No.1 Squadron
(Motto: 'Speed and Courage')

The re-establishment of the SRAF in 1947 saw the creation of a 'Communications Flight', which was sometimes referred to as No.1 Squadron. A new No.1 Squadron, manned by regulars, was formed to operate the Spitfire F.22 in March 1951. The unit converted to the Vampire FB.9 in 1956. The squadron took the Vampires on their first overseas 6-week deployment to RAF Khormaksar on 14 January 1958. Annual overseas deployments continued until 1963. Re-equipment with the Hunter commenced in 1963, with the existing Vampires going to No.2 Sqn. The Hunters were operated in the ground attack role during most of their life. After UDI no delivery of spare parts was possible, but high serviceability rates continued. No.1 Sqn created a four-man formation aerobatic team which gave displays in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Hunters were operated from Thornhill until 2002, when they were finally retired.

Air Bases:

Base	Duration
Cranborne	March 1951 - October 1952
New Sarum	October 1952 - 1962
Thornhill	1962 - Present

Aircraft Used:

Type	Qty	Service	Badge	Example Serials
Spitfire F.22	10	March 1951 - early 1954		SR59,SR63,SR67
Vampire FB.9	16	November 1953 - late 1962		RRAF101,RRAF106,RRAF112
Hunter FGA.9	12	Dec 1962 - 2002		RRAF117, 1188
Hunter FGA.80	4	1981 - 2002		1082, 1038, 1801, 8100
Hunter T.81	1	1981 - 2002		1084

Unit Insignia:

Figure 1

References:

• Air (WLAG) January 1990