No. 4 Squadron RAF

No. 4 Squadron, sometimes written as No. IV Squadron, of the Royal Air Force operates the BAE Hawk T2 in the training role from RAF Valley.[2]

No. IV Squadron
Active16 September 1912 (1912-09-16) – 1 April 1918 (RFC)
1 April 1918 – 20 September 1919 (RAF)
April 1920 – present
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
TypeFlying training squadron
RoleAdvanced fast jet flying training
Part ofNo. 22 Group RAF
Home stationRAF Valley
Motto(s)In futurum videre
(Latin for 'To see into the future')[1]
AircraftBAE Systems Hawk T2
Battle honours * Honours marked with an asterisk may be emblazoned on the Squadron Standard
Insignia
Squadron badge heraldryA sun in splendour divided per bend by a flash of lightning. Approved by King Edward VIII in May 1936. The red and black segmented sun suggests round-the-clock operations, while the lightning flash is a reference to the unit's early use of wireless telephony for artillery co-operation.
Squadron roundel
A Hawk T2 in 2013

History

Formation and First World War

No. 4 Squadron formed at Farnborough in 1912 as part of the Royal Flying Corps. Operating a miscellaneous mixture of aircraft including early Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2s and Breguet biplanes, it quickly moved to Netheravon where it remained until the outbreak of the First World War. The more useful aircraft in its inventory were sent to France under the command of Major G. H. Rayleigh on 16 August 1914, to carry out reconnaissance in support of the British Expeditionary Force. On 19 August Lieutenant G. W. Mapplebeck flew the squadron's first mission over France, a reconnaissance flight searching for German cavalry in the vicinity of Gembloux, Belgium. Other aircraft remained in England to carry out anti-Zeppelin patrols.[3][4][5]

The contingent in France was reinforced on 20 September by the personnel who had remained behind in England, forming C Flight, equipped with Maurice Farman "Shorthorns". It concentrated on the reconnaissance role, standardising on the B.E.2 in 1916. In the Battle of the Somme, 4 Squadron flew contact patrols keeping track of the position of advancing troops at low level, in addition to more regular reconnaissance and artillery spotting missions. It re-equipped with the Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8 in June 1917, in time to take part in the Battle of Messines and the Battle of Passchendaele. During this period William Robinson Clarke, the first black pilot to serve for Britain, flew for the squadron. It remained equipped with the R.E.8 until the Armistice with Germany on 11 November 1918 ended the fighting.[6] The squadron returned to the United Kingdom in February 1919, disbanding in September that year.[3]

Between the wars

No 4 Squadron reformed on 30 April 1920 at Farnborough, equipped with Bristol F.2 Fighters. Part of the squadron moved to Aldergrove near Belfast in November 1920 as a result of the Irish War of Independence, moving to Baldonnel Aerodrome near Dublin in May 1921, before rejoining the rest of the squadron at Farnborough in January 1922.[3][5][7] The Squadron deployed on Royal Navy aircraft carriers when they sailed to Turkey on HMS Ark Royal and Argus during the Chanak crisis in August 1922, returning to Farnborough in September 1923. When the 1926 General Strike broke out, No. 4 Squadron's aircraft were used to patrol railway lines to deter feared sabotage.[5][8]

In October 1929, the elderly Bristol Fighters were replaced with new Armstrong Whitworth Atlas aircraft, purpose-designed for the squadron's Army co-operation role, while these in turn were replaced by Hawker Audaxes in December 1931.[5][9][10] In February 1937 it moved from Farnborough to RAF Odiham, soon re-equipping with the Hawker Hector, a more powerful derivative of the Audax. In January 1939, it discarded its Hector biplanes in favour of the new monoplane Westland Lysander.[11]

Second World War
Hawker Typhoon FR IB, number EK427; this aircraft was flown by 4 Squadron (March 1945)

Shortly after the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, the squadron moved to France as part of the British Expeditionary Force. Following Germany's invasion of France and the Low Countries on 10 May 1940, 4 Squadron was frequently forced to change bases by the approach of the advancing German armies, being withdrawn to the UK on 24 May.[7] Losses had been heavy, with 18 aircrew killed, while 60% of the groundcrew were lost.[5] It continued in the coastal patrol and air-sea rescue role while training for its main Army co-operation role after returning to the UK.[9]

