No. 1 Squadron RAF
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No. 1 (F) Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Harrier GR7 from RAF Cottesmore.
History
The squadron motto is In omnibus princeps (first in all things), appropriate for the RAF's oldest squadron and one that has been involved in almost every major British military operation since World War I. This includes World War II, Suez, Falklands War, Gulf War, Kosovo War and Operation Telic (Iraq).No. 1 Sqn was one of the original three squadrons that were created with the formation of the Royal Flying Corps on 13 May 1912. The squadron became part of the RAF on its formation on 1 April 1918.
Flt. Lt. Alan Pollock of No. 1 Sqn was responsible for the infamous and very unofficial flying display on the 50th anniversary of the RAF in 1968.
The squadron became the world's first operator of a STOVL aircraft with the arrival of the Hawker-Siddeley Harrier in 1969, declared operational the following year.
During the Kosovo war the Squadron flew over 800 sorties as part of NATO's Operation Allied Force.
No. 1 Sqn left the "home of the Harrier" at RAF Wittering for RAF Cottesmore on July 28 2000. Cottesmore is now home to all operational RAF Harrier squadrons. No. 20 (Reserve) Squadron, the Harrier Operational Conversion Unit remains at Wittering.
Previous Aircraft Operated
- Nieuport - 1917
- SE5a - 1918
- Sopwith Snipe - 1920
- Armstrong Whitworth Siskin - 1927
- Hawker Fury - 1933
- Hawker Hurricane - 1937
- Hawker Typhoon - 1943
- Gloster Meteor - 1950
- Hawker Hunter - 1956
- Hawker-Siddeley Harrier - 1969 to present
See also
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