No. 14 Squadron RAF facts for kids

Quick facts for kids No. 14 Squadron RAF
Squadron badge
Active	3 Feb 1915 – 4 Feb 1919 1 Feb 1920 – 1 Jun 1945 1 Jun 1945 – 31 Mar 1946 1 Apr 1946 – 17 Dec 1962 17 Dec 1962 – 30 Jun 1970 30 Jun 1970 – 1 Jun 2011 14 Oct 2011 – present
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Air Force
Type	Flying squadron
Role	Battlefield reconnaissance
Part of	No. 1 Group RAF
Home station	RAF Waddington
Motto(s)	أنا نشر الأجنحة بلدي وابقي على وعد (Arabic for 'I spread my wings and keep my promise')
Aircraft	Beechcraft Shadow R1
Battle honours	Egypt (1915–1917)* Gaza Megiddo (1918) Arabia (1916–1917)* Palestine (1917–1918)* Transjordan (1924) Palestine (1936–1939) East Africa (1940–1941)* Mediterranean (1941–1943)* Egypt and Libya (1941–1942)* Sicily (1943)* Atlantic (1945)* Gulf (1991)* Kosovo (1999) Iraq (2003–2011) * Honours marked with an asterisk may be emblazoned on the Squadron Standard
Insignia
Squadron badge heraldry	A winged plate charged with a cross throughout and shoulder pieces of a suit of armour. The badge was approved by King George VI in May 1937 and represents a crusader in association with the Cross of St George due to the squadron's close First World War association with Diospolis, Palestine, the reputed burial place of the Saint, and its location in the Middle East at the time of submission to the Chester Herald. Flamb
Squadron roundel
Squadron codes	BF (Apr 1939 – Sep 1939) CX (Sep 1944 – Jun 1945, Apr 1946 – Feb 1951) B (May 1953 – Jun 1955) A (Carried on Jaguars) B (Carried on Jaguars) BA – BZ (Aug 1985 – Jun 2011)

No. 14 Squadron is a special part of the Royal Air Force (RAF). It currently flies the Beechcraft Shadow R1, which is a modified Beechcraft Super King Air plane. This squadron's job is to gather Intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) information. They operate from RAF Waddington in the United Kingdom.

History of No. 14 Squadron

World War I Missions

No. 14 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps started on February 3, 1915. They were based at Shoreham Airport and used planes like the Farman S.11 and B.E.2. After training, they went to the Middle East in November 1915. Their main task was to help the army during the Sinai and Palestine Campaign.

In 1916, they added a few D.H.1A two-seat fighters to their B.E.2s for escorting other planes. These fighters were used until March 1917. Other fighter planes, like the Bristol Scout, were also used. In August 1917, the fighter part of the squadron left to form No. 111 Squadron.

No. 14 Squadron helped British forces during the Third Battle of Gaza in late 1917. In November 1917, they got R.E.8 planes for reconnaissance. They attacked the Turkish Seventh Army as it retreated after the Battle of Nablus. The squadron returned to the UK in January 1919 and was officially closed down the next month.

Squadron Motto

The squadron's motto is I spread my wings and keep my promise. Many believe this saying comes from the Koran. The Emir of Transjordan suggested it to the RAF.

Between the World Wars

On February 1, 1920, the squadron started again in Ramleh. This happened when No. 111 Squadron was renamed. They flew Bristol Fighters for many jobs, including taking aerial photos and keeping peace. For 20 years, they patrolled Trans-Jordan and Palestine. This is when they got their Arabic motto.

In June 1924, Airco DH.9A bombers joined the Bristol Fighters. They used these bombers to attack and help defeat a large group of Ikhwan tribesmen. This happened at Umm el Amad, about 12 miles (19 km) south of Amman in Jordan. By January 1926, the squadron only flew DH.9As.

In November 1929, Fairey IIIFs replaced the DH.9As. These were used for reconnaissance during civil unrest in Palestine. The Fairey Gordon planes replaced the IIIFs in September 1932. They used them against Arab rioters during the 1933 Palestine riots. In March 1938, the squadron switched to Vickers Wellesley bomber planes.

World War II Missions

When World War II began, the squadron moved to Egypt but soon returned to Amman. In May 1940, as war with Italy seemed likely, No. 14 Squadron moved to Port Sudan. This was to make the RAF stronger in East Africa against Italian forces.

On June 10, Italy declared war. On the night of June 11/12, No. 14 Squadron flew its first attack mission of the war. Nine Wellesleys bombed fuel tanks and the airfield at Massawa. They lost their first Wellesley on June 14 during another raid on Massawa. In July 1940, they received a Supermarine Walrus from 47 Squadron for patrols over the Red Sea. The Wellesleys continued bombing Italian targets.

14 Squadron Blenheims during World War II

In September 1940, the squadron started getting twin-engined Bristol Blenheims. Their first Blenheim mission was on September 20. Their last Wellesley flight was on November 20. In March 1941, they bombed targets to support the attack on Keren.

In April 1941, after Addis Ababa was freed, the squadron went to Egypt. They flew missions over the Western Desert. They supported Operation Brevity in May 1941, which was a British attack that didn't succeed. They attacked German and Italian vehicles. Five Blenheims were shot down by German Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters on May 21.