In 1942 the Squadron changed its mission from the Army co-operation role, where it would operate fairly low-performance aircraft from airstrips close to the front-line, to that of fighter-reconnaissance, receiving the more modern Curtiss Tomahawk and North American Mustang, soon settling on the Mustang, flying low-level attack and reconnaissance flights against targets on the continent. In August 1943, it joined 2 Tactical Air Force in support of the planned invasion of Europe, changing to the pure reconnaissance mission in January, and replacing its Mustangs with Mosquito PR.XVI and Spitfire PR.XIs. It discarded its Mosquitoes in June, moved to France in August, and briefly supplemented its Spitfires with a few Hawker Typhoons for low-level reconnaissance. It retained its Spitfires at VE Day, moving to Celle in Germany to carry out survey operations in support of the British Army of Occupation until it was disbanded on 31 August 1945.[3][5][12]

Post War operations
A Harrier GR9 of No. 4 Squadron
A Hawk T2 with special markings for the 100th anniversary of the squadron, 2013

The squadron reformed the next day by renumbering 605 Squadron, a light bomber squadron equipped with Mosquitoes based at Volkel in the Netherlands. It re-equipped with de Havilland Vampire fighter-bombers in July 1950, replacing them with North American Sabres in October 1953. The Sabres were discarded in favour of the Hawker Hunter in July 1955, retaining these until the squadron disbanded at RAF Jever on 31 December 1960.[5][11]

Again, the squadron did not remain dormant for long, as it reformed on 1 January 1961 by renumbering No. 79 Squadron RAF, flying Hunter FR.10s in the low-level reconnaissance role. It re-equipped with the Hawker-Siddeley Harrier in 1970, first flying them from RAF Wildenrath in West Germany. It moved on to RAF Gütersloh in 1977.[5][11]

The squadron operated the Harrier until the final withdrawal of the type, receiving numerous upgrades and new versions over the years. In April 1999, the squadron left Germany to move to RAF Cottesmore.[5]

On 31 March 2010, No. 4 Squadron disbanded and reformed as No. 4 (Reserve) Squadron at RAF Wittering, taking over from No. 20 (R) Squadron as the Harrier Operational Conversion Unit.[13] As a result of the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review, the squadron disbanded in January 2011,[14] only to reform on 24 November 2011, when No. 19 (R) Squadron, operating the BAE Hawk T2 from RAF Valley in the tactical weapons training role, was renumbered.[2]

In March 2020, the squadron was awarded the right to emblazon a battle honour on its squadron standard, recognising its role in Bosnia during 1995.[15]

Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated have included:[16]

Commanding officers

Commanding officers have included:[20][21]
NameDate appointed
Major G. H. RaleighSeptember 1912
Major H. R. P. Reynolds20 January 1915
Major C. A. H. Longcroft29 January 1915
Major F. F. Waldron21 July 1915
Major G. E. Todd29 September 1915
Major V. A. Barrington-Kennett17 February 1916
Major T. W. C. Carthew13 March 1916
Major L. Jenkins20 September 1916
Major R. E. Saul2 December 1917
Major H. B. Prior6 January 1919
Squadron Leader C. H. B. Blount30 March 1920
Squadron Leader J. C. Slessor4 April 1925
Squadron Leader N. H. Bottomley15 October 1928
Squadron Leader C. E. H. Medhurst6 January 1930
Squadron Leader S. P. Simpson3 January 1931
Squadron Leader F. M. F. West4 October 1933
Squadron Leader E. J. K. McCloughry16 January 1936
Squadron Leader G. H. Loughman10 May 1937
Squadron Leader J. O. B. MacGregor11 January 1938
Squadron Leader G. P. Charles6 August 1939
Squadron Leader P. L. Donkin7 September 1940
Wing Commander G. P. Charles11 September 1940
Squadron Leader J. F. Maffett29 October 1940
Wing Commander P. H. R. Saunders9 December 1940
Wing Commander G. P. Charles17 February 1941
Wing Commander P. H. R. Saunders1 June 1941
Wing Commander G. E. Macdonald29 October 1942
Squadron Leader R. H. D. Rigall15 March 1943
Flight Lieutenant A. S. Baker17 December 1943
Squadron Leader R. J. Hardiman27 December 1943
Squadron Leader W. Shepherd15 May 1944
Squadron Leader C. D. Harris-St. John21 May 1945
Wing Commander M. P. C. Corkery20 September 1945
Wing Commander R. L. Jones15 May 1946
Squadron Leader B. Everton-Jones15 November 1947
Squadron Leader C. P. N. Newman14 September 1949
Squadron Leader P. G. K. Williamson9 March 1951
Squadron Leader P. W. Gilpin7 August 1953
Squadron Leader J. R. Chapman5 December 1955
Squadron Leader T. J. McElhaw2 September 1957
Squadron Leader R. J. SpiersFebruary 1959
Squadron Leader R. J. T. Buchanan30 December 1960
Squadron Leader R. J. Bannard7 November 1961
Squadron Leader W. J. MilnerDecember 1963
Squadron Leader E. J. E. SmithNovember 1964
Squadron Leader A. J. Hopkins7 June 1967
Wing Commander I. K. McKee1 June 1970
Wing Commander L. A. B. Baker28 August 1972
Wing Commander D. P. J. Melaniphy28 October 1974
Wing Commander A. J. Chaplin17 March 1977
Wing Commander I. C. H. Dick11 May 1979
Wing Commander K. G. Holland27 November 1981
Squadron Leader P. R. Webb29 June 1982
Wing Commander A. J. M. McKeon31 August 1982
Wing Commander P. V. Harris24 May 1985
Wing Commander R. W. Gault20 November 1987
Wing Commander M. G. F. White11 May 1990
Wing Commander D. A. Haward16 December 1991
Wing Commander C. H. Moran8 April 1994
Wing Commander A. S. Kirkpatrick25 May 1996
Wing Commander K. B. McCann26 November 1998
Wing Commander A. J. Q. Suddards9 April 2001
Wing Commander A. Offer21 October 2003
Wing Commander I. W. Duguid17 March 2006
Wing Commander H. Smyth1 September 2008
Wing Commander L. S. Taylor1 April 2010
Wing Commander S.P. JessettJune 2010
Wing Commander R. CaineJuly 2017

