Number 25 (Fighter) Squadron (alternatively Number XXV (F) Squadron)

Motto: (Latin): Feriens tego Striking I defend

No 25 Squadron arrived in France in February 1916, having been formed from a nucleus of No 6 Reserve Squadron on 25 September 1915. It initially flew fighter-reconnaissance mission equipped with FE2bs until June 1917, when it re-equipped with DH4s and changed over to the day-bomber role. During the First World War, No. 25 Squadron operated as a fighter-reconnaissance unit and later as a bomber squadron. Pilots from the Squadron, Cpl. James Henry Waller and 2nd Lt. George Reynolds McCubbin, shot down the famous German fighter ace Max Immelmann in June 1916. Planned re-equipment with the DH9A never materialised and so it took its DH4s to Germany at the end of the war. It returned to the UK in September 1919 and disbanded at Scopwick on 31 January 1920.

The following day it reformed at Hawkinge as a day-fight unit equipped with Snipes. From September 1922 until October 1923, it was detached to Turkey during the Chanak Crisis. Grebes replaced the Snipes in October 1924, with Siskins arriving in may 1929 and Furies in February 1932. From October 1937 the squadron converted to the two-seater fighter role when it re-equipped with Demons, but single seaters returned in Jun 1938 with the arrival of Gladiators.

This was another short-lived re-equipment for in December 1938, Blenheim IFs arrived and it became a night fighter squadron. Beaufighters began to arrive in October 1940 but it was January 1941 before the last Blenheim had gone. The first Mosquitos were received in August 1942 and as targets over Britain grew fewer No 25 began to carry out intruder operations over German airfields. It also started bomber support missions of the type that would be later used by squadrons of No 100 Group. During 1944, it was involved in night interceptions of V-1 flying bombs after which it returned to intruder and fighter operations over Northern Europe.

Retained as part of the post-war air force, No 25 continued to operate the Mosquito until November 1951, when Vampires finally replaced them, conversion having begun in February 1951. The Vampires were replace d by Meteor NF Mk 12s and 14s in March 1954 and in 1957 the squadron moved from West Malling to Tangmere, where it disbanded on 23 June 1958.

However, it was not dormant for long because on 1 July 1958 it was reformed by re-numbering No 153 Squadron at Waterbeach again equipped with Meteor night fighters. Javelin FAW Mk 7s arrived in March 1959 and FAW Mk 9s in December of the same year, the squadron operating both models until January 1961 when the 7s were retired. Shortly afterwards the squadron moved north to Leuchars, where the squadron disbanded again on 30 November 1962.

The following day the squadron reformed but it was now equipped with the Bloodhound Surface-to-Air missile at North Coates. In 1970 the squadron took its missiles to Germany and based at Bruggen it operated detachments to cover the other two 'Clutch' airfields at Laarbruch and Wildenrath. In 1983 it returned to Wyton and again operated detachments, this time at Barkston Heath and Wattisham. All these sites were absorbed into No 85 Squadron at West Raynham on 1 October 1989. The same day the numberplate was transferred to a Tornado F Mk 3 unit forming at Leeming. The new No 25 became operational on 1 January 1990 and remained so for the next 18 years until disbanding on 4 April 2008.

History

First World War

No. 25 Squadron was initially formed as part of the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) at Montrose, Scotland on 25 September 1915, from a nucleus provided by No. 6 (Reserve) Squadron.[5] Upon its formation, the Squadron operated numerous types such as the Maurice Farman MF.11 Shorthorn and the Avro 504.[6] No. 25 Squadron relocated to Barnham, Norfolk on 31 December and shortly after were equipped with the Vickers F.B.5, these however were exchanged for the Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2b by February.[7][8] The Squadron was deployed to the RFC HQ at Saint-Omer, France on 20 February, as a long-range reconnaissance and fighter unit.[7] No. 25 Squadron was initially tasked with intercepting German aircraft, operating in the routes taken by the Luftstreitkräfte on their way to raid England. However this was proven to be ineffective and the Squadron was transferred in order to protect General Headquarters and Audruicq, flying sorties with No. 21 Squadron.[7]

On 1 April, the Squadron relocated to the aerodrome at Auchel, operating alongside No. 18 Squadron and No. 27 Squadron.[9] From here the Squadron supported the British 1st Army near Fromelles and Souchez.[7] In June 1916, in preparation for the Somme Offensive, the Squadron had its ranked bolstered to 18 machines, 20 pilots and 18 observers. In the prelude to the battle, No. 25 Squadron flew reconnaissance and bombing missions behind enemy lines.[7] On 18 June, Cpl. James Henry Waller, and his pilot 2nd Lt. George Reynolds McCubbin, shot down famous German ace Max Immelmann. This occurred during No. 25 Squadron's second encounter with Immelmann that day, after he previously shot down Lt. C. E. Rogers for his 16th victory. Immelmann, flying a Fokker E.III, engaged No. 25 Squadron over Lens and subsequently shot down Lt. J. R. B. Savage before closing in on McCubbin's F.E.2b, whose gunner, Waller, opened fire and shot him down.[10] For their accomplishment, McCubbin was awarded the Distinguished Service Order while Waller was promoted to Sergeant and received the Distinguished Service Medal.[11] When the offensive started on 1 July, No. 25 Squadron started flying night time bombing missions. It started operating D.H.4 bombers in June 1917.[12]

During the course of the First World War, 25 Squadron had nine flying aces among its ranks, including James Fitz-Morris, James Green, Reginald George Malcolm, Lancelot Richardson, Noel Webb, Charles Woollven[13] Alexander Roulstone, Leonard Herbert Emsden, and Hartley Pullan.[14]

Interwar years

After the war the squadron acquired D.H.9s. The unit was disbanded on 31 January 1920 at RAF Scopwick. The squadron reformed the next day at RAF Hawkinge, flying Snipes, and went to Turkey in 1922/23 during the Chanak Crisis. After returning to the UK the unit stayed for a number of years at Hawkinge. The Snipes gave way to Grebes and later Siskins, while in December 1936 the squadron became the first unit to receive the Hawker Fury Mk II, having already flown the Fury Mk I since 1932. The Fury was replaced by the Hawker Demon when the squadron was given a night-fighter role. For night-flying training purposes the squadron also received Gloster Gladiators.[15]

Second World War

No. 25(F) Squadron moved to RAF Northolt on 12 September 1938. During World War II it flew Blenheims on night patrols, which were replaced by Beaufighters and later Mosquitos. By the closing stages of the war, the squadron was almost entirely committed to bomber escort missions.[16] The squadron was particularly successful during Operation Steinbock from January to May 1944.[17]

Cold War

After the war No. 25 Squadron continued to operate the Mosquito NF.30 night fighter from their base at RAF West Malling until November 1951, when they were replaced by jet powered De Havilland Vampire NF.10, conversion to type having commenced in February 1951. The Vampires were then replaced by Gloster Meteor NF Mk.12 and 14s in March 1954. In 1957 the squadron moved from West Malling to RAF Tangmere, where it disbanded on 23 June 1958.[12] On 1 July 1958 No. 153 Squadron RAF was renumbered No. 25 Squadron and the squadron flew Meteors until their replacement in 1959 by the Gloster Javelin FAW Mk.7s.[12]

The Bloodhound missile years

No. 25 Squadron disbanded again on 30 November 1962, reforming a year later as the RAF's first Bristol Bloodhound SAM unit, based at RAF North Coates.[12] In this role the squadron moved to RAF Bruggen in 1970, with detachments also protecting RAF Laarbruch and RAF Wildenrath.[12] In 1983 the squadron moved to RAF Wyton, similarly protecting RAF Barkston Heath and RAF Wattisham.[12]

On Tornados

The RAF withdrew the Bloodhound in 1989 and in July the same year, the squadron reformed at RAF Leeming as a RAF Tornado F3 fighter squadron alongside 11 Squadron and 23 Squadron as part of No. 11 Group RAF.[4] Between September – December 1993 and May – August 1995, No. 25 (F) Squadron aircrew and groundcrew took part in Operation Deny Flight, a NATO-led operation enforcing the United Nations (UN) no-fly zone over Bosnia-Herzegovina. Operating out of Gioia del Colle Air Base near Bari, Italy, on each occasion the squadron took over responsibility for supporting the no-fly zone from 23 Squadron before being relieved by 5 Squadron from RAF Coningsby. In the late 1990s the squadron deployed operationally to Saudi Arabia to protect the Shi'ite Muslims of southern Iraq by flying Combat Air Patrol missions below the 33rd parallel, enforcing the southern no-fly zone imposed by Operation Southern Watch.[18] Between October 2004 and January 2005 a contingent of 4 aircraft from 25(F) Sqn was deployed to Siauliana Air Base in Lithuania to provide NATO Air Defence cover to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, following their membership of NATO. Within the United Kingdom the Squadron's primary role, along with 11(F) Sqn prior to their disbandment, was QRA(S), Quick Reaction Alert (South), providing air defence for the Southern UK. Most publicly the Squadron intercepted eight Russian Tu-95 Bear-H strategic bombers and two Tu-160 Blackjack strategic bombers in July 2007. The squadron disbanded on 4 April 2008, its Tornados relocating to RAF Leuchars to join the remaining active Tornado F3 squadrons stationed there.[12]

Advanced flying training

In August 2018, it was announced that, due to the increased demand for fast jet pilots in both the RAF and the Fleet Air Arm following the entry into service of the F-35B Lightning, the existing Hawk T.2 squadron at 4 FTS would be split into two, with No. IV (AC) Squadron to be joined by a newly reformed No. 25 Squadron by the end of 2018. No. 25 Squadron will takeover the jet conversion tasks, with No. IV Squadron focusing on tactics and weapons training.[19]

Standards Battle
Award of Standard originally announced on 7 Sep 1943, effective from 1 Apr 1943 but presented:-

2nd - 15 March 1978 - ACM Sir David Evans.

lst - 21 June 1954 - AM Sir Dermot Boyle.

2nd - 15 May 1984 - ACM Sir Thomas Kennedy.

Battle Honours*

Home Defence, 1916:

Western Front, 1916-1918:

Somme, 1916:

Arras: Ypres, 1917:

Cambrai, 1917:

Somme, 1918:

Lys:

Hindenburg Line:

Channel & North Sea, 1939-1941:

Battle of Britain, 1940:

Fortress Europe, 1943-1944:

Home Defence, 1940-1945:

France & Germany, 1944-1945

Squadron Codes used: -
RX Dec 1938 - Sep 1939
ZK Sep 1939 - Apr 1951 (duplicated with No 24 Sqn)
FA - FZ Carried on Tornados

Web References: http://www.rafweb.org/Squadrons/Sqn021-25.htm

Web References: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._25_Squadron_RAF