No. 30 Squadron RAF

No. 30 Squadron RAF is a distinguished squadron of the Royal Air Force with a long and varied history spanning over a century. First formed during the First World War, it has served in numerous conflicts and operated a wide array of aircraft types. The squadron is currently based at RAF Waddington and operates the General Atomics MQ-9A Reaper in an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance role.

History

The squadron was originally formed as a Royal Flying Corps unit at Castle Bromwich on 24 March 1915. It deployed to Mesopotamia in late 1915, providing crucial reconnaissance and army co-operation support for the British Indian Army during the Siege of Kut and subsequent campaigns. Disbanded after World War I, it was reformed in 1937 at Habbaniya in Iraq, flying the Hawker Audax before transitioning to the Hawker Hardy. During the Second World War, No. 30 Squadron achieved fame in the Battle of Greece and the Battle of Crete, where its Bristol Blenheim and later Hawker Hurricane pilots claimed numerous aerial victories against the Luftwaffe. It later served with distinction in the Burma campaign and the Pacific War. Post-war, the squadron saw action in the Korean War with Bristol Brigand and de Havilland Vampire aircraft, and later operated the English Electric Lightning during the Cold War. It converted to the Lockheed Hercules in 1971, performing vital transport duties during the Falklands War and the Gulf War. After a period operating the Panavia Tornado GR4, it transitioned to its current remotely piloted role.

Aircraft operated

Throughout its service, the squadron has operated a diverse fleet. Early aircraft included the Armstrong Whitworth F.K.8 and the Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2 during the First World War. The interwar period saw use of the Vickers Vernon and Westland Wapiti. Its World War II fighters included the Gloster Gladiator, Hawker Hurricane, and Bristol Beaufighter. Post-war jet fighters comprised the de Havilland Vampire, Gloster Meteor, and English Electric Lightning. From 1971, it flew the Lockheed Hercules in the transport role for over three decades. After a brief period with the Panavia Tornado GR4, it now operates the General Atomics MQ-9A Reaper.

Notable personnel

Several distinguished aviators have served with the squadron. Sir Winston Churchill flew as an observer with the unit during his visit to the Mesopotamian campaign in 1919. Notable World War II aces include Squadron Leader Marmaduke 'Pat' Pattle, one of the RAF's highest-scoring pilots, who flew with the squadron in Greece. Another ace, Group Captain Billy Drake, also served with No. 30 Squadron during the early war years. Senior officers who commanded the squadron include Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Harris, later head of RAF Bomber Command, and Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Dermot Boyle, who later served as Chief of the Air Staff.

Squadron badges and markings

The squadron's badge, approved by King George VI in 1937, features a hippocampus or sea-horse, symbolizing its early service around the Persian Gulf and Tigris river. Its motto is "Ventre à Terre" (French for "All Out"). During the Battle of Britain period, its Hawker Hurricane aircraft carried a unique squadron code, "RS". In its later English Electric Lightning era, the squadron's aircraft were marked with a distinctive lightning bolt flash on the tail fin.

Bases and deployments

The squadron has been based at numerous locations across the globe. Early bases included Hinaidi and Shaibah in Iraq. During World War II, it operated from airfields across Greece, North Africa, Italy, and Burma. Post-war stations included Kabrit in the Suez Canal zone, Akrotiri in Cyprus, and Brüggen in West Germany. Its long association with transport operations centered on RAF Lyneham while flying the Lockheed Hercules. The squadron is currently headquartered at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire, controlling its Reaper aircraft deployed on operations in the Middle East and Africa.

Category:Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons Category:Military units and formations established in 1915