The squadron attacked Maleme Airfield on May 25 and 27 during the Battle of Crete. In June, they helped Operation Battleaxe, another British attack in the Western Desert that also didn't succeed. On July 7, 1941, the squadron left the Western Desert. They were based in Palestine and Iraq until November 1941, when they returned to Egypt.

A Martin Marauder of No. 14 Squadron in 1942

On August 17, 1942, No. 14 Squadron stopped operations to switch to the Martin Marauder. They were the first RAF squadron to use this American bomber. Their first mission with the Marauder was a sea reconnaissance flight on October 26, 1942. They used Marauders for long-range sea patrols, dropping mines, and attacking ships with torpedoes over the Aegean.

Their Marauders sank a tanker on January 19, 1943, and two more merchant ships on February 21. In March 1943, they began anti-submarine missions and long-range sea patrols. They found targets for other anti-shipping units. They operated from Blida and then Maison Blanche in Algeria.

In May 1943, they added six P-51A Mustangs for attacks, but these were returned in July. The squadron continued with the Marauder. They had smaller groups of planes in Italy and Sardinia. In June 1944, they moved completely to Alghero in Sardinia. In July 1944, they started working with Bristol Beaufighters from 39 Squadron. A Marauder would fly offshore and guide Beaufighters to attack any ships they saw. The squadron flew its last Marauder mission on September 21 that year. They left their planes behind when they moved back to the UK.

Back in the UK, the squadron was at RAF Chivenor. They flew anti-submarine missions over the Western Approaches and the Bay of Biscay. They used Vickers Wellington Mk.XIVs. The squadron was closed down again on June 1, 1945. But it was restarted the same day when 143 Squadron was renamed. This squadron, based at Banff, flew De Havilland Mosquito Mk.VI planes for anti-shipping attacks. This version of the squadron didn't last long, closing on March 31, 1946.

With RAF Germany

The squadron didn't stay closed for long. The very next day, No.128 Squadron, which flew Mosquito B.16s at RAF Wahn in Germany, was renamed No.14 Squadron. In December 1947, they got Mosquito B.35s. The squadron moved to RAF Celle in September 1949, then to RAF Fassberg in November 1950.

In 1951, the squadron received Vampire FB.5s to replace the Mosquitos. In 1953, the Vampires were replaced by Venom FB.1s. The squadron changed to a day-fighter role in 1955 when they got Hunter F.4s. They were based at RAF Oldenburg for two years, then moved to RAF Ahlhorn. They used Hunters until December 17, 1962, when the unit was closed at RAF Gutersloh.

However, on the same day, No.88 Squadron was renamed No.14 Squadron. They flew Canberra B(I).8s from RAF Wildenrath.

On June 30, 1970, the squadron was reformed at RAF Bruggen. They flew Phantom FGR.2s until April 1975. Then, they switched to the SEPECAT Jaguar. From 1976, their job at RAF Bruggen was to support the army in Europe. They were ready for both regular battles and to carry special weapons if needed. The squadron's twelve Jaguars were expected to carry eight WE.177 special bombs.

From 1986, the squadron's twelve Jaguars were replaced with twelve Tornado GR.1s. Tornados could carry two WE.177 special bombs. The squadron's role with these special weapons was planned to continue until the mid-1990s.

In August 1990, the squadron went to Bahrain. This was because Iraq invaded Kuwait. They were part of Operation Granby with two other squadrons from Bruggen, No. 9 and No. 31 Squadrons.

Iraq and Afghanistan Missions

The squadron returned to the UK from Germany in January 2001. They operated from RAF Lossiemouth. They specialized in low-level flying and using special targeting pods at night. They took part in Operation Resinate (South), flying missions from Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait until January 2003.

The squadron returned to Ali Al Salem in August 2003 for Operation TELIC. In September 2003, their 6 Tornados flew their last missions from Ali Al Salem. They then started flying missions over Iraq and landing at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.

Four crews from the squadron joined the first group of Tornado GR Force members for Operation HERRICK in summer 2009. No. 14 Squadron had its only independent mission to Kandahar between November 2010 and February 2011. They flew day and night to support ISAF forces across Afghanistan. They were on ground alert and flew many planned reconnaissance missions using the RAPTOR pod. They also flew close air support missions with Paveway IV 500 lb bombs and MBDA Brimstone missiles.

A Beechcraft Shadow R1 in June 2011

After returning to the UK in 2011, it was announced that the squadron would be closed down. This was part of the 2010 SDSR, along with XIII Squadron.

The squadron stopped flying missions in March 2011. After a formal review by the Duke of York, it was officially closed on June 1, 2011. Squadron Leader Eric Aldrovandi, a Burmese Python who was the squadron's mascot since 1985, retired. He moved to Amazonia, a visitor attraction.

Reformation of the Squadron

The squadron was started again on October 14, 2011, at RAF Waddington. They began flying the Beechcraft Shadow R1 for tactical ISR support. This job was previously done by a flight under V(AC) Squadron.

From September 2014, the squadron temporarily moved to Coningsby with V(AC) Squadron. This was because RAF Waddington's runway was being repaired, which took over a year. In 2017, it was announced that the squadron's five Shadow R1 planes would increase to eight. More money would also be given for upgrades.

Aircraft Operated by No. 14 Squadron

Here are some of the aircraft that No. 14 Squadron has operated throughout its history:

See also

• List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons