadron flew on many operations to Germany and occupied Europe for the rest of the war 1 During the war 103 Squadron flew over 6 000 operational sorties at a high cost in men and machines On 14 February 1943 the squadron was sent to bomb Milan in Northern Italy but the bomber leading the formation was hit by incendiary bombs dropped from another Lancaster over the target and crashed in the southern outskirts of the city Some parts of the bomber were discovered in 1990 during the extension of the Milan Metro After the war on 26 November 1945 the Squadron was disbanded by renumbering it to 57 Squadron 1 2 3 On jet bombers in RAF Germany edit 103 Squadron was subsequently reformed at RAF Gutersloh West Germany on 30 November 1954 and was part of the 2nd Tactical Air Force During this short period the unit flew the English Electric Canberra bomber The Squadron was however again disbanded on 1 August 1956 1 3 On helicopters in Cyprus edit 103 Squadron reformed at RAF Nicosia Cyprus on 1 August 1959 after renumbering of 284 Squadron 3 From then onwards it became a support unit with Bristol Sycamore HR 14 helicopters operating in search and rescue casualty evacuation and internal security roles 103 Squadron was disbanded on 31 July 1963 by breaking the squadron up into Nos 1563 at Nicosia and 1564 at El Adem flights 3 9 In the Far East edit 103 Squadron itself was reformed in the Far East at RAF Seletar Singapore on 1 August 1963 by renumbering 110 Squadron 3 At that time it was equipped with Westland Whirlwind HAR 10 helicopters In 1969 the Squadron was posted to RAF Changi and subsequently moved to RAF Tengah in 1971 In November 1972 the Westland Whirlwind was replaced with the more modern and capable Westland Wessex helicopter but three years later 103 Squadron was disbanded for the last time on 1 August 1975 at RAF Tengah 3 9 Aircraft operated editAircraft operated by No 103 Squadron RAF 1 3 10 From To Aircraft Version December 1917 March 1919 Airco DH 9 August 1936 Late 1938 Hawker Hind Late 1938 October 1940 Fairey Battle Mk I October 1940 July 1942 Vickers Wellington Mk Ic July 1942 October 1942 Handley Page Halifax Mk II October 1942 November 1945 Avro Lancaster Mks I amp III November 1954 August 1956 English Electric Canberra B 2 August 1959 July 1963 Bristol Sycamore HR 14 August 1963 November 1972 Westland Whirlwind HAR 10 November 1972 August 1975 Westland Wessex HC 2Squadron bases edit nbsp Memorial dedicated at former RAF Elsham Wolds to those lost on operations from no 103 Squadron and 576 Squadron RAF Bases and airfields used by No 103 Squadron RAF 1 3 From To Base Remarks 1 September 1917 8 September 1917 RFCS Beaulieu Hampshire Formed here as RFC unit 8 September 1917 12 May 1918 RFCS Old Sarum Wiltshire 12 May 1918 21 October 1918 Serny France 21 October 1918 26 October 1918 Floringhem France 26 October 1918 25 January 1919 Rochin France 25 January 1919 26 March 1919 Maisoncelle France 26 March 1919 1 October 1919 RAF Shotwick Flintshire 1st Disbandment 10 August 1936 26 February 1937 RAF Andover Hampshire 26 February 1937 2 September 1938 RAF Usworth County Durham 2 September 1938 1 April 1939 RAF Abingdon Oxfordshire 1 April 1939 2 September 1939 RAF Benson Oxfordshire 2 September 1939 28 November 1939 Challerange France 28 November 1939 15 February 1940 Plivot France 15 February 1940 16 May 1940 Betheniville France 16 May 1940 4 June 1940 Rheges Saint Lucien Ferme 4 June 1940 14 June 1940 Ouzouer le Doyen France 14 June 1940 15 June 1940 Souge France 15 June 1940 16 June 1940 RAF Abingdon Oxfordshire Air echelon only 16 June 1940 3 July 1940 RAF Honington Suffolk 3 July 1940 11 July 1941 RAF Newton Nottingham 11 July 1941 26 November 1945 RAF Elsham Wolds Lincolnshire 2nd Disbandment 30 November 1954 1 August 1956 RAF Gutersloh West Germany 3rd Disbandment 1 August 1959 31 July 1963 RAF Nicosia Cyprus 4th Disbandment 1 August 1963 28 March 1969 RAF Seletar Singapore 28 March 1969 15 September 1971 RAF Changi Singapore 15 September 1971 31 July 1975 RAF Tengah Singapore 5th DisbandmentReferences editNotes a b c d e f g h i Jefford 2001 p 57 a b c d e Moyes 1976 p 142 a b c d e f g h i j k Halley 1988 p 177 Bowyer and Rawlings 1979 p 13 Flintham and Thomas 2003 p 50 Bowyer and Rawlings 1979 p 82 Flintham and Thomas 2003 p 97 a b No 103 Squadron Royal Air Force Retrieved 21 October 2015 a b Rawlings 1982 p 98 Moyes 1976 pp 142 143 Bibliography Bowyer Michael J F and John D R Rawlings Squadron Codes 1937 56 Cambridge UK Patrick Stephens Ltd 1979 ISBN 0 85059 364 6 Charlwood Don No Moon Tonight London Goodall Publications Ltd 1984 ISBN 0 907579 06 X Finn Sid Black Swan A History of 103 Squadron RAF Newton Publishers 1989 ISBN 1 872308 00 7 Flintham Vic and Andrew Thomas Combat Codes A full explanation and listing of British Commonwealth and Allied air force unit codes since 1938 Shrewsbury Shropshire UK Airlife Publishing Ltd 2003 ISBN 1 84037 281 8 Halley James J The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force amp Commonwealth 1918 1988 Tonbridge Kent UK Air Britain Historians Ltd 1988 ISBN 0 85130 164 9 Jefford C G RAF Squadrons a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912 Shrewsbury Shropshire UK Airlife Publishing 1988 second edition 2001 ISBN 1 85310 053 6 Moyes Philip J R Bomber Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft London Macdonald and Jane s Publishers Ltd 2nd edition 1976 ISBN 0 354 01027 1 Public Record Office AIR 27 103 Squadron files Rawlings John D R Coastal Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft London Jane s Publishing Company Ltd 1982 ISBN 0 7106 0187 5 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to No 103 Squadron RAF Squadron history on RAF site History of No s 101 105 Squadrons at RAF Web A brief history of No 103 Squadron RFC 1917 1918 History of 103 Squadron RAF 1917 1975 RAF Elsham Wolds North Lincolnshire Airfield Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title No 103 Squadron RAF amp oldid 1218797387, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
