RAF No. 112 Squadron
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| RAF No. 112 Squadron | |
|---|---|
| Unit name | No. 112 Squadron RAF |
| Dates | 1917–1919; 1936–1957; 1957–1970 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Air Force |
| Role | Fighter, Ground-attack |
| Nickname | "Shark" |
RAF No. 112 Squadron
No. 112 Squadron was a unit of the Royal Air Force formed during World War I and later reconstituted in the interwar period, achieving renown for service in World War II and the Cold War. The squadron operated a succession of fighter and ground-attack types, serving in theatres from the Western Front to the Western Desert Campaign, and later in NATO air defence and strike roles. Over its history the unit was associated with prominent RAF formations and campaigns including the Royal Flying Corps, the Egyptian Campaigns, and the Suez Crisis era.
Formation and Early History
No. 112 Squadron was originally raised in 1917 within the framework of the Royal Flying Corps during a period of rapid expansion linked to the Battle of Passchendaele and the ongoing requirements of the Western Front. Early personnel trained at established schools associated with RAF Cranwell and Central Flying School, drawing pilots who had served in units such as No. 46 Squadron RFC and No. 54 Squadron RFC. Initial equipment and stationing were influenced by policy decisions emanating from Air Ministry planners and coordination with the British Expeditionary Force.
World War I Service
During World War I, the squadron undertook reconnaissance and fighter patrols over the Somme-affected sectors and supported offensives connected to the Third Battle of Ypres. It flew types contemporary to RFC units, operating in coordination with corps-level formations of the British Army and cooperating with allied air arms including the French Air Force and elements attached to the United States Army Air Service. Deployments required integration with logistical nodes such as Amiens aerodromes and liaison with staff from the Royal Flying Corps headquarters.
Interwar Period and Reformation
Disbanded after the armistice, the squadron was reformed in 1936 amid rearmament initiatives responding to developments like the Remilitarization of the Rhineland and the evolving threat from the Luftwaffe. Reformation was influenced by officers who had served in interwar units and by procurement programmes overseen by the Air Ministry and the Air Defence of Great Britain. The squadron re-equipped and trained for fighter operations, engaging with institutions such as RAF Leconfield and participating in exercises alongside squadrons within No. 11 Group RAF and No. 12 Group RAF.
World War II Operations
In World War II, No. 112 Squadron is best known for its pioneering use of the Hurricane in desert operations and for distinctive aircraft markings that became a symbol during the Western Desert Campaign and the North African Campaign. Operating in close coordination with the Desert Air Force, the squadron supported formations from Eighth Army task forces during engagements linked to the Siege of Tobruk and the Battle of Gazala. Its pilots flew sorties against units of the Regia Aeronautica and the Luftwaffe including elements from Jagdgeschwader 27, and cooperated with armoured formations such as the 10th Armoured Division. Later in the war the squadron converted to more advanced fighters and participated in campaigns across the Mediterranean Theatre, contributing to operations associated with the Allied invasion of Sicily and the Italian Campaign while liaising with headquarters elements of South East Asia Command and other Allied commands.
Postwar Roles and Cold War Era
After Victory in Europe Day and subsequent drawdowns, the unit transitioned into peacetime roles before re-equipping during the early Cold War period for NATO commitments tied to continental defence and strike preparedness. Stations and deployments were coordinated with commands such as RAF Germany and assets linked to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The squadron operated jet fighters and strike aircraft in roles influenced by doctrines developed at institutions like the Imperial Defence College and participated in crises of the 1950s, reflecting strategic considerations including the Suez Crisis and tensions surrounding the Berlin Airlift aftermath.
Aircraft Operated
Over its life No. 112 Squadron flew a sequence of types reflecting technological change and theatre requirements, including biplanes of the Royal Aircraft Factory era, monoplane fighters such as the Hawker Hurricane, later types including the Supermarine Spitfire and early jets like the Gloster Meteor. Postwar equipment lists included strike and jet fighters procured under programmes administered by the Air Ministry and NATO procurement channels, reflecting transitions comparable to those experienced by contemporaneous units such as No. 303 Squadron RAF and No. 602 Squadron RAF.
Squadron Insignia, Traditions and Legacy
The squadron adopted distinctive insignia and aircraft markings that resonated with the iconography of the Western Desert Campaign, becoming a subject of historical photographs preserved in collections associated with institutions like the Imperial War Museum and the Royal Air Force Museum. Its traditions were maintained through associations and veteran groups linked to wider RAF commemorations such as Battle of Britain Memorial Flight events and squadron relics displayed at regional museums in locations like York and Hendon. The squadron’s legacy informs studies of tactical air employment in desert warfare and appears in memoirs by contemporaries who served in formations under commanders associated with the Desert Air Force and the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces.