| 词条 | No. 56 Squadron RAF |
| 释义 |
| unit_name = No. 56 (Punjab) Squadron RAF | native_name = | image = | alt = Squadron badge | caption = Squadron badge | dates = 8 June 1916 – 1 April 1918 (RFC) 1 April 1918 – 22 January 1920 (RAF) 1 February 1920 – 23 September 1922 1 November 1922 – 31 March 1946 1 April 1946 – 18 April 2008 22 April 2008 – present | disbanded = | country = {{flagicon|UK}} United Kingdom | countries = | allegiance = | branch = Royal Air Force | type = Flying squadron | role = Operational Evaluation Unit | size = | command_structure = Air Warfare Centre | garrison = RAF Waddington | garrison_label = Home station | nickname = 'Punjab Squadron' 'Firebirds'[1] | patron = | motto = Quid si coelum ruat ({{Language with name/for|2=Latin|3=What if heaven falls?}})[2] | colors = | colors_label = | march = | mascot = | anniversaries = | equipment = *Boeing E-3D Sentry AEW.1
| equipment_label = Aircraft | battles = | decorations = | battle_honours =
| battle_honours_label = | flying_hours = | website = | current_commander = | commander1 = | commander1_label = | commander2 = | commander2_label = | commander3 = | commander3_label = | commander4 = | commander4_label = | commander5 = | commander5_label = | commander6 = | commander6_label = | commander7 = | commander7_label = | commander8 = | commander8_label = | commander9 = | commander9_label = | notable_commanders = | identification_symbol = | identification_symbol_label = | identification_symbol_2 = A phoenix rising from fire, chosen to underline the squadron's ability to reappear intact regardless of the odds. Approved by King Edward VIII in July 1936.[1] | identification_symbol_2_label = Squadron badge | identification_symbol_3 = | identification_symbol_3_label = Squadron roundel | identification_symbol_4 = LR (Apr 1939 – Sep 1939) US (Sep 1939 – Apr 1946; 1947 – Dec 1950) ON (Apr 1946 – 1947) (Codes taken over from No. 124 Sqn) A–Z (Mar 1976 – July 1992) (Phantoms) AA–AZ (July 1992 – Apr 2008) (Tornados) | identification_symbol_4_label = Squadron codes | identification_symbol_5 = | identification_symbol_5_label = | aircraft_attack = | aircraft_bomber = | aircraft_electronic = | aircraft_fighter = | aircraft_helicopter = | aircraft_helicopter_attack = | aircraft_helicopter_cargo = | aircraft_helicopter_multirole = | aircraft_helicopter_observation = | aircraft_helicopter_transport = | aircraft_helicopter_trainer = | aircraft_helicopter_utility = | aircraft_interceptor = | aircraft_patrol = | aircraft_recon = | aircraft_trainer = | aircraft_transport = | aircraft_tanker = | aircraft_general = }} Number 56 Squadron, nicknamed the Firebirds for their ability to always reappear intact regardless of the odds, is one of the oldest and most successful squadrons of the Royal Air Force, with battle honours from many of the significant air campaigns of both World War I and World War II. During the First World War, the Squadron had many aces amongst its ranks such as James McCudden, Albert Ball, Reginald Hoidge and Arthur Rhys-Davids, developing a fierce reputation for the unit. In the Second World War, they fought in the Battle of Britain, and operated as a successful fighter-bomber unit for most of the war. In the 1960s, the Squadron had their own aerobatic display team, 'The Firebirds', which consisted of nine English Electric Lightning F.1As, which participated at many airshows. From March 1976 to July 1992, No. 56 Squadron operated the McDonnell Douglas Phantom FGR.2, flying from RAF Wattisham, Suffolk, becoming the penultimate unit to fly the type. Until 18 April 2008, the Squadron was the Operational Conversion Unit for the Panavia Tornado F.3 at RAF Leuchars, Fife. As of March 2019, the Firebirds are based at RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire and serve as the Air Command and Control Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Operational Evaluation Unit (AIR C2ISR OEU) for the RAF, a role they've held since 22 April 2008.[3] HistoryFirst World WarNo. 56 Squadron was formed on 8 June 1916 at Gosport, from members of No. 28 Squadron, as part of the Royal Flying Corps (RFC).[4] On 14 July, the Squadron relocated to London Colney.[5] No. 56 Squadron received its first aircraft, a Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2c on 7 August, which was followed by numerous other types.[6] Captain Albert Ball joined No. 56 Squadron as a Flight Commander in February 1917.[5] On 13 March 1917, the Squadron became the first unit in the entire RFC to be equipped with the then brand new Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5 fighter.[6] On 31 March, No. 56 Squadron received orders to relocate to the RFC HQ at Saint-Omer, France.[6] By 8 April, the entire Squadron had made the move from London Colney, with the pilots having their photograph in their S.E.5s taken before they left on the 7 April.[5] From Saint-Omer, the Squadron relocated to Vert Galant on 20 April to support the Second Battle of Arras and flew their first mission on the 22 April. Its arrival at the front with the latest fighter, combined with the unusually high proportion of experienced pilots in its ranks, led to rumours among its German opponents that the squadron was an 'Anti-Richthofen Squadron', specifically dedicated to the removal of the Red Baron.[6] The Squadron did shoot down and kill Richthofen's nearest 1917 rival Leutnant Werner Voss in an epic dogfight, on 23 September 1917 by Lieutenant Arthur Rhys-Davids. Albert Ball scored No. 56 Squadron's first kill, his 32nd, on 23 April, when he shot down an Albatros D.III. The Squadron suffered its first loss on 30 April when Lieutenant Maurice Alfred Kay was shot down. Ball himself was killed in action on 7 May, the same day as Lieutenant Roger Michael Chaworth-Musters.[6] No. 56 Squadron was sent north to Estrée-Blanche on 31 May 1917, to provide support for the upcoming Battle of Messines. From May 1917, the Germans began bombing London using their new Gotha G.IV bombers – with the first raid occurring on 25 May inflicting 290 casualties in London and Folkstone (due to diversion); the second raid was aborted and focused on Kent; the third was a daytime raid on 13 June in which there were 594 casualties, which went unanswered with the Germans losing no bombers. In response to this, No. 56 Squadron was recalled back to England and based at RFC Bekesbourne on 21 June.[6] However, during this time no more raids were launched and the Squadron returned to Estrée-Blanche on 5 July – two days later the German raids recommenced. The Squadron participated in the Battle of Passchendaele, marking numerous victories throughout it. Captain James McCudden, eventual highest scoring pilot of the Squadron, joined on 13 August. Rhys-Davids made his final sortie on 27 October 1917, taking off for a routine patrol he chased after a group of Albatros fighters after which he was never seen again. The Luftstreitkräfte credited Karl Gallwitz with the kill, word only reached the RFC on 29 December that Rhys-Davids had been killed. On 18 November, No. 56 Squadron was relocated to Laviéville in support of the Battle of Cambrai.[6] In December 1917, McCudden scored 13 victories – including 4 on 23 December, a first for the RFC. In January 1918, the Squadron moved to Baizieux. McCudden was sent back to England on 5 March, where he was promoted to Major and received the Victoria Cross, he died on 9 July in an accident while on his way to take command of No. 60 Squadron. On 21 March, the Germans began their Spring Offensive, this forced No. 56 Squadron to pull back to Valheureux, where from they conducted air-to-air patrols for the next four months.[6] The Squadron supported the buildup to and provided support during the Battle of Amiens (beginning 8 August), which would later be known as the start of the Hundred Days Offensive. On 1 August, No. 56 Squadron, in tandem with No. 3 Squadron, attacked a German aerodrome in which 6 hangars and 16 enemy aircraft were destroyed.[6] For the rest of the war, No. 56 Squadron followed the allied offensive, providing ground support as well as engaging in dogfights. By the end of the war, No. 56 Squadron had scored 402 victories (as 'destroyed', 'out of control' or 'driven down'), and many famous fighter aces served with the unit, such as James McCudden, Reginald Hoidge, Gerald Constable Maxwell, Arthur Rhys-Davids, Geoffrey Hilton Bowman, Richard Maybery, Leonard Monteagle Barlow, Henry Burden, Cyril Crowe, Maurice Mealing, Albert Ball, William Roy Irwin, Edric Broadberry, Kenneth William Junor, Cecil Lewis, Keith Muspratt, Harold Walkerdine, William Spurrett Fielding-Johnson, William Otway Boger, Charles Jeffs, Harold Molyneux, and Duncan Grinnell-Milne, the latter of whom became the unit's last Commanding Officer before the squadron was disbanded. During the course of the war, forty of the squadron's pilots were killed in action, twenty wounded and thirty-one taken prisoner.