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No. 12 Squadron Raf | bgcolor="lightskyblue" colspan="3" align="center" style="border-bottom:3px solid"|No. 12 (Bomber) Squadron | olspan="3" align="center"|
Squadron badge | | gcolor="lightskyblue" colspan="3"|Information | | b>Role | colspan="2"|Strike/Attack | | b>Aircraft Operated | colspan="2"|Tornado GR4 | | b>Home Station | colspan="2"|RAF Lossiemouth | | b>Motto | colspan="2"| Leads the Field | | gcolor="lightskyblue" colspan="3"|History | | b>Date Founded | colspan="2"|14 February 1915 | | b>Badge | colspan="2"| A fox's mask | | b>Notable Battle Honours | colspan="2"|Western Front 1915-1918, Loos, Somme 1916, Arras, Cambrai 1917, Somme 1918, Hindenburg Line, France and Low Countries 1939-1940, Meuse Bridges, Fortress Europe 1940-1944, German Ports 1941-1945, Biscay Ports 1940-1945, Berlin 1941-1945, Ruhr 1941-1945, France and Germany 1944-1945, Rhine*, Gulf 1991*. | No. 12 Squadron of the Royal Air Force currently operates the Tornado GR4 from RAF Lossiemouth. History 12 Squadron was formed on 14 February 1915 from a flight of No. 1 Squadron. On 6 September, 12 Squadron arrived at St Omer, Northern France, where it became HQ squadron for long-range reconnaissance, flying its first operation, a photographic reconnaissance mission on 9 September. During this early period, the Squadron concentrated on bombing railway targets. Reconnaissance flights were still flown after the bombing period intensified, penetrating as far as Brussels, together with offensive and defensive patrols over the front. In February 1916, 12 Squadron was transferred to VI Corps, with whom it served out the remainder of the First World War. It was now a corps squadron and training began in its new role of artillery co-operation and infantry patrols. Towards the end of 1916 12 Squadron was engaged in night bombing, with some success, in addition to the corps work. During the German offensive of March 1918, the Squadron was engaged in contact flying with the troops, resulting in heavy losses, although at least 8 enemy aircraft 'kills' were confirmed. In the summer and autumn allied offensives of 1918, 12 Squadron was heavily involved with many and varied tasks, including ammunition dropping, ground attack and air combat, in addition to its normal tasks. No 12 Squadron ended the WWI with 45 enemy aircraft to its credit, during one week alone it shot down 8 without loss to itself. Post World War I After the Armistice, 12 Squadron became part of the Army of Occupation, equipped with Bristol Fighters. In 1923 the Royal Air Force began a limited expansion programme and 12 Squadron was reformed at RAF Northolt on 1 April 1923. The Squadron was equipped with DH 9s, and during the year expanded to full 3-flight strength. In March 1924, 12 Squadron moved to Andover co-located with 13 (AC) Squadron. It was at this time that the Squadron re-equipped with the Fairey Fawn, a 2-seat day bomber. Over the next few years, the Squadron settled down to a peacetime routine, which consisted of the annual training programme, along with several trials and displays. Birth of the Fox In June 1926, the Squadron took delivery of the first Fairey Fox aircraft. These were faster than any fighter of the day and a 50 per cent increase in speed over the Fawn. The fox was the first all metal aircraft in squadron service and 12 Squadron was the only squadron to operate the type. The Foxes were replaced in January 1931 with the Hawker Hart. It was around this time that the majority of B Flight were taken to form the nucleus of the newly formed No. 63 Squadron. Rearming of Britain became a priority due to the deteriorating polical situation in Europe. A move was made to Bicester in May 1939 and intensive training followed, as the signs of conflict became clearer. The added impetus of the Munich crisis helped ensure that training was accorded the highest priority and, by the summer of 1939, the Squadron boasted a complement of 24 aircraft. The Squadron deployed to France in September 1939, the day before war was declared, at Berry-au-Bac, 15 miles north of Rheims. The first operational flights consisted of daily photographic reconnaissance patrols along the lines, but these were discontinued at the end of September and the Squadron began intensive flying training in co-operation with L'Armee de L'Air. The invasion of France and the Low Countries dealt a devastating blow to the Allies and to 12 Squadron in particular. When they took part in the first attack on the German forces, on 10 May 1940, 3 out of the 4 aircraft taking part in the raid were lost. Worse followed on 12 May; when, with the German forces threatening to breakout, the order went out to destroy the Maastricht bridges. Despite the amount of AAA known to be in place at the bridges, the whole Squadron volunteered for the mission. Of