See also

References

Citations
  1. Pine, L.G. (1983). A dictionary of mottoes (1 ed.). London: Routledge & Kegan Paul. p. 108. ISBN 0-7100-9339-X.
  2. "IV Squadron Royal Air Force are Re-Born". www.raf.mod.uk. RAF. 24 November 2011. Archived from the original on 30 November 2011. Retrieved 26 December 2011.
  3. Ashworth 1989, p. 32.
  4. Yoxall 1950, pp. 255–256.
  5. "4 Squadron". www.raf.mod.uk. Royal Air Force. Archived from the original on 4 April 2012. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
  6. Yoxall 1950, pp. 256–258.
  7. Yoxall 1950, p. 258.
  8. Yoxall 1950, pp. 258–259.
  9. Yoxall 1950, p. 259.
  10. Halley 1980, p. 22.
  11. Halley 1980, pp. 22–23.
  12. Yoxall 1950, pp. 261–262.
  13. "IV into 20 goes once". Air International. 1 April 2010. Archived from the original on 17 June 2011. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
  14. Air of Authority: Squadron Histories 1–5 Archived 1 September 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  15. "RAF Squadrons Receive Battle Honours from Her Majesty The Queen". Royal Air Force. 24 March 2020. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  16. Halley 1980, p. 23.
  17. Bruce 1982, p. 147.
  18. Bruce 1982, p.610.
  19. Bruce 1982, p. 288.
  20. Yoxall, John (23 February 1950). "No. 4 Squadron RAF: The History of One of Our Most Famous Units". Flight. LVII (2148): 256. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  21. "Squadron Commanding Officers". Fourfax: No. IV (AC) Squadron Association. 19 April 2010. Retrieved 25 July 2015.

Bibliography
  • Ashworth, Chris. Encyclopedia of Modern Royal Air Force Squadrons. Wellingborough, UK: Patrick Stevens Limited, 1989. ISBN 1-85260-013-6.
  • Bruce, J.M. The Aeroplanes of the Royal Flying Corps (Military Wing). London:Putnam, 1982. ISBN 0-370-30084-X.
  • Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force. Tonbridge, UK: Air Britain (Historians), 1980. ISBN 0-85130-083-9.
  • Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
  • Jefford, Wing Commander C.G. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury: Airlife Publishing, 2001. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
  • Lewis, Peter. Squadron Histories: R.F.C, R.N.A.S and R.A.F., 1912–59. London: Putnam, 1959.
  • Moyes, Philip J.R. Bomber Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers) Ltd., 1964 (new edition 1976). ISBN 0-354-01027-1.
  • 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.
  • Rawlings, John D.R. Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers) Ltd., 1969 (new edition 1976, reprinted 1978). ISBN 0-354-01028-X.
  • Yoxall, John. "No. 4 Squadron RAF:The History of One of Our Most Famous Units". Flight, 23 February 1953, pp. 255–262.

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