[7]Interwar yearsOn 22 November 1918, No. 56 Squadron moved to Béthencourt, France. It stayed here until it moved back to Britain on 15 February 1919, arriving at RAF Narborough along with No. 60 Squadron and No. 64 Squadron.[6] In December 1919, the Squadron moved to RAF Bircham Newton before disbanding on 22 January 1920. Only days after being disbanded, No. 80 Squadron, based at RAF Aboukir, in Egypt, was renumbered on 1 February 1920 to No. 56 Squadron. From here they flew Sopwith Snipes.[4][8] The Squadron was disbanded again on 23 September 1922; however, one flight was hastily reformed on 26 September and sent to Turkey for the Chanak Crisis. This flight was officially attached to No. 208 Squadron and remained in Turkey until August 1923. However it continued to use the 56 numberplate, even though No. 56 Squadron had reformed officially in November 1922 at RAF Hawkinge. This flight returned and rejoined the rest of the Squadron at RAF Biggin Hill.[6] In September 1924, No. 56 Squadron was assigned a red and white checker pattern as a means of squadron identification, something which the Firebirds would actively use up until 2008.[9] The same month saw the Squadron convert to the Gloster Grebe Mk.II, flying them until they were exchanged for Armstrong Whitworth Siskin Mk.IIIas in September 1927.[4] The Squadron finally settled at RAF North Weald in October 1927, where it remained until the end of 1939 and the start of the Second World War.[6] On 14 November 1928, the No. 56 Squadron was allowed to use a phoenix for its crest along with the motto Quid si coelum ruat. The Firebirds converted to the Bristol Bulldog Mk.IIa in October 1932, these were kept until May 1936 when the Squadron received Gloster Gauntlet Mk.IIs. No. 56 Squadron's crest and motto were officially approved by King Edward VIII in July 1936.[10] No. 56 Squadron converted to their last biplane, the Gloster Gladiator Mk.I, in July 1937.[11] The Gladiators were flown up until May 1938 when the Squadron acquired Hawker Hurricane Mk.Is. The Firebirds would operate the Hurricane in the opening stages of WW2.[4] Second World WarNo. 56 Squadron's introduction to the Second World War came on 6 September 1939. The Firebirds, then based at RAF North Weald, were the victims of a friendly fire incident by No. 74 Squadron known as the Battle of Barking Creek.[12] Two pilots of the squadron were shot down and one, P/O Montague Hulton-Harrop, was killed, becoming the RAF's first casualty in the defence of the UK.[13] The Squadron entered the Second World War equipped with the Hawker Hurricane Mk.I and first saw action during the Battle of France, although they remained based in England and sent flights to France for short periods.[8] The Firebirds ended the campaign by covering the Dunkirk evacuation.[4] As part of No. 11 Group, No. 56 Squadron was based at RAF North Weald at the beginning of the Battle of Britain. From there the Squadron first engaged German aircraft on 31 July 1940. It was heavily involved in the fighting in the south of England during August, although the Squadron moved to RAF Boscombe Down on the 1 September.[8] It was one of the few fighter squadrons to remain based in the south of England continuously through the battle, scoring 59 kills by the end.[14] The Squadron relocated away from RAF Boscombe down on 29 November to RAF Middle Wallop where they stayed until 17 December when the Firebirds returned to RAF North Weald in Essex.[15] It was while based here that No. 56 Squadron upgraded to the Hurricane Mk.IIb in February 1941.[16] In April 1941, No. 56 Squadron gained its 'Punjab' nickname after the Indian province of Punjab raised money to have their name attached to a fighter, thus becoming an Indian 'gift' squadron.[17] The Firebirds then relocated for a brief stay at RAF Martlesham Heath, Suffolk on 23 July before settling at RAF Duxford on 26 July.[15] While based at RAF Duxford, the Squadron recommenced missions over the continent, including escorting bombers raiding targets in German-occupied France. In September 1941, No. 56 Squadron became the first unit to receive the Hawker Typhoon Mk.Ia which, although troublesome to begin with, the Squadron helped turn into a usable fighter.[6] Before leaving RAF Duxford, the Squadron upgraded to the Typhoon Mk.Ib in March 1942, moving to RAF Snailwell on 30 March.[4][15] From 24 August 1942 to 22 July 1943, the unit was based with No. 12 Group at RAF Matlaske in Norfolk.[15] During this time, No. 56 Squadron's role changed from that of low-level defence against Focke-Wulf Fw 190 and Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter-bomber attacks into becoming fighter bombers themselves, attacking ground and sea targets. With the Firebirds using bombs from November 1943 and rockets from February 1944.[4] No. 56 Squadron was to score one confirmed victory while flying Typhoons.[18] After moving around multiple bases in the UK, the Squadron moved up to RAF Scorton, Yorkshire on 7 April 1944, where they converted to the Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX.[15] From here the Squadron flew escort and reconnaissance missions.[4] On 28 April 1944, No. 56 Squadron moved to RAF Newchurch, Kent where the Squadron converted to the Hawker Tempest Mk.V in June.[15][16] Squadron Leader Frederick Higginson left the Squadron at this time, being posted to No. 83 Group. Due to his knowledge of the pilot escape routes in France; his total victory count, all with No. 56 Squadron, was 15.[19] As a unit of No. 150 Wing, under the command of Wing Commander Roland Beamont, No. 56 Squadron became an air defence squadron. It was tasked with defending Britain from V-1 flying bombs – of which between 70 and {{frac|77|1|2}} were shot down by the Squadron. No. 56 Squadron transferred to advance landing ground B.60 at Grimbergen in Belgium on 28 September 1944, becoming part of No. 122 Wing, Second Tactical Air Force.[15][6][20] During subsequent operations No. 56 Squadron was to become the equal highest scoring Tempest unit, with No. 486 (NZ) Squadron, totalling 59 confirmed victories. In the latter months of the war, the Firebirds were deployed to several airfields in Europe: including Volkel, in the Netherlands; Copenhagen; and numerous bases in Germany.[6] During the Second World War, the No. 56 Squadron claimed a total of 149 aircraft shot down.[21] Cold WarOn 31 March 1946, the No. 56 (Punjab) Squadron nameplate was transferred over to No. 16 Squadron.[6] No. 56 (Fighter) Squadron then reformed the next day, 1 April, at RAF Bentwaters when No. 124 Squadron was renumbered.[4] Upon their reformation, the Firebirds converted to their first jet fighter, the Gloster Meteor F.3. No. 56 (F) Squadron left RAF Bentwaters on 16 September, moving to RAF Boxted.[6][22] They remained here before relocating on 10 November to RAF Acklington, eventually moving on to RAF Wattisham on 20 December.[23][24] No. 56 (F) Squadron moved on to RAF Duxford on 17 April 1947 staying there until 31 August before returning once again on 30 November, where they would last until 2 February 1948.[4] The Squadron upgraded to the Meteor F.4 in August 1948. The Firebirds settled at RAF Waterbeach on 10 May 1950, where they would operate from for the next nine years.[6] In December 1950, No. 56 (F) Squadron upgraded to the improved Meteor F.8.[4] In February 1954, No. 56 (F) Squadron became the first, and only, squadron to receive the Supermarine Swift F.1, and the subsequent Swift F.2s they received in August.[6] The Squadron evaluated both Swift variants up until March 1955 when the F.1 and F.2s were withdrawn from service due to their poor performance.[16] Continuing to operate the Meteor F.8 after the Swift, No. 56 (F) Squadron finally converted to a new aircraft in May 1955 when they received the Hawker Hunter F.5.[4] On 10 July 1958, the Squadron moved to RAF Wattisham, where they would spend some 35 years defending UK airspace, intercepting Tupolev Tu-95 "Bear" aircraft.[25] No. 56 (F) Squadron upgraded to Hunter F.6s in November 1958.[16] In December 1960, the Squadron began to convert to the English Electric Lightning F.1A, with their last Hunters disbanding in January 1961.[16][26] In 1963, No. 56 (F) Squadron formed a display team called "The Firebirds", flying nine red and silver Lightnings.[26] On 6 June 1963, the display team suffered an accident at RAF Wattisham during preparations for the 25th Paris Air Show.