the 6 crews chosen for the raid, one had to turn back early due to technical problems and the remaining 5 were all lost. 2 officers were awarded the VC posthumously, the first Royal Air Force personnel in the Second World War to receive such an honour. The squadron began suffering from a lack of crews and aircraft, and in June 1940 returned to the United Kingdom, to RAF Finningley in Yorkshire. After a variety of short deployments within the United Kingdom, RAF Binbrook, Thorney Island, Eastchurch and again Binbrook, the Squadron finally settled in Binbrook in Lincolnshire, during this time, carrying out night operations against Channel ports. In October 1940, 12 Squadron was re-equipped with the Vickers Wellington and spent the winter training for night bomber attacks. The 10 April 1941 saw the first raid, against Emden, the beginning of sustained operations against German industrial targets. The Squadron, flew on a variety of missions from attacks on the great capital ships Gniesenau, Scharnhorst and Prinz Eugen, to raids on Berlin. In November 1941 the Squadron's operations record headed the list for all of 1 Group, and a year later 12(B) Squadron took part in the first 1000-bomber raid where it contributed an impressive 28 aircraft. After being equipped with the Vickers Wellington Mk III, the Squadron moved to Wickenby in September 1942, which it shared with No. 626 Squadron. The introduction of the Avro Lancaster in November 1942 allowed the Squadron to carry a larger bomb load to distant targets, including industrial areas in Italy. By the time the Battle of the Rhur had developed, the Squadron's crews had the full benefit of the latest navigation aids and the weight of their attacks on Hamburg and Berlin was devastating. After the summer of 1944, in which they attacked flying bomb sites, provided close support for the Army, attacked German naval targets and carried out mine laying operations, 12 Squadron maintained a constant pounding of targets, such as Essen, Coblenz and Cologne. The cost in men and machines was high, for instance, in the period March to August 1944 the Squadron lost 40 aircraft. Winter slowed down operations, but they were resumed in 1945, until 25 April, when the Squadron flew its last sortie of the war, attacking Hitler's lair at Bertesgarten. Post WWII The Lancasters were retired from service with 12(B) Squadron in July 1946 to be replaced, in August, with the Avro Lincoln, the Squadron moving to Waddington for the conversion, before returning to Binbrook in September. Now at a reduced size of only 6 aircraft, the Squadron was initially employed on meteorological studies, this commitment continuing until November 1948, when No. 101 Squadron took over. No 12(B) Squadron was now free to resume heavy bomber training, and was so successful in the latter task that in early 1952 it won the Bomber Command bombing competition. Almost immediately the Squadron traded-in its propeller-driven Lincolns in order to re-equip with the twin-jet English Electric Canberra B2, the Squadron receiving its first aircraft in March 1952. The jet era In October 1952, 4 aircraft set out on a 24 000 mile tour of South America, named Operation ROUND TRIP, on the first jet aircraft goodwill tour of the continent. This tour included the first jet crossing of the South Atlantic, in both directions. In May 1955, the began tp receive the newer Canberra B6s and, after a short work-up period, the Squadron deployed 8 aircraft to Butterworth in Malaya, as part of the forces ranged against the Malayan communist insurgents. The first strike against these insurgents took place on 22 November 1955. The strikes continued for 3 months and then, in December 12(B) Squadron made a short tour of Australia, before resuming jungle strikes in 1956. During these strikes, some of the crews were fired upon on the ground, whilst liasing with Australian troops. The Squadron returned to Binbrook in March 1956, and in June gained some publicity by acquiring a live fox as a mascot. Intensive training resumed and in September 12(B) Squadron deployed to Hal Far in Malta. By the end of October 1956, there were 5 Squadrons of Canberra B6s and 4 Squadrons of Valiants in Malta, plus 7 Squadrons of Canberra B2s in Cyprus. On 31 October, 12 Squadron dropped some of the first bombs in support of the Suez campaign. On 1 December, the Squadron returned to Binbrook. In July 1959, the Squadron left Binbrook for Coningsby, where they remained until the Squadron disbanded in 1961. No 12 Squadron reformed at Coningsby on 1 July 1962, as part of the expanding V-force, receiving its first aircraft an Avro Vulcan B2, XH560, on 25 September. The Squadron detached to the Far East Air Force, based at Gan and Butterworth, September to December 1964. In November 1964, the whole Coningsby Wing (9, 12 and 35 Squadrons) relocated to Cottesmore. The Vulcans, utilised in the high-level bombing role, made many notable flights to all parts of the globe, including 2 successful flights around the world. In October 1966, 12(B) Squadron won the American Strategic Air Command Annual Bombing Competition at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington. At the same time, the Squadron was trialing the introduction of the Vulcan as a low-level strategic bomber, for the first time in many years, the aircraft were camouflaged. This is a role that 12 Squadron kept until the transfer of the United Kingdom nuclear deterrent to the Polaris force, and the subsequent reduction of the V-force caused the Squadron, once again, to disband on 31 December 1967. Buccaneer The Squadron re-formed in October 1969, at RAF Honnington, as a low-level Maritime Strike Attack Squadron, equipped with Hawker Siddley Buccaneer Mk 2B aircraft, and within 2 years of re-forming, had achieved the highest grade in a tactical evaluation exercise (TACEVAL). In October 1974, 12(B) Squadron became the first squadron to be equipped with Martel missile and anti-radar missiles. March 1975, saw the start of the North Sea gas rig patrols, which subsequently expanded to include oilrigs, as part of Operation TAPESTRY. On 5 August 1980, the Squadron assimilated No. 216 Squadron and moved to RAF Lossiemouth, where it is currently based. The Squadron's main operating area now stretched from Northern Scotland to the Iceland-Faeroes gap, with the Buccaneer also flown in an AAR role using a refuelling pod. The Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in September 1990 saw the largest deployment of United Kingdom forces since the Second World War. Initially there was no role for the Buccaneer until, once battle had commenced in January 1991, it was realised that there was a need for medium-level laser designation of targets. The Buccaneer was the only aircraft in Royal Air Force service that could fulfil this role and so a composite force made up of members of 12(B) and 208 Squadrons deployed to Muharraq Air Base in Bahrain in February 1991. Squadron crews were in action almost immediately supporting the Tornado GR1s and later also designated targets for their own weapons. The Buccaneer was capable of carrying a Pave Tack laser designation pod on one wing and a Paveway II Laser Guided Bomb, on the other. The Squadron crews returned to Royal Air Force Lossiemouth in March 1991. Tornado introduced In October 1993, the Squadron re-equipped with the Tornado GR1, which it inherited from 27 Squadron. A short time later, on 8 January 1994, the Squadron returned to Lossiemouth as part of 18 Group, flying in the previously held Maritime Role. However, a seemingly constant stream of deployments to patrol the skies over Iraq was a large feature of Squadron life at the time. The first of these deployments occurred only a few months after the Squadron's Tornados arrived at Royal Air Force Lossiemouth when, in May 1994, the Squadron took part in Operation JURAL. These operational missions included photographic reconnaissance and practice attacks using the Ferranti Thermal Imaging Airborne Laser Designation (TIALD) pod in combination Paveway laser guided bombs. Operation JURAL lead to Operation Southern Watch wherein missions were flown as part of large multi-national force packages and saw the Squadron based in Saudi Arabia, Turkey and laterly Kuwait. These sorties were flown in hostile skies and, on occasion, the Iraqis opened fire without warning or provocation on aircraft enforcing the United Nations resolutions. The worsening political situation in Iraq led to bombing missions being flown against Iraqi military targets during Operation Desert Fox in December 1998. The Squadron flew a number of missions against active Iraqi defences to deliver ordnance against a variety of pinpoint targets. The ordnance included the first ever non-trial drop of the UK Paveway III laser guided bomb and the short campaign has the distinction of being recognised as one of the most accurate to date. Current role During the period January to April 2001, the Tornado GR1s were replaced with Tornado GR4s. No 12(B) Squadron continues to support operations in Southern Iraq and also to lead the field, being the first Squadron to operate Tornado GR4s over Iraq, from their base in Kuwait, in the summer of 2001. RAF Tornado squadrons GR4 Source This article contains information that originally came from a British Government website, and is subject to Crown copyright. The protected material may be reproduced free of charge subject to the material being reproduced accurately and not being used in a derogatory manner or in a misleading context. Where the material is being published or issued to others, the source and copyright status must be acknowledged. 012
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