Panavia Tornado GR1 in special markings commemorating the 75th anniversary of 16 Squadron.
No. 16 Squadron is a flying squadron of the Royal Air Force. It formed in 1915 at Saint-Omer to carry out a mixture of offensive patrolling and reconnaissance and was disbanded in 1919 with the end of the First World War. The squadron reformed on 1st April 1924 and again took on a reconnaissance role which it continued throughout the Second World War. Post-war, the squadron was disbanded and reformed several times and was converted to a bomber squadron. Equipped with the Tornado GR.1 from 1984 the squadron took part in the Gulf War in 1990. It was again disbanded in September 1991, before reforming in November 1991 as the Operational Conversion Unit for the Jaguar. With the Jaguar’s imminent withdrawal from service, the squadron disbanded once more in 2005. 16 Squadron reformed again and took on its current role on 1 October 2008. Based at RAF Wittering, it instructs pilots in elementary flying using the Tutor.
History
Early years
The Squadron was formed at Saint-Omer, France on 10th February 1915 from elements of Nos. 2, 6 and 9 Squadrons. It immediately began fighting in the First World War under Hugh Dowding. In September 1915 the author Duncan Grinell-Milne joined the squadron as a junior pilot. In 1933 he published an account of his time in the squadron. His portrait of Dowding (who when the book was originally published had not then attained his later fame) is by no means a flattering one. For the rest of the Great War, the ‘Saints’ were deployed throughout Northern France and operated a mixture of aircraft including Bleriot XI, Martinsyde S.1 and Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2c on offensive patrol and tactical reconnaissance duties. Disbandment occurred on New Year’s Eve 1919.
The squadron was reformed at Old Sarum in the tactical reconnaissance role on 1st April 1924. Initially it operated the Bristol Fighter but this was replaced by the Atlas in January 1931 and by the Audax in December 1933.
An observer of the Royal Flying Corps in a Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2c reconnaissance aircraft demonstrates a C type aerial reconnaissance camera fixed to the side of the fuselage, 1916
Second World War
In May 1938 the Lysander arrived and the Squadron continued in its tactical role in wartime France from April 1940. In May 1940 it returned to England and conducted roving sea patrols searching for both downed aircrew and enemy forces.
From April 1942, 16 Squadron was re-equipped with the Allison-engined North American Mustang I for fighter sweeps and reconnaissance duties over France from its base at RAF Weston Zoyland in Somerset. The Spitfire Mk V took over this role from September 1943. On 2nd June 1943 the Squadron became part of the Strategic Reconnaissance Wing of the 2nd Tactical Air Force as a high-altitude photo reconnaissance unit with Spitfire PR Mk IXs based at Hartford Bridge. In the build-up to D Day, No 16 supplied photographs instrumental to the planning of the Allied landings.
RAF Supermarine Spitfire Mk.PR.XIX painted in the colours of 16 Squadron, 2nd Tactical Air Force
Post war
16 Squadron was disbanded at Celle on 1st April 1946 but reformed at RAF Fassberg the same day and took the 24 cylinder H-engined Hawker Tempest Mk V on charge until converting to the radial-engined Mk II on 7th June 1946. On 7th December 1948 No. 16 took delivery of its first jet aircraft, the de Havilland Vampire FB.5, which gave way to the de Havilland Venom FB.1 in November 1954 until disbandment at Celle once more on 1st June 1957.
As East-West relations cooled, the Squadron reformed at Laarbruch on 1st March 1958. 16 Squadron maintained a permanent readiness state, tasked with meeting the Soviet threat, in the expected conventional phase and with the use of tactical nuclear weapons. The squadron was re-quipped with the Canberra B(I).8 armed with dual-key nuclear weapons.
No. 16 Squadron English Electric Canberra B(I)8 in 1972 wearing Tiger markings
The Canberra gave way to the Buccaneer S.2B on 16th October 1972. The squadron’s twelve Buccaneers were equipped with a variety of conventional weapons and eighteen British WE.177 nuclear bombs. Although Buccaneers could carry two WE.177 weapons, after taking into account attrition in the conventional phase of a high-intensity European war, and after withholding some aircraft in reserve, RAF planners expected that squadron strength remaining would still be sufficient to deliver the nuclear weapons stockpile. The Buccaneer distinguished itself in many bombing exercises; among its victories included the winning of the Salmond Trophy in 1978 and 1979. The squadron briefly expanded in 1983-84, absorbing some aircraft and men from its sister 15 Squadron which had converted to the Panavia Tornado GR.1. 16 Squadron followed in late 1984 following the ‘designate’ process where a new 16 Squadron formed up at RAF Honington before moving to Laarbruch and assuming the squadron standard from the Buccaneer unit which had continued to operate throughout. Despite the change of aircraft the squadron’s role remained unchanged in countering a Soviet threat in Europe with conventional weapons and eighteen WE.177 nuclear bombs. As with the Buccaneer, there was a ratio of 1.5 weapons per aircraft. Ahead of Operation GRANBY in 1990 and the first Gulf War, the squadron deployed to Tabuk airbase. No. 16 was the lead squadron in the deployment with No. 20 and crews from other Tornado GR.1 squadrons. The ‘Tabuk Force’ used JP233s and 1,000 lb bombs on low-level sorties against Iraqi airfields and other targets. Some of the Squadron’s aircraft later formed a TIALD flight that conducted accurate medium-level bombing. Following hostilities, the Squadron disbanded on 11th September 1991.
Buccaneer S.2B of No. 16 Squadron in 1977 wearing the unit’s Saint symbol on its fin. This aircraft was lost over West Germany in July 1979
In November 1991, the Squadron reformed at RAF Lossiemouth as No. 16(R) Squadron, a reserve squadron and an Operational Conversion Unit, replacing and taking over the aircraft and weapons of 226 OCU, training and converting new pilots for the Jaguar. Although no longer a front-line operational squadron, as a reserve, or shadow squadron, its twelve aircraft were equipped with conventional weapons and eight WE.177 nuclear weapons for use in a high-intensity European war, and it remained assigned to SACEUR for that purpose.
Although a non-operational squadron, its pilots were still involved in Operation DENY FLIGHT and Operation NORTHERN WATCH. The Squadron moved to Coltishall in the summer of 2000 but disbanded on 11th March 2005 as the Jaguar approached retirement. The Squadron Standard was laid up in Notre-Dame Cathedral Saint-Omer, France on 20th March 2005.
| From | To | Manufacturer | Aircraft |
| Feb-15 | Mar-15 | Royal Aircraft Factory | R.E.5 |
| Feb-15 | Mar-15 | Vickers | F.B.5 |
| Feb-15 | Mar-15 | Blériot | XI |
| Feb-15 | May-15 | Martinsyde | S.1 |
| Mar-15 | May-15 | Voisin | III |
| Mar-15 | May-17 | Royal Aircraft Factory | B.E.2c |
| May-15 | Nov-17 | Farman Aviation Works | S.11 |
| Mar-15 | Dec-19 | Royal Aircraft Factory | R.E.8 |
| 1924 | 1931 | Bristol Aeroplane Company | F.2 Fighter |
| 1931 | 1934 | Armstrong Whitworth | Atlas |
| 1934 | 1938 | Hawker | Audax |
| 1938 | 1942 | Westland | Lysander |
| 1942 | 1944 | North American Aviation | Mustang |
| 1944 | 1946 | Supermarine | Spitfire Mk.XI |
| 1946 | 1948 | Hawker | Tempest V |
| 1948 | 1948 | Hawker | Tempest II |
| 1948 | 1954 | de Havilland | Vampire FB.5 |
| 1954 | 1957 | de Havilland | Venom FB.1 |
| 1958 | 1972 | English Electric | Canberra B(I).8 |
| 1972 | 1984 | Blackburn | Buccaneer S.2B |
| 1984 | 1991 | Panavia | Tornado GR.1 |
| 1991 | 2005 | SEPECAT | Jaguar GR.1 and GR.3 |
| 2008 | Present | Grob | Tutor |
Elementary Flying Training
16 Squadron’s ‘Saint’ logo. The nickname stems from the original formation at Saint Omer. In the past, the logo has been painted onto 16 Squadron aircraft and worn as a badge on the flying suits. The badge is presented to student pilots after their first solo sortie.
On 1st October 2008, the Squadron was reformed at RAF Cranwell as part of 22 Group operating the Grob Tutor. 16(Reserve) Squadron continues its training role by instructing new Royal Air Force pilots in Elementary Flying Training (EFT) as part of No.1 Elementary Flying Training School. From 2005 to 2008 the unit was previously known as 1 Squadron, 1 EFTS following a restructuring of the RAF’s pilot training. 16(R) Squadron instructs the RAF’s new pilots and some pilots from overseas.
A 16(R) Squadron student pilot flies his first solo formation sortie.
The Squadrons’ role is to provide pilots to the more advanced flying training courses on their way to earning the coveted pilot wings and joining the front line. In early 2008, Prince William took his first steps on his aviation career at No. 16 Squadron’s site flying his first solo sortie in Tutor G-BYXN; his father was also taught to fly at RAF Cranwell in 1971.
75th anniversary of 16 Squadron RAF Laarbruch 5th May 1990
Corgi Aviation Archive 1/72nd scale Panavia Tornado GR.1 ZA591/FN, RAF No.16 Squadron, 75th Anniversary Scheme
With many RAF squadrons able to trace their establishment back to the early air operations of the Great War, the 1990s saw quite a number of them commemorating their 75th anniversaries. As was customary on these occasions, several squadrons would send one of their aircraft into the paint shop to be adorned with special anniversary artwork, much to the delight of aviation enthusiasts across Europe.
These aircraft would spend the next few months attending official RAF events, open days and Airshows, where they would become some of the most popular and most photographed aircraft in the world. Without doubt, one of the most spectacular of the RAF squadron 75th anniversary schemes was the smart all-over black paint finish applied to Panavia Tornado GR.1 ZA591, an aircraft which would represent No.16 Squadron throughout their 75th anniversary year, and in some style.
The aircraft itself went on to attract a couple of unofficial titles following its repaint, both of which where christened by RAF personnel. To most, she was simply referred to as ‘The Black Pig’, but following the participation of RAF Tornados in the Gulf War, where the black painted American F-117 Stealth Fighter played such a prominent role, she was also colloquially referred to as the ‘Stealth GR.1’. However you referred to her, No.16 Squadron’s ZA591 was certainly one of the best looking Tornados to ever to see Royal Air Force service.
Even though the strike/attack variant of the Tornado would go on to post an impressive Royal Air Force service record which spanned almost forty years, No.16 Squadron would only spend a relatively short period operating this magnificent aircraft.
Exchanging their Blackburn Buccaneers for the Tornado in 1984, the squadron would only use the aircraft for seven years, but not before they had seen combat operations during the Gulf War and turned out one of the best looking squadron anniversary aircraft. On 11th September 1991, the squadron disbanded, but their number was applied in ‘reserve status’ to No.226 SEPECAT Jaguar Operational Conversion Unit, an aircraft it operated until this was withdrawn from service in March 2005.
The squadron originally formed at Saint-Omer, in the Pas-de-Calais region of France in 1915, where they were engaged in flying photographic, reconnaissance and artillery spotting sorties during the earliest days of military flying.
Always referred to as ‘The Saints’ in RAF parlance due to their original formation location, the distinctive stick man with halo logo applied to many of the squadron’s post war jets is actually linked to the popular TV spy character of the same name, played by the suave future ‘James Bond’, actor Roger Moore.
Usually represented in gold on a black disc background, the ‘gold Saint’ surely never looked better than when he was applied to the large black fin of the squadron’s 75th anniversary Tornado GR.1 jet during 1990.
Corgi Aviation Archive Arrival next week !
New Corgi Aviation Archive AA33319 Corgi Aviation Archive Boeing B-17G 42-31322 ‘Mi Amigo’, 364th BS, 305th BG, Chelveston, 22nd February 1944 will arrive next week at Flying Tigers today. If you have already pre-ordered this model your model will be dispatched as soon as possible. Limited remaining stock availability… please click on the image or link below to order your now.
Precision Art New Model Announcements.
Precision Art new model announcements have just been announced and are available to pre-order at Flying Tigers today. If you want any of these models it is always safer to pre-order as quantities are limited.
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Calibre Wings New Model Announcements !
Calibre Wings have announced some new models to add to their range of Tomcats. If you want any of these models it is always safer to pre-order as quantities are limited.
Don’t forget NO DEPOSIT necessary with Flying Tigers and if you order with your debit or credit card your payment is not taken until your model is available to dispatch.
Flying Tigers will also consolidate your orders to save on postage costs across all brands !
Please click on the images / links below to go to the model of your choice, or CLICK HERE to see them all.
Hobbymaster Latest Model Announcements
Hobbymaster have just announced their latest models which are now available to pre-order at Flying Tigers today.
Don’t forget NO DEPOSIT necessary with Flying Tigers and if you order with your debit or credit card your payment is not taken until your model is available to dispatch.
Flying Tigers will also consolidate your orders to save on postage costs across all brands !
Please click on the images / links below to go to the model of your choice, or CLICK HERE to see them all.
HS0004 Hobbymaster 1/72nd scale Jet Aircraft Display Stand
I have sold loads of these ! Not many left. The stand is an ideal size for matching patches ! Click on the image or link below to order yours now.
Thank you for reading this week’s Newsletter.
Richard
Flying Tigers.
