No. 9 Squadron RAF

No. 9 Squadron RAF
Unit name	No. 9 Squadron
Dates	8 December 1914 – 1 April 1918 (RFC), 1 April 1918 – 31 December 1919 (RAF), 1 April 1924 – Present
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Air Force
Type	Strike Squadron
Role	SEAD/DEAD
Command structure	No. 1 Group RAF
Garrison	RAF Lossiemouth
Garrison label	Base
Motto	Per Noctem Volamus, (Latin: "We fly through the night")
Battles	First World War, Second World War, Cold War, Gulf War, Iraq War, War in Afghanistan, 2011 military intervention in Libya
Equipment	Eurofighter Typhoon
Equipment label	Aircraft
Identification symbol label	Squadron badge heraldry

No. 9 Squadron RAF is one of the oldest and most distinguished units in the Royal Air Force, with a continuous history of frontline service. Formed during the First World War, it has operated a variety of bomber aircraft and evolved into a premier Suppression of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD) specialist. The squadron is renowned for its nocturnal operations, a tradition encapsulated in its Latin motto, and has participated in nearly every major conflict involving British forces for over a century.

History

The squadron was originally formed as part of the Royal Flying Corps at Saint-Omer in France. During the First World War, it conducted vital reconnaissance and artillery spotting missions over the Western Front. Disbanded after the Armistice of 11 November 1918, it was reformed in 1924 at RAF Upavon and equipped with the Vickers Virginia, transitioning to the Handley Page Heyford and later the Vickers Wellington. In the Second World War, as part of RAF Bomber Command, it flew strategic bombing missions from bases like RAF Honington and RAF Waddington. Post-war, it operated Avro Lincoln and English Electric Canberra bombers before becoming one of the first units to receive the Avro Vulcan V bomber. After the Falklands War, it transitioned to the Panavia Tornado GR1 and later the GR4, specializing in SEAD and deep strike roles for decades.

Aircraft operated

The squadron's operational history is defined by a succession of iconic aircraft. Its early years featured the Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2 and the Airco DH.4. The interwar period saw service with the Vickers Virginia and Handley Page Heyford. Its Second World War service was dominated by the Vickers Wellington and later the Avro Lancaster. During the Cold War, it operated the English Electric Canberra and the Avro Vulcan. From the late 1980s, its primary platform was the Panavia Tornado, in both GR1 and GR4 variants. In 2019, the squadron completed its transition to the Eurofighter Typhoon, equipped with the advanced MBDA SPEAR 3 missile for its SEAD mission.

Notable operations

The squadron has been at the forefront of numerous critical campaigns. In the Second World War, it participated in the first RAF raid on Berlin and the famous attacks on the Ruhr dams. During the Cold War, it maintained the United Kingdom's nuclear deterrent with the Avro Vulcan. In the Gulf War, its Tornado GR1s flew dangerous low-level missions against Iraqi airfields. It provided continuous support during Operation Telic in the Iraq War and Operation Herrick in the War in Afghanistan. The squadron also played a key role in Operation Ellamy, the British contribution to the 2011 military intervention in Libya, enforcing the no-fly zone.

Squadron badge and motto

The squadron badge, approved by King George VI in 1936, features a bat volant, symbolizing its specialization in night flying. The motto, Per Noctem Volamus ("We fly through the night"), directly references this enduring operational focus. This heraldry was inherited from No. 58 Squadron RAF, which was temporarily numbered as No. 9 Squadron during the early 1920s, cementing the nocturnal identity that would define the unit's legacy in RAF Bomber Command and beyond.

Bases and deployments

Since its reformation in 1924, the squadron has been based at numerous stations across the United Kingdom and deployed globally. Key home bases have included RAF Upavon, RAF Boscombe Down, RAF Honington, RAF Waddington, RAF Cottesmore, and RAF Marham. Its most significant overseas detachment was at RAF Bruggen in West Germany during the Cold War. Following the retirement of the Tornado GR4, the squadron relocated to RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland in 2019 to begin its new chapter operating the Eurofighter Typhoon.

Commanding officers

Leadership of the squadron has included many notable figures in Royal Air Force history. Early commanders included Major Hugh Dowding, later Air Chief Marshal and architect of victory in the Battle of Britain. Another distinguished officer was Wing Commander Leonard Cheshire, a renowned Victoria Cross recipient and Pathfinder leader. More recent commanders have guided the unit through complex modern conflicts, including operations over the Balkans, Iraq, and Afghanistan, and through the transition from the Panavia Tornado to the Eurofighter Typhoon.

Category:Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons Category:Military units and formations established in 1914