No. 113 Squadron RAF

No. 113 Squadron RAF
Active	1 Aug 1917 - 1 Feb 1920 18 May 1937 - 15 Oct 1945 1 Sep 1946 - 1 Apr 1947 1 May 1947 - 1 Sep 1948 22 Jul 1959 - 10 Jul 1963
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Air Force
Role	Army cooperation Bomber Fighter