No. 16 Squadron RAF

53°01′39″N 0°28′40″W / 53.02743°N 0.47773°W / 53.02743; -0.47773

No. 16 Squadron RAF
Squadron badge
Active	1915–1918 (RFC) 1918–1919 1924–1957 1958–1972 1973–1984 1984–1991 1991–2005 2008–present
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Air Force
Type	Flying squadron
Role	Elementary flying training
Part of	No. 6 Flying Training School RAF
Home station	RAF Wittering
Nickname(s)	'The Saints'
Motto(s)	Operta aperta (Latin for 'Hidden things are revealed')
Insignia
Squadron roundel
Aircraft flown
Trainer	Grob Tutor T1

Number 16 Squadron, nicknamed 'the Saints', is a flying squadron of the Royal Air Force (RAF) which provides elementary flying training and operates the Grob Tutor T1. It is based at RAF Wittering, Cambridgeshire, England.^[1]

The squadron formed as a part of Royal Flying Corps in 1915, at Saint-Omer, France, to carry out a mixture of offensive patrolling and reconnaissance, and was disbanded in 1919, shortly after the end of the First World War. The squadron reformed as part of the RAF in 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, operating predominately in the bomber role. Equipped with the Tornado GR1 from 1984, the squadron took part in the Gulf War in the early 1990s. It was reformed in November 1991 as the operational conversion unit for the SEPECAT Jaguar, until the Jaguar's imminent withdrawal from service in 2005. No. 16 Squadron reformed again and took on its current role in 2008.

The squadron was formed at Saint-Omer, France on 10 February 1915, from elements of No. 2 Squadron, No. 6 Squadron, and No. 9 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps. It immediately began fighting in the First World War, led by Hugh Dowding who later commanded RAF Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain.^[2] It was based at the aerodrome at the Beaupré-sur-la-Lys Abbey in La Gorgue.^[3] For the rest of the Great War, the squadron was deployed throughout Northern France and operated a mixture of aircraft on offensive patrol and tactical reconnaissance duties, including the Bleriot XI, the Martinsyde S.1 and the Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2c.^[4] The squadron disbanded on New Year's Eve 1919.^[5]

In September 1915, flying-ace Duncan Grinnell-Milne joined the squadron as a junior pilot, and later (1933) 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 unflattering.^[2]

The squadron was reformed at Old Sarum in Wiltshire in the tactical reconnaissance role on 1 April 1924. Initially, it operated the Bristol F.2 Fighter, but this was replaced by the Armstrong Whithworth Atlas in January 1931, and by the Hawker Audax in December 1933.^[5]

In May 1938, the squadron re-equipped with the Westland Lysander,^[6] and it continued in its tactical role in wartime France from April 1940.^[7] In May 1940, it returned to England and conducted roving sea patrols searching for both downed aircrew and enemy forces.^[8]

From April 1942, No. 16 Squadron re-equipped with the Allison-engined North American Mustang I. It carried out fighter sweeps and reconnaissance duties over France from its base at RAF Weston Zoyland in Somerset. The Supermarine Spitfire Mk.V took over this role from September 1943.^[5] On 2 June 1943, the squadron became part of the Strategic Reconnaissance Wing of the 2nd Tactical Air Force as a high-altitude photo reconnaissance unit, equipped with the Spitfire PR Mk.IX based at Hartford Bridge. In the build-up to D Day, the squadron supplied photographs instrumental to the planning of the Allied landings.^[9]

No. 16 Squadron was disbanded at RAF Celle in Germany on 1 April 1946, but reformed at RAF Fassberg (also in Germany) the same day, and re-equipped the 24-cylinder H-engined Hawker Tempest Mk.V, until converting to the radial-engined Mk.II on 7 June 1946. On 7 December 1948, the squadron took delivery of its first jet engined aircraft, the de Havilland Vampire FB.5, which subsequently gave way to the de Havilland Venom FB.1 in November 1954 until disbandment at Celle once more on 1 June 1957.^[5]

As East-West relations cooled, No. 16 Squadron reformed at RAF Laarbruch in West Germany on 1 March 1958. The squadron was re-quipped with the English Electric Canberra B(I).8 and armed with the WE.177, a dual-key free-fall nuclear bomb.^[5] It maintained a state of permanent readiness, tasked with meeting the Soviet threat, in the expected conventional phase of war and with the use of tactical nuclear weapons.^[10]

The Canberra gave way to the Blackburn Buccaneer S.2B on 16 October 1972. The squadron's twelve Buccaneers were equipped with a variety of conventional weapons and eighteen British WE.177 nuclear bombs.^[11] 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.^[12]

The squadron briefly expanded in 1983 and 1984, absorbing some aircraft and personnel from its sister No. 15 Squadron which had converted to the Panavia Tornado GR1. No. 16 Squadron followed in late 1984 following the 'designate' process where a new No. 16 Squadron formed at RAF Honington in Suffolk, 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.^[13]

Ahead of Operation Granby in 1990, the British military operation during the first Gulf War, No. 16 Squadron deployed to Tabuk Airbase in Saudi Arabia. It was the lead squadron in the deployment, with No. 20 Squadron and crews from other Tornado GR1 squadrons. The 'Tabuk Force' used JP233 submunition delivery system and 1,000 pounds (450 kilograms) bombs on low-level sorties against Iraqi airfields and other targets. Some of the squadron's aircraft later formed a flight that conducted accurate medium-level bombing using the Thermal Imaging Airborne Laser Designator (TIALD) pod.^[14]

Following hostilities, the squadron disbanded on 11 September 1991.^[15]

On 1 November 1991, the squadron reformed at RAF Lossiemouth in Moray, as No. 16 (Reserve) Squadron, an operational conversion unit (OCU), replacing and taking over the aircraft and weapons of No. 226 OCU, training and converting new pilots for the SEPECAT 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 Supreme Allied Commander Europe for that purpose.^{[16][17][18][19]}

Although a non-operational squadron, its pilots were still involved in Operation Deny Flight in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Operation Northern Watch in Iraq. The squadron moved to RAF Coltishall in Norfolk, on 21 July 2000, joining numbers No. 6 Squadron, No. 41 Squadron, & No. 54 Squadron, consolidating the RAF's Jaguar fleet at one location.^[5]

In December 2003, the Ministry of Defence announced with the Delivering Security in a Changing World defence review, RAF Coltishall would close in 2007, and the recently upgraded Jaguar fleet would be retired early.^[20] This led to the disbandment of No. 16 Squadron on 11 March 2005 as the Jaguar approached retirement.^[21] The squadron standard was laid up in Notre-Dame Cathedral Saint-Omer, France on 20 March 2005.^[22]

On 1 October 2008, the squadron was reformed at RAF Cranwell, Lincolnshire, as part of No. 22 Group, operating the Grob Tutor T1.^[23] No. 16(R) Squadron continues its training role by instructing new RAF pilots in elementary flying training (EFT)^[24] as part of No.1 Elementary Flying Training School (1 EFTS). From 2005 to 2008, the unit was known as 1 Squadron, 1 EFTS following a restructuring of the RAF's pilot training.^[25][26]

In the first half of 2015, No. 16 (R) Squadron, along with No. 115 (R) Squadron relocated to RAF Wittering, Cambridgeshire, which saw flying return to the base for the first time since 2010.^[27] The squadron offers courses of up to 70 hours, where students are taught basic aircraft handling, instrument flying, navigation, and formation flying before graduating to the fast-jet, multi-engine and rotary training squadrons for advanced flying training.^[28]

The squadron's heraldic badge features a two keys in saltire and was approved by King Edward VIII in November 1936. The badge symbolises army co-operation duties, with the keys indicating the unlocking of the enemy's secrets; the gold key by day, the black key by night.^[29]

The squadron's motto is Operta aperta (Latin for 'Hidden things are revealed'), a reference to the reconnaissance role of the squadron in its early days.^[30][29]

The squadron's nickname is 'The Saints', which reflects that the squadron was formed at Saint-Omer in northern France.^[31] A stylised version of the stick-man logo from the 1960s British TV series The Saint has been incorporated into the squadron's aircraft markings and featured prominently in special paint schemes.^[32]

No. 16 Squadron has received the following battle honours. Those marked with an asterisk (*) may be emblazoned on the squadron standard.^[28]

• 

  The squadron's first commander was Major Felton Holt of the Royal Flying Corps who led the squadron between 8 February 1915 and 23 July 1915. He became a brigadier general in the newly established RAF just before the end of the First World War. During the inter-war years, Holt remained in the RAF, serving in several staff appointments before becoming Air Officer Commanding Fighting Area.^[33]
• Major Hugh Dowding led the squadron between 23 July 1915 and January 1916. During the Battle of Britain, Dowding was Officer Commanding RAF Fighter Command and is generally credited with playing a crucial role in Britain's defence, and hence, the defeat of Operation Sea Lion, Adolf Hitler's plan to invade Britain.^[34]
• Major Paul Maltby was in command between 5 August 1916 and 1917. He achieved the rank of Air Vice Marshal and later served as the Serjeant at Arms in the House of Lords.^[35]
• From June 1917 to 1918 Major Charles Portal led the squadron. He became Chief of the Air Staff during the Second World War and later chairman of the British Aircraft Corporation in 1960.^[36]
• Squadron Leader Alec Coryton commanded the squadron from 30 Sep 1925 to 7 Nov 1928. He went on to achieve the rank of Air Marshal and held several positions in the Ministry of Supply later in his career.

• List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons

• Official website