Squadron (aviation) facts for kids
A squadron is a military unit, usually in an air force, or a special part of the navy or army aviation. It's made up of several military aircraft and their aircrews. These aircraft are usually all the same type. A squadron typically has between 12 and 24 planes. Sometimes, these are divided into smaller groups called flights.
Many armed forces also use the word "squadron" for ground units. These are not flying units. Examples include groups that handle radar, missiles, aircraft maintenance, or security.
What is a Squadron?
A squadron is a key building block in an air force. It's like a team of aircraft and the people who fly and maintain them. Think of it as a specialized group working together.
How Squadrons are Organized
In most air forces, two or more squadrons often combine to form a larger unit. These bigger units are usually called a group or a wing. This helps organize many aircraft and people efficiently.
Squadrons Around the World
Germany's Air Force Squadrons
In Germany, a flying squadron is called a Staffel. It's similar in size to a battalion in the army. Ground support units are also called Staffel. These are more like a company in the army. For example, air base defense units are squadrons. Missile defense units are also squadrons.
Sweden's Unique Squadrons
The Swedish Air Force has a special way of naming its units. Historically, they adopted traditions from the navy. So, what other countries call squadrons, Sweden calls divisions. These divisions are then grouped into air flotillas.
For a while, the Swedish Army, Navy, and Air Force each had their own helicopters. Later, these were all combined into one unit called the Swedish Armed Forces Helicopter Wing. This wing used the term skvadron for its units. This word means squadron, but in the army's sense of a company-sized unit. The Helicopter Wing later joined the Air Force.
United Kingdom and Commonwealth Squadrons
During World War I, military aircraft started doing jobs once done by cavalry, like scouting. Because of this, the British Royal Flying Corps began using the name squadron.
When the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service joined to form the Royal Air Force, they created new ranks. The person in charge of a squadron became a squadron leader.
Over time, the commanders of RAF flying squadrons became wing commanders. This happened because aircraft and tactics became more complex. Today, RAF flying squadrons are like battalions. Ground support squadrons, like those for communications or administration, are like companies. These are still usually led by squadron leaders.
The Fleet Air Arm (Navy aviation) and Army Air Corps also use the term squadron for their flying units. In the Army Air Corps, these are company-sized units. They are divided into flights and grouped into regiments.
In the Air Training Corps, which is a youth organization, a squadron is a group of cadets. These cadets meet regularly for training.
United States Air Force Squadrons
In the United States Air Force, the squadron is the main organizational unit. Two or more squadrons form a group. Two or more groups form a wing.
USAF squadrons can be flying units. These include fighter squadrons, bomb squadrons, or airlift squadrons. Fighter squadrons might have 18 to 24 aircraft. Squadrons with larger aircraft, like bombers, might have fewer planes.
There are also many non-flying squadrons. These include missile squadrons, aircraft maintenance squadrons, intelligence squadrons, and security forces squadrons.
Flying squadrons are usually led by a lieutenant colonel. Some very large squadrons, like the one managing RED FLAG training, might be led by a full colonel. Non-flying squadrons are also usually led by a lieutenant colonel, but some may be led by a major.
Unlike the Air Force, United States Navy and United States Marine Corps flying squadrons usually include their own support teams. This means they have their own administrative staff and aircraft maintenance teams. The pilots and flight officers often oversee these ground jobs in addition to flying.
Most U.S. Navy flying squadrons are led by a commander. Some training squadrons might be led by a captain. The commander of a Navy flying squadron has an Executive Officer (XO). The XO is usually the same rank and will eventually become the next commander.
In United States Marine Corps Aviation, the term "squadron" is also used for many aviation support groups. These include wing headquarters, air control, and logistics squadrons. Marine Corps flying squadrons and support squadrons are usually led by a lieutenant colonel.
Most U.S. Naval Aviation squadrons, both Navy and Marine Corps, usually have no more than 12 aircraft. However, there are exceptions. For example, Navy helicopter mine countermeasures squadrons have 17 helicopters. Marine heavy helicopter squadrons have 16 helicopters.
The United States Coast Guard aviation units are usually based at air stations. The only exception is their Helicopter Interdiction Squadron (HITRON).
In the United States Army Aviation Branch, flying units can be organized into battalions or squadrons. Squadrons are used for air cavalry units. Aircraft maintenance is usually handled by a separate company or team within the battalion or brigade.
The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is a civilian group that helps the U.S. Air Force. They also use the term squadron for their basic units.
Squadrons in Other Countries
Many countries use words similar to "squadron" or "escadrille" for their air force units.
- France: The French Air and Space Force uses escadron. This is usually divided into smaller escadrilles of eight aircraft.
- Spain and Brazil: The Spanish Air and Space Force and Brazilian Air Force follow this tradition. They use escuadron or esquadrão for squadrons and escuadrilla or esquadrilha for flights.
- Canada and Belgium: The Royal Canadian Air Force and Belgian Air Component use escadrille as the equivalent of a squadron.
- Italy and Chile: The Italian Air Force uses gruppo (group) for its squadrons. The Chilean Air Force uses grupo de aviación.
- Portugal and Poland: The Portuguese Air Force uses esquadra. The Polish Air Force uses eskadra taktyczna (tactical squadron). These names come from the naval meaning of squadron.
- Czech Republic and Slovakia: The Czech Air Force and Slovak Air Force use the term Letka for their squadron equivalent.
- Turkey and Greece: The Turkish Air Force uses filo. The Hellenic Air Force uses μοιρα αεροπορικής (mira aeroporikis), meaning aviation squadron. These terms come from the army meaning of squadron.
- Norway and Hungary: The Royal Norwegian Air Force uses skvadron. The Hungarian Air Force uses repülőszázad (aircraft squadron). These also come from the army term.
- Eastern Europe: Many Eastern European countries use terms similar to the French escadrille. Examples include the Russian Air Force (Эскадрилья), Ukrainian Air Force (Ескадрилья), Romanian Air Force (escadrila), and Bulgarian Air Force (Ескадрила). The Royal Danish Air Force also uses eskadrille.