[27] The incident occurred when a pair of Lightnings (XM179 and XM181) collided during a bomb-burst manoeuvre – XM179, piloted by Flt. Lt. Michael Cooke, crashed, while XM181 landed safely.[28] Cooke ejected and was left with severe spinal injuries, being confined to a wheelchair.[29] The Firebirds display team was disbanded in 1964, becoming the last RAF aerobatic team to fly fighter jets.[27] No. 56 (F) Squadron left RAF Wattisham on 11 May 1967, deploying to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.[6][26] In August 1971, the Squadron acquired Lightning F.6s after No. 74 (F) Squadron flew them over from RAF Tengah, Singapore before they disbanded.[30] No. 56 (F) Squadron flew extensive top cover over Cyprus during the 1974 Cypriot coup d'état and the subsequent Turkish invasion of the island.[14] The Firebirds returned to RAF Wattisham on 21 January 1975.[4] While based at RAF Akrotiri, No. 56 (F) Squadron also operated a number of English Electric Canberras – these included a mixture of T.4s and B.2s.[31] On 22 March 1976, No. 56 (Designate) Squadron formed at RAF Coningsby with the McDonnell Douglas Phantom FGR.2.[6] It wasn't until 29 June that the Lightning F.6s were disbanded and the Squadron Standard was formally handed over to RAF Coningsby.[4] No. 56 (Fighter) Squadron returned to RAF Wattisham on 9 July, where they would remain for the next 16 years.[24] Upon their return, The Firebirds found themselves sharing RAF Wattisham with No. 23 Squadron.[32] In October 1978, the Firebirds became the first squadron in the RAF to operate an aircraft in air superiority grey when Phantom FGR.2 XV474 was delivered to RAF Wattisham, marking a change from the old green and grey schemes.[33] On 21 June 1979, Phantom FGR.2 XV424 from No. 56 (F) Squadron re-enacted the transatlantic flight of Alcock and Brown to celebrate its 60th anniversary.[34] The flight was undertaken by pilot, Sqd. Ldr. A. J. N. Alcock (nephew of John Alcock who made the original flight), and navigator, Flt. Lt. W. N. Browne, who brought the original 1919 mascot 'Twinkletoes' with them on their journey.[35] No. 23 Squadron departed RAF Wattisham on 21 March 1983 when their nameplate was passed to No. 29 Squadron at RAF Stanley on the Falkland Islands, from where they provided air defence.[24][36] The Firebirds were not alone for long however with No. 74 (F) Squadron reforming at RAF Wattisham on 19 October 1984. The Tigers were equipped with unique F-4J(UK) Phantoms, procured from the United States Navy due to the re-basing of Phantoms to the Falklands.[37] These contrasted with No. 56 (F) Squadron's Phantom FGR.2s which used Rolls-Royce Spey engines, UK MOD Radar systems and other RAF modifications. No. 74 (F) Squadron eventually exchanged their F-4J(UK)s for the Phantom FGR.2 in January 1991, due to their availability from other squadrons converting to the Panavia Tornado F.3.[38] Plans had originally been for the RAF to retain both Phantom squadrons but under the Options for Change defence review in 1990 the decision was made to withdraw both units.[39] Both No. 56 (F) Squadron and No. 74 (F) Squadron participated in their last Armament Practice Camp (APC) at RAF Akrotiri in early June 1992. On 13 June 1992, the Firebirds and the Tigers participated in Queen Elizabeth II's official birthday flypast, flying over Buckingham Palace with a 16-ship diamond formation, which was made up of eight Phantoms from each squadron.[32] No. 56 (F) Squadron ended their operations at RAF Wattisham at the end of July 1992. No. 74 (F) Squadron would continue to operate there until October 1992 when they stood down and reformed at RAF Valley as a training squadron.[30] RAF Wattisham itself was handed over to the Army Air Corps becoming Wattisham Airfield in March 1993.[40]From Tornados to the Air Warfare CentreOn 1 August 1992, the No. 56 (Fighter) Squadron nameplate was transferred to No. 65 Squadron at RAF Coningsby becoming No. 56 (Reserve) Squadron.[6] It became the RAF's Operational Conversion Unit (No. 229 OCU) conducting training of Ab initio crew and aircrew converting from other aircraft types to the Tornado F.3.[14] Following the announcement that the Eurofighter Typhoon would be stationed at Coningsby, it was decided that No. 56 (R) Squadron would relocate north to RAF Leuchars in Fife, home to No. 43 (F) Squadron and No. 111 (F) Squadron.[6] The Squadron moved north in March 2003, initially moving into the 'Ark Royal' hangar before moving into a new building on the northern side of the airfield.[41] No. 56 (R) Squadron flew an aerobatic display from 1993 until December 2005 when it was announced, that as a cost-cutting measure, the RAF would no longer have a Tornado F.3 display.[42] With the introduction of the Eurofighter Typhoon into RAF service it was decided that No. 56 (R) Squadron would be amalgamated with No. 43 (F) Squadron as part of the Tornado F.3 force draw down, with the Fighting Cocks taking over the OCU role.[102] No. 56 (R) Squadron disbanded on 18 April 2008 at RAF Leuchars, with the occasion marked by a diamond nine formation flypast over Eastern Scotland.[102][43] The No. 56 (R) Squadron nameplate and standard was transferred to the Air Warfare Centre Air Command and Control Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Operational Evaluation Unit (AIR C2ISR OEU) at RAF Waddington on 22 April 2008.[6] Upon their move to Waddington, the Firebirds initially tested and evaluated the: Boeing E-3D Sentry AEW.1; Raytheon Sentinel R.1; Hawker Siddeley Nimrod R.1, MR.2 and BAE Systems Nimrod MRA.4.[44] On 1 February 2018, all (Reserve) nameplates were rescinded by the RAF thus changing No. 56 (Reserve) Squadron to just No. 56 Squadron.[45] On 10 June, the Firebirds paraded through the village of North Weald, where the Squadron was based between 1927 and 1941, after being awarded the 'Freedom of the District' by the local council.[46][47] As of 2019, the Squadron provides operational test and evaluation, and specialist advice, for RAF airborne ground surveillance, airborne electronic sensors, airborne command and control, aerospace battle management and intelligence exploitation.[48][49] Aircraft operated{{Div col|colwidth=22em}}
See also
References
1. ^1 {{cite book|last1=Ashworth|first1=Chris|title=Encyclopaedia of modern Royal Air Force squadrons|date=1989|publisher=Stephens|location=Wellingborough|isbn=1-85260-013-6|pages=137–138}} 2. ^{{cite book|last1=Pine|first1=L.G.|title=A dictionary of mottoes|date=1983|publisher=Routledge & Kegan Paul|location=London|isbn=0-7100-9339-X|page=192|edition=1}} 3. ^{{cite web |url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/squadrons/56-squadron/ |title=56 Squadron |website=raf.mod.uk |accessdate=11 December 2018}} 4. ^1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 {{cite web |url=http://www.rafweb.org/Squadrons/Sqn056-60.htm |title=No 56 - 60 Squadron Histories |website=Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation |accessdate=6 December 2018}} 5. ^1 2 {{cite web |url=https://shenleyww1.wordpress.com/royal-flying-corps-at-shenley/ |title=Royal Flying Corps at Shenley |website=Shenley in WWI |accessdate=6 December 2018}} 6. ^1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 {{cite web |url=http://www.56sqnfirebirds.org.uk/squadronhistory.htm |title=56 Squadron History |website=56 Squadron – Home of the Firebirds |accessdate=6 December 2018}} 7. ^{{cite web |url=http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/canada/molyneux.php |title=Harold Molyneux |website=The Aerodrome |accessdate=8 February 2010}} 8. ^1 2 {{cite web |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111208204043/https://www.raf.mod.uk/Bob1940/54to72.html |title=Squadrons of the Battle of Britain. Aircraft, badges and history - 54 to 72 Squadrons (Archived) |accessdate=10 December 2018 |website=raf.mod.uk}} 9. ^{{cite web |url=http://www.56sqnfirebirds.org.uk/sqnmarkings.htm |title=Squadron Aircraft - Markings |website=56 Squadron – Home of the Firebirds |accessdate=27 March 2019}} 10. ^{{cite web |url=http://www.rafht.co.uk/index.php/2016/06/09/56-sqn/ |title=56 Sqn |website=RAF Heraldry Trust |accessdate=6 December 2018}} 11. ^{{cite web|last=Gustavsson|first=Håkan|title=Gloster Gladiator in 56 RAF Squadron service|url=http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/gladiator_raf_56.htm|work=Biplane Fighter Aces from the Second World War|accessdate=17 April 2013}} 12. ^Ramsay, 1987. Pages 26–33. 13. ^First casualties of the RAF were crews from Bomber Command. 14. ^1 2 {{cite web |url=http://www.sharpshooter-maj.com/html/unit01.htm |title=Firebird Rising |website=Sharpshooter - Military Aviation Journal |accessdate=10 December 2018}} 15. ^1 2 3 4 5 6 {{cite web |url=http://www.rafcommands.com/Ross/Fighter/56F.html |title=No. 56 (Punjab) Squadron RAF |website=Royal Air Force Commands |accessdate=10 December 2018}} 16. ^1 2 3 4 5 6 7 {{cite web |url=http://www.rafweb.org/Squadrons/Sqn%20Markings/SqnMark056A.htm |title=No 56 Squadron Aircraft & Markings 1938 - Current |website=Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation |accessdate=10 December 2018}} 17. ^{{cite web |url=https://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/history/ww2/1203-gift-squadrons.html |title=The Indian Gift Squadrons |work=bharat-rakshak.com |accessdate=1 February 2016 |author=Singh, Polly}} 18. ^Thomas and Shores, 1988{{Page needed|date=July 2011}} 19. ^{{cite book |last1=Shores |first1=Christoper F. |last2=Williams |first2=Clive |title=Aces High |date=1994 |publisher=Grub Street |location=London |page=327}} 20. ^122 Wing consisted of 3 Sqn., 56 Sqn., 80 Sqn., 274 Sqn. (to March 1945), and 486(NZ) Sqn. 21. ^Thomas and Shores, 1988 22. ^{{cite web |url=http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-B.htm#Boxted |title=RAF Stations - B |website=Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation |accessdate=10 December 2018}} 23. ^{{cite web |url=http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-A.htm#Acklington |title=RAF Stations - A |website=Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation |accessdate=10 December 2018}} 24. ^1 2 {{cite web |url=http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-W.htm#Wattisham |title=RAF Stations - W |website=Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation |accessdate=10 December 2018}} 25. ^{{cite web |url=http://www.wattishamstationheritage.org/the-hunter.html |title=The Hunter |website=Wattisham Station Heritage |accessdate=10 December 2018}} 26. ^1 2 {{cite web |url=http://www.wattishamstationheritage.org/the-lightning.html |title=The Lightning |website=Wattisham Station Heritage |accessdate=10 December 2018}} 27. ^1 {{cite web |url=http://aerobaticteams.net/en/teams/i62/Firebirds.html |title=Firebirds |website=Aerobatic Display Teams |accessdate=10 December 2018}} 28. ^{{cite web |url=http://www.ukserials.com/losses-1963.htm |title=1963 losses |website=ukserials.com |accessdate=10 December 2018}} 29. ^{{cite web |url=https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=56578 |title=Accident English Electric Lightning F1A XM179, 06 June 1963 |website=Aviation Safety Network |accessdate=10 December 2018}} 30. ^1 {{cite web |last=Cossey |first=Bob |url=http://74sqdn.tk/squadron-history/ |title=The History of 74 (Fighter) Squadron |website=74 Squadron Association |accessdate=10 December 2018}} 31. ^1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 {{cite web |url=http://www.56sqnfirebirds.org.uk/flyingmachines.htm |title=Squadron Aircraft - Supersonic Jets |website=56 Squadron – Home of the Firebirds |accessdate=10 December 2018}} 32. ^1 {{cite web |url=http://www.wattishamstationheritage.org/the-phantom.html |title=The Phantom |website=Wattisham Station Heritage |accessdate=10 December 2018}} 33. ^{{cite web |first=David |last=Eade |url=http://www.wattisham.org.uk/airsceneuk/partfive/partfive.htm |title=The Wattisham Chronicles – Part five: Phantastic Phantom's arrival |website=Wattisham Aviation Society |accessdate=27 March 2019}} 34. ^{{cite web |url=http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/phantom/survivor.php?id=713 |title=XV424 - RAF Museum, Hendon, Greater London |website=Thunder & Lightnings |accessdate=10 December 2018}} 35. ^{{cite web |url=https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/documents/collections/1994-1348-A-Phantom-FGR2-XV424.pdf |title=McDONNELL DOUGLAS PHANTOM FGR2 XV424 |website=RAF Museum |accessdate=10 December 2018}} 36. ^{{cite web |url=http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-S.htm#Stanley |title=RAF Stations - S |website=Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation |accessdate=10 December 2018}} 37. ^{{cite web |url=http://74sqdn.tk/photographic-archive/the-modern-era-hawks-phantoms/ |title=The Modern Era: Phantoms & Hawks |website=74 Squadron Association |accessdate=10 December 2018}} 38. ^{{cite journal |last1=Archer|first1=Bob |last2= |first2= |year=1992 |title=Sunset for the Phantom |journal=RAF Yearbook|page=14 |publisher=IAT Publishing}} 39. ^{{cite hansard |jurisdiction=United Kingdom |title=Defence (Options for Change) |url=http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1990/jul/25/defence-options-for-change |house=House of Commons |date=25 July 1990 |column_start=468 |column_end=486 |speaker=Tom King |position=Secretary of State for Defence}} 40. ^{{cite web |url=http://www.wattishamstationheritage.org/wattisham-today-.html |title=Wattisham Today |website=Wattisham Station Heritage |accessdate=10 December 2018}} 41. ^{{cite web |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090430155738/http://www.leuchars.raf.mod.uk/sqn56.htm |title=56 (Reserve) Squadron |website=RAF Leuchars |accessdate=10 December 2018}} 42. ^{{cite book |last1=Glenhill |first1=David |title=Tornado F3 in Focus: A Navigator's Eye on Britain's Last Interceptor |date=2015 |publisher=Fonthill Media |location=Stroud |isbn=1781553076 |page=180}} 43. ^{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7354853.stm |title=RAF squadron make final flypast |publisher=BBC News |date=18 April 2008 |accessdate=22 March 2019 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080422005533/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7354853.stm |archivedate=22 April 2008}} 44. ^1 2 3 4 5 {{cite web |url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/archive.cfm?storyid=76C3BC6F-1143-EC82-2EC97200E7FE4A9B |title=RAF Leuchars Bids Farewell To 56 (R) Sqn |publisher=Royal Air Force |accessdate=22 March 2019 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090430182622/http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/archive.cfm?storyid=76C3BC6F-1143-EC82-2EC97200E7FE4A9B |archivedate=30 April 2009}} 45. ^{{cite web |url=http://warnesysworld.com/raf-drops-reserve-suffix-squadrons/ |title=RAF Drops ‘Reserve’ Suffix from its Squadrons |website=Warnsey's World of Military Aviation |date=17 March 2018 |accessdate=11 December 2018}} 46. ^{{cite web |url=https://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/16167560.key-battle-of-britain-squadron-to-receive-freedom-of-the-district/ |title=The 56 Squadron formerly based at North Weald will be made Freemen |newspaper=East London & West Essex Guardian |location=London |date=18 April 2018 |accessdate=27 March 2019}} 47. ^{{cite web |url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/stations/raf-waddington/news/no-56-squadron-exercise-their-freedom-of-the-district-in-north-weald/ |title=NO. 56 SQUADRON EXERCISE THEIR 'FREEDOM OF THE DISTRICT' IN NORTH WEALD |publisher=Royal Air Force |date=19 June 2018 |accessdate=27 March 2019}} 48. ^{{cite web |url=http://www.56sqnfirebirds.org.uk/squadrontoday.htm |title=The Firebirds Today |website=56 Squadron – Home of the Firebirds |accessdate=10 December 2018}} 49. ^1 {{cite web |url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/organisation/56squadron.cfm |title=56(R) Squadron |publisher=Royal Air Force |accessdate=22 March 2019 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910031126/http://www.raf.mod.uk/organisation/56squadron.cfm |archivedate=10 September 2015}} 50. ^1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 {{cite web |url=http://www.56sqnfirebirds.org.uk/flyingmachines_biplanes.htm |title=Squadron Aircraft - Biplanes |website=56 Squadron – Home of the Firebirds |accessdate=12 December 2018}} 51. ^1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 {{cite web |url=http://www.56sqnfirebirds.org.uk/flyingmachines_ww2.htm |title=Squadron Aircraft - WWII |website=56 Squadron – Home of the Firebirds |accessdate=12 December 2018}} 52. ^1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 {{cite web |url=http://www.56sqnfirebirds.org.uk/flyingmachines_earlyjets.htm |title=Squadron Aircraft - Early Jets |website=56 Squadron – Home of the Firebirds |accessdate=12 December 2018}} 53. ^{{cite book |last1=Curtis |first1=Howard J. |title=Military Aircraft Markings 2018 |date=2018 |publisher=Crécy Publishing Ltd. |location=Manchester |isbn=9781910809204 |page=105}}
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4 : Royal Flying Corps squadrons|Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons|Military units and formations established in 1916|1916 establishments in the United Kingdom |
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