Squadron Insignia

History of the Squadron Insignia

Squadron Crest (Badge)

Awarded: Approved by King George VI in June 1937 (BR31)

Blazon: In front of a Wreath of Laurel Vert ribboned Gules a Mullet Or.

Link: The mullet represents the Star of India with the laurel wreath alluding to the high honour achieved by the Squadron.

History: Formed Farnborough 11 October 1915.

Motto: In cælum indicum primus (Latin for 'First into Indian skies')

Crest images by Royal Air Force Vector Badges

Kings Crown

Queens Crown

Battle Honours

North West Frontier (1916–1918)*
Afghanistan (1919–1920)
Mahoud (1919–1920)
Waziristan (1919–1925)
North West Frontier (1939)
Iraq (1941)*
Syria (1941)
Egypt and Libya (1941–1942)*
Burma (1941–1942)*
North Burma (1943–1944)*
Arakan (1943–1944)*
Manipur (1944)*
Burma (1944–1945)*
Gulf (1991)*
Kosovo (1999)*
Afghanistan (2001–2014)
Iraq (2003)*
Iraq (2003–2011)

*Honours marked with an asterisk are those emblazoned on the Squadron Standard

Commanding Officers

11 Oct 1915 | Capt C Y MacDonald
27 Mar 1916 | Maj C R S Bradley
May 1917 | Maj S Hutcheson
Jul 1917 | Maj R G H Murray MC
Dec 1918 | Maj E L Millar MBE
Aug 1919 | Flt Lt D H M Carbery MC DFC
Jan 1920 | Sqn Ldr A L Neale MC
Jan 1921 | Sqn Ldr A T Harris AFC; later MRAF Arthur 'Bomber' Harris
May 1922 | Sqn Ldr A C Maund CBE, DSO; later AVM
May 1924 | Sqn Ldr A A Walser MC, DFC; later Air Cdre
Jun 1924 | Sqn Ldr H S Powell MC
Nov 1925 | Sqn Ldr J O Archer CBE
Apr 1926 | Sqn Ldr J F Gordon DFC
Mar 1931 | Sqn Ldr B Ankers DCM
Feb 1934 | Sqn Ldr C J S Dearlove
Nov 1934 | Sqn Ldr R M C Macfarlane
Oct 1935 | Sqn Ldr J L Airey DFC
Oct 1936 | Sqn Ldr A V Hammond
Oct 1938 | Sqn Ldr F F Wicks DFC
Nov 1938 | Sqn Ldr C Stephenson
Apr 1939 | Wg Cdr G J L Read AFC
Dec 1940 | Wg Cdr W T H Nicholls
Jun 1941 | Wg Cdr S E Ubee AFC; later AVM
Sep 1941 | Wg Cdr H P Jenkins DFC
Jun 1942 | Wg Cdr W H Burbury AFC
May 1943 | Wg Cdr H A Olivier
Jan 1944 | Wg Cdr W H Burbury DFC, AFC
Feb 1945 | Wg Cdr R O Altman DSO, DFC
Sep 1945 | Wg Cdr Brian R Macnamara DSO; later Air Cdre
Sep 1946 | Sqn Ldr D W S Evans
Sep 1946 | Wg Cdr R G F Drinkwater
Nov 1946 | Wg Cdr J M Cooke DSO, DFC
Sep 1947 | Wg Cdr C Fothergill
Jul 1948 | Wg Cdr A R Fane de Salis
Mar 1950 | Wg Cdr R E Ridgway DSO
Apr 1952 | Sqn Ldr C G StD Jeffries DFC
Nov 1952 | Sqn Ldr N Williamson DFC
Nov 1954 | Sqn Ldr R F V Ellis
Mar 1955 | Sqn Ldr J C Stead DFC
Jul 1957 | Sqn Ldr F H P Cattle AFC
Jan 1958 | Sqn Ldr L A Ferguson
Feb 1958 | Wg Cdr P A Kennedy DSO, DFC, AFC; later Air Cdre
Jun 1960 | Wg Cdr C T Dalziel
Dec 1962 | Wg Cdr P H L Scott AFC; later Air Cdre
May 1965 | Wg Cdr R G Price; later AVM
May 1967 | Wg Cdr R L Bennett
Oct 1967 | Wg Cdr R J Offord; later Air Cdre
Jun 1971 | Wg Cdr J C Sprent; later Gp Capt
Aug 1974 | Wg Cdr T H Stonor; later AM Sir Thomas
Jul 1976 | Wg Cdr T J Nash AFC
Jul 1978 | Wg Cdr R J Howard AFC
Dec 1980 | Wg Cdr P Edwards
May 1983 | Wg Cdr J W A Bolton
Nov 1984 | Wg Cdr Richard Bogg; later Air Cdre
Nov 1986 | Wg Cdr P Dunlop AFC
Aug 1989 | Wg Cdr J J Witts; later Air Cdr
Feb 1992 | Wg Cdr I S Hall; later Gp Capt
Aug 1994 | Wg Cdr S L Parkinson; later A/Cdre
Feb 1997 | Wg Cdr S Randles
Feb 1998 | Wg Cdr Robert (Robbie) Low
Sep 2000 | Wg Cdr Iain (Paddy) D Teakle DSO OBE; later A/Cdre
May 2003 | Wg Cdr Alistair (Al) J Byford MA; later A/Cdre
Jan 2006 | Wg Cdr Dean (Deano) R Andrew OBE; later A/Cdre
May 2008 | Wg Cdr Ian (Windy) D Gale MBE; later AM, ACAS
Oct 2010 | Wg Cdr James (Jim) Mullholland MA BSc
Oct 2012 | Wg Cdr Richard Yates OBE; later Gp Capt
Dec 2014 | Wg Cdr James (Freebs) Freeborough OBE; later Gp Capt
2016 | Wg Cdr Matthew (Matt) Bressani OBE; later Gp Capt