20 October
On This Day, 1988: Sheila Scott died on 20 October 1988, leaving a legacy of solo world flights, polar exploration and record-breaking…
Read the entry →First World War
Squadron profiles from the first world war era of the Royal Air Force.
Featured Squadron
56 Squadron
“Firebirds; Punjab (wartime adopted title from 1941)”
Quid si coelum ruat — What if heaven falls?
Explore 56 Squadron RAF from Western Front S.E.5 fighters and Battle of Britain Hurricanes to Cold War jets and modern ISTAR testing.
active VC Awarded
View squadron → Formed 8 June 1916
Disbanded Active
Current base RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire
Current aircraft Boeing E-3D Sentry AEW.1; Sentinel R.1; RC-135W Airseeker R.1; Shadow R.1; Protector RG1
Era First World War
Squadron Index · 13 squadrons
1–99
11 Squadron ● 14 February 1915
12 Squadron ● 14 February 1915 “Shiny Twelve”
19 Squadron ● 1 September 1915 “The Chosen Squadron; The Dolphins”
20 Squadron ● 1 September 1915
25 Squadron ● 25 September 1915
29 Squadron ● 7 November 1915
35 Squadron 1 November 1916–1 March 1982
41 Squadron ● 15 April 1916 (original RFC formation); re-formed 14 July 1916
44 Squadron 24 July 1917–21 December 1982
56 Squadron ● 8 June 1916 “Firebirds; Punjab (wartime adopted title from 1941)”
74 Squadron 1 July 1917–22 September 2000 “Tiger Squadron; "Trinidad Squadron" (wartime honorary title)”
83 Squadron 7 January 1917 at Montrose–31 August 1969