No. 96 Squadron RAF facts for kids
Quick facts for kids No. 96 Squadron RAF |
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No. 96 Squadron badge
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| Active | 8 October 1917 - 4 July 1918 28 September 1918 - November 1918 18 December 1940 - 12 December 1944 21 December 1944 - 1 June 1946 17 November 1952 – 21 January 1959 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Flying Corps 8 October 1917 – 1 April 1918  Royal Air Force post-April 1918 |
| Role | Training unit Night Fighter unit Transport unit |
| Garrison/HQ | RAF Wyton RAF Cranage RAF Wrexham RAF Honiley RAF Ford RAF Odiham RAF Leconfield RAF Cairo West RAF Kai Tak RAF Ahlhorn RAF Geilenkirchen |
| Motto(s) | Latin: Nocturni obambulamus ("We prowl by night") |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron badge heraldry | A lion passant facing to the sinister with ten stars representing the constellation of Leo |
| Squadron codes | ZJ December 1940 - December 1944 6H December 1944 - June 1946 L October 1952 - 1955 |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Bomber | December 1944-April 1945: Handley Page Halifax |
| Fighter | December 1940 - March 1942: Hawker Hurricane February 1941 - June 1942: Boulton Paul Defiant May 1942 - June 1943: Bristol Beaufighter June 1943 - December 1944: de Havilland Mosquito |
No. 96 Squadron was a special unit of the Royal Air Force (RAF). This squadron played different roles during its time, including fighting at night and transporting important supplies. It was active during World War II in Europe and also in places like Burma. The squadron was eventually closed down in 1959.
History
No. 96 Squadron first started on October 8, 1917. It was formed in Lincolnshire, England, as a training unit for aircrew. At that time, it was part of the Royal Flying Corps, which was the air force for the British Army during World War I. The squadron was closed on July 4, 1918.
But it didn't stay closed for long! It was started again on September 28, 1918, in St. Ives, Cambridgeshire. This time, it was meant to be a ground attack squadron for the new Royal Air Force. Its main base was at RAF Wyton. However, World War I ended on November 11, 1918, when an armistice (a peace agreement) was signed. Because the war ended, No. 96 Squadron was closed again by the end of November 1918, before it could even start its missions.
World War II
No. 96 Squadron was brought back to life on December 18, 1940, during World War II. It was formed from an existing unit called No. 422 Flight, which was a night fighter unit. This means their job was to fly at night and protect areas from enemy aircraft.
The squadron's first commander was Ronald Gustave Kellett. Their main base was at RAF Cranage in Cheshire. During the war, another important commander was Edward Crew.
After World War II
In March 1945, after the fighting in Europe was mostly over, the squadron moved to the Far East. They picked up their transport planes, called Dakotas, in Egypt. In India, the squadron helped train people for parachute jumps and glider operations. They also flew transport missions in Burma and other parts of the Far East.
In April 1946, No. 96 Squadron moved to Hong Kong. They continued to provide air transport to places like Malaya and China. On June 15, 1946, the squadron was renamed No. 110 Squadron.
No. 96 Squadron was formed one last time on November 17, 1952. This time, it was based at RAF Ahlhorn in Germany. It was part of No. 125 Wing RAF. The squadron moved to RAF Geilenkirchen on February 12, 1958. They flew Meteor night fighters, providing air defense for Germany. Finally, on January 21, 1959, No. 96 Squadron was renumbered as No. 3 Squadron. At this point, they started flying Gloster Javelin jets instead.
Aircraft They Flew
No. 96 Squadron used many different types of aircraft throughout its history. Here are some of the planes they operated:
| Dates | Aircraft | Type | What it was used for |
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| 1918 | Sopwith Salamander | Biplane | A plane designed for attacking targets on the ground. |
| 1940-1941 | Hawker Hurricane | Fighter | A fast plane used for air combat. |
| 1941-1942 | Boulton Paul Defiant | Fighter | A fighter plane, often used for night fighting. |
| 1941-1942 | Hawker Hurricane | Fighter | Another version of the Hurricane fighter. |
| 1942 | Boulton Paul Defiant | Fighter | Different versions of the Defiant fighter. |
| 1942-1943 | Bristol Beaufighter | Ground Attack | A twin-engine plane used for attacking ground targets. |
| 1943-1944 | de Havilland Mosquito | Light Bomber | A fast, twin-engine plane used for bombing and other roles. |
| 1944-1945 | Handley Page Halifax | Heavy Bomber | A large, four-engine plane used for dropping bombs. |
| 1945-1946 | Douglas Dakota | Transport | A twin-engine plane used for carrying people and supplies. |
| 1952-1959 | Gloster Meteor | Jet Night-Fighter | An early jet plane used for fighting at night. |
| 1958-1959 | Gloster Javelin | Jet Fighter/Interceptor | A twin-engine jet designed to intercept (stop) enemy aircraft. |
See also
- List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons
