List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons

Squadrons in Bold Type are currently active Nos. 1–50 Nos. 51–66 Nos. 67–71 During the First World War, in order to avoid confusion with similarly numbered British flying squadrons, units of the separate Australian Flying Corps were known for administrative purposes as 67, 68, 69, and 71 squadrons. Since the Second World War these numbers have always been used by RAF units. However, the designation 70 (or LXX) Squadron has always been used for RFC/RAF units. • No. 67 Squadron • 1916–18: No. 1 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps • From 1941: No. 67 Squadron • No. 68 Squadron • 1916–18: No. 2 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps • From 1941: No. 68 Squadron • No. 69 Squadron RAF • 1916–18: No. 3 Squadron Australian Flying Corps • From 1941: No. 69 Squadron • No. LXX Squadron (Atlas C1) • No. 71 Squadron • 1916–18: No. 4 Squadron Australian Flying Corps • From 1940: No. 71 Squadron (staffed by US volunteers in 1940–42) Nos. 72–100 Nos. 101–150 Nos. 151–200 Nos. 201–250 The first squadrons to carry numbers above 200 were former RNAS squadrons that were renumbered upon amalgamation with 200 added to their RNAS squadron number. Independent flights of the RNAS were grouped together in squadrons and given numbers in the 200 series. Nos. 251–299 ==Nos. 300–352==

Squadrons in the 300–352 series were staffed during the Second World War by volunteers from countries in occupied Europe. In some cases, these RAF squadrons and personnel were regarded by a relevant government-in-exile as serving concurrently with its air force. Similarly, in 1940–42, three "Eagle Squadrons" were composed of volunteers from the US: No. 71 (Eagle) Squadron, later 334th Fighter Squadron USAAF; No. 121 (Eagle) Squadron, later 335th Fighter Squadron USAAF and No. 133 (Eagle) Squadron, later 336th Fighter Squadron USAAF. Polish (300–309) :See also Squadrons Nos. 315–318, 663 and Polish Fighting Team (under Other) • No. 300 "Land of Masovia" Polish Bomber Squadron (Ziemi Mazowieckiej) • No. 301 "Land of Pomerania" Polish Bomber Squadron (Ziemi Pomorskiej) • No. 302 "City of Poznań" Polish Fighter Squadron (Poznański) • No. 303 "Kosciuszko" Polish Fighter Squadron (Warszawski im. Tadeusza Kościuszki) • No. 304 "Land of Silesia" Polish Bomber Squadron (Ziemi Śląskiej im. Ks. Józefa Poniatowskiego) • No. 305 "Land of Greater Poland" Polish Bomber Squadron (Ziemi Wielkopolskiej im. Marszałka Józefa Piłsudskiego) • No. 306 "City of Toruń" Polish Fighter Squadron (Toruński) • No. 307 "City of Lwów" Polish Fighter Squadron (Lwowskich Puchaczy) • No. 308 "City of Kraków" Polish Fighter Squadron (Krakowski) • No. 309 "Land of Czerwień" Polish Fighter-Reconnaissance Squadron (Ziemi Czerwieńskiej) Czechoslovak (310–313) (Note: the RAF has never had a flying unit named 314 Squadron, although it has used the number for No. 314 Technical Services Unit. A proposed 314 Squadron was allocated squadron code "UY" during the period April to September 1939, but was never formed.) Polish (315–318) :See also Squadrons Nos. 300–309, 663 and Polish Fighting Team (under Other) Note: the RAF never had a No. 319 Squadron; the "Polish Fighting Team" was attached to No. 145 Fighter Squadron. A proposed 319 Squadron was allocated squadron codes VE for the period April to September 1939. but were allocated Squadron Codes OK, ML and KN respectively for the period April to September 1939. but Squadron codes letters FR were allocated for the period April to September 1939. Belgian (349–350) Yugoslavian (351–352) ==Nos. 353–361==

Note: Nos. 362–399 Squadrons were not formed. == Article XV squadrons of World War II (Nos. 400–490) ==

Under Article XV of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, the air forces of Australia, Canada and New Zealand formed squadrons for service under RAF operational control. Most were new formations, however some had already existed prior to the creation of Article XV and had already been operational during the war, including combat operations. ===Royal Canadian Air Force (400–443)=== Note: Although squadron numbers 444 to 449 were also reserved for the RCAF, it did not use them during the Second World War. ===Royal Australian Air Force (450–467)=== Note: Although squadron numbers 465 and 468 to 479 were also reserved for the RAAF during the Second World War, it did not use them. ===Royal New Zealand Air Force (485–490)=== Note: Although the squadron numbers 491 to 499 were reserved for RNZAF units during the Second World War, no such squadrons were formed. ==Royal Auxiliary Air Force squadrons (Nos. 500–509)==

Formed as "Special Reserve" squadrons but absorbed into the Royal Auxiliary Air Force Note: No. 505, 506, 507, 508 and 509 Squadrons allocated Squadron codes YF, FS, GX, DY and BQ respectively for the period April to September 1939, but were never formed. A non-flying 505 Squadron was formed as a General Support Squadron in 2015. ==Regular RAF squadrons (Nos. 510–598)==

Note: No No. 599 Squadron seems to have been formed. In the event the plan was never put into effect, although there was some desultory use of some of the numbers by some of the OTUs for a short period. Despite their lack of formal activation, this block of numbers has never been re-allocated for use by other units. ==Advanced Training Squadrons (550–565)==

In the event of a German Invasion the Operational Training Units would have been re-formed into the Squadrons below, under plans as part of Operation Saracen, formulated in Spring 1940, which were later revised as Operation Banquet. Some reserve Squadron numbers were used by their respective OTU's during operational tasks until at least May 1944. • No. 550 Squadron – Air Fighting Development Unit (Banquet) • No. 551 Squadron – 51 Operational Training Unit (Saracen and Banquet) • No. 552 Squadron – 51 Operational Training Unit (Saracen and Banquet) • No. 553 Squadron – 53 Operational Training Unit (Saracen and Banquet) • No. 554 Squadron – 53 Operational Training Unit (Saracen and Banquet) • No. 555 Squadron – 55 Operational Training Unit (Saracen and Banquet) • No. 556 Squadron – 56 Operational Training Unit (Saracen and Banquet) • No. 557 Squadron – 57 Operational Training Unit (Saracen and Banquet) • No. 558 Squadron – 58 Operational Training Unit (Saracen and Banquet) • No. 559 Squadron – 59 Operational Training Unit (Saracen and Banquet) • No. 560 Squadron – 56 Operational Training Unit (Banquet) • No. 561 Squadron – 61 Operational Training Unit (Saracen and Banquet) • No. 562 Squadron – 57 Operational Training Unit (Banquet) • No. 563 Squadron – 58 Operational Training Unit (Banquet) • No. 564 Squadron – 59 Operational Training Unit (Banquet) • No. 565 Squadron – 61 Operational Training Unit (Banquet) ==Royal Auxiliary Air Force Squadrons (600–616)==

Note: No. 606 Squadron RAF was allocated Squadron codes BG for the period April to September 1939, but was not formed. ==Regular RAF squadrons (Nos. 617–650)==

Note: Nos. 629, 632–634, 636–638, 641–643 and 645–649 were never formed, but some were allocated Squadron codes for the period April to September 1939 – 629 (LQ), 632 (LO), 636 (VZ), 637 (UK), 638 (PZ), 641 (EV), 645 (KF), 646 (YG), 647 (ZS), 648 (YT) and 649 (HA). However a fictional "633 Squadron" was featured in the eponymous novel and film. In addition, a fictional 641 Squadron featured in the film "Mosquito Squadron". Also, RAF Volunteer Gliding Squadrons (formerly Volunteer Gliding Schools until 2005) have been numbered in the range 611 to 671 since 1955. ==Air observation post squadrons==

These squadrons were formed during the Second World War to perform artillery spotting and liaison roles, in co-operation with Army units. Most AOP squadron aircrew were provided by the Army. Nos. 661–664 and 666 Squadron were re-formed as Royal Auxiliary Air Force units in 1949. Nos. 651, 652 and 656 Squadron were transferred to the Army Air Corps in 1957. ==Regular RAF squadrons (Nos. 667–695)==

Note: Nos. 693–694 and 696–699 Squadrons were never formed. ==Fleet Air Arm squadrons==

While still under the control of the Royal Air Force, flights of the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) were organised into squadrons with numbers in the 700 and 800 range. The range 700 to 750 had been previously used for Fleet Air Arm Catapult Flight numbers. These squadrons were transferred to the Royal Navy (RN) in 1939, becoming Royal Naval Air Squadrons (RNAS). The 700 and 800 range of squadron numbers continued to be used by the Royal Navy for newly formed Royal Naval Air Squadrons. ==Training Depot Stations==

Training Depot Stations (TDS) were still in use after the formation of the Royal Air Force in 1918. ==University Air Squadrons==

The majority of Universities in the United Kingdom are, or have been, represented by Royal Air Force (RAF) University Air Squadrons (UAS), where under-graduates can sample elements of the Royal Air Force, and learn to fly, as well as take advantage of scholarship schemes. Previously operating the Bulldog T.1, they now all currently operate the Tutor T.1. Squadrons below listed in bold are currently active, others are disbanded, or otherwise amalgamated into a current existing UAS. == Air Experience Flights ==

Air Experience Flights are co-located with University Air Squadrons and operate the Tutor T1 training aircraft. ==Volunteer Gliding Squadrons==

Initially formed as Gliding Schools (GS), and then renamed Volunteer Gliding Schools (VGS), these squadrons retained their gliding school numbers when reformed as squadrons. Conflicts with the main squadron numbers resolved by the VGS suffix. The currently active squadrons, now part of 2 Flying Training School (2FTS) headquartered at RAF Syerston along with the Central Gliding School, all operate the Viking T1 winch-launched sailplane glider. ==Independent Flights==

The Royal Air Force (RAF) maintains a number of independent flights; some on a permanent basis, others on an ad-hoc basis as required. Historically, some flights were alphabetically named. For a full list, see the list of Royal Air Force aircraft independent flights. Bold listings are currently active RAF flights. • Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) – at RAF Coningsby – 6x Spitfire (various marks), 2x Hurricane, 1x Lancaster, 1x Dakota, 2x Chipmunk T10 • No. 1310 Flight – 2x Chinook HC5, HC6, HC6A • No. 1312 Flight – at RAF Mount Pleasant – 1x Voyager KC2, 1x Atlas C1 • No. 1435 Flight – at RAF Mount Pleasant – 4x Typhoon FGR4 ==Dormant Squadrons==

RAF College Cranwell stores some Standards for disbanded Squadrons that have the potential to be re-activated in the future, preserving the heritage of historic units. Once a Squadron Standard is 'laid up' in a place of worship, upon the disbandment of the Squadron, that Standard can no longer be reactivated. Many UK churches have Standards from the RAF following a service of Disbandment. However, some Squadrons choose to lay up their Standards in College Hall at RAF Cranwell, the spiritual home of the RAF, and may be reactivated as active Squadrons in the future. Old disbanded squadrons that have laid up their Standards can be presented new Standards to reactivate them, but this is currently extremely rare. Squadron Standards (and their last operated aircraft) that are on display in the College Hall Rotunda in order of seniority are: ==Other Squadrons==

The Royal Air force and Royal Flying Corps has always comprised a certain number of non-numbered Squadrons to fulfil special duties, experimental or one-off tasks. Communication Squadrons To allow rapid transport of Air Officers, staff and other important people many units and Headquarters operated communication Sections, Flights, Squadrons or wings. === Barrage Balloon Squadrons of the Auxiliary Air Force === ==Squadron codes==

Most units of the Royal Air Force are identified by alphabetical (or similar) characters, known as a "squadron code", that is painted on all aircraft belonging to that unit. When individual units are assigned unusually large numbers of aircraft, multiple squadron codes have been used. Other air forces, especially those from other Commonwealth countries, have often used similar systems of identification. During the Second World War, when units from other air forces were attached to the RAF – such as the Article XV squadrons (also known as "400 series squadrons") – their squadron codes were often changed, to avoid confusion with RAF units. Historically, the codes have usually been two letters of the alphabet, painted on the rear fuselage next to the RAF roundel. These formed a suffix or prefix to the call sign of each aircraft (on the other side of the roundel) which was usually a single letter (e. g. "G for George"). In general, when an aircraft is lost or withdrawn from use, its call sign has been applied to its replacement or another aircraft. ==See also==