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PHANTOM JET FIGHTER picture archive |
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56 Squadron History
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The Beginning
56 Squadron was formed at Gosport, Hants on the 8th June 1916. The unit was then part of the Royal Flying Corps. The Squadron's first aircraft was the BE 2c with a top speed of 70mph at 6,000ft. The Squadron moved from Gosport to London Colney, Hertfordshire, in July 1916 where they remained for several months. 74 Sqn was the first to be equipped with the S.E.5. With the arrival of the new aircraft they were despatched to Vert Galand, France, on 22nd of April. The next day they scored their first ever aerial kill. In August 1918 the Squadron was now part of the Royal Air Force stationed at Valheureux, France as part of the 3rd Brigade. 56 Sqn's main duty was low level attacks on German infantry. 56 Squadron during the first world war earned 2 VC's, 5 DSO's, 14 MC's and 12 DFC's, and between April 1917 and Armistice day (November 11th 1918) 56 Sqn brought down 427 enemy aircraft. Between WW1 & WW2 At the end of WW1 56 Sqn was based at Bethencourt, France and remained there until March 1919. The Squadron returned to England to Narborough, Norfolk and was subsequently disbanded at Birch Newton, Norfolk on the 22nd January 1920. Almost straightaway the Squadron was reformed by replacing 80 Sqn at Aboukir, Egypt on the 1st of February 1920. 56 Sqn was disbanded again in September 1920. 56 Sqn was again reformed at Hawkinge, Kent in November 1922, when it had a number of aircraft types. By 1924 the Squadron took delivery of Gloster Grebe II aircraft, they were marked with the now famous Red and White check design. The Squadron badge was presented by Air-Vice Marshal Gossale, the badge depicted a Phoenix rising out of the ashes, it was chosen because of the number of disbandments and reformations after WW1. In April 1938 56 Sqn became the 3rd fighter unit to be equipped with Hawker Hurricane. WW2 At the outbreak of the second world war on 3rd September 1939, 56 Sqn was equipped with Hurricanes at North Weald, Kent. Within 24 hours they had moved to Martlesham Heath, Suffolk. During 1940 the Squadron was involved in the Dunkirk evacuation where they went to support Blenheims patrolling the North French Coast. In July 1940 saw the German Luftwaffe start attacking in the south of Britain. During these attacks 56 Sqn was scrambled 3 or 4 times every day. At the end of 1940 56 Squadron returned to North Weald, Kent and was re-equipped with the new Hurricane MkIIb. Between September 1941 and May 1944 56 Sqn flew Hawker Typhoons, during this time 56 Sqn was involved in attacking gun posts, locomotives, transport, barracks, barges and aircraft dispersals. This meant the Typoons were fitted with 500lb bombs and later rockets. Towards the latter part of WW2 56 Sqn was moved to Holland then Germany, to follow the allies advance. By the end of the war 56 Squadron claimed 130 enemy aircraft shot down as well as 61 V1 flying bombs. From WW2 to the present day When the war ended, 56 Sqn stayed in Fassberg, Germany, until 1st April 1946 when the Squadron was disbanded and reformed at Bentwaters, Suffolk, where they took over 124 Squadron's Meteor MkIII aircraft. In February 1954 56 Sqn was chosen to trial the Supermarine Swift advanced fighter, but the Swift never entered service. From 1955 56 Sqn flew the Hawker Hunter F5's and F6's and finally F7's from Wattisham, Suffolk until 1961. The Hunters were replaced with the English Electric Lightning while still stationed at Wattisham. In 1663 the Lightnings formed the "Firebirds" display team, replacing the "Blue Diamonds" which flew Hunters. During the Cyprus coup in 1974 more than 200 sorties were flown by 56 Sqn in order to protect British bases there. On the 1st July, 56 Sqn ceased to use the F4 Phantom, they took over the role of Operational Conversion Unit at RAF Conningsby with F3 Tornado aircraft. |
nick@f4phantoms.co.uk or robert@f4phantoms.co.uk
© Copyright 1998 Nick Hewgill & Robert Small. All rights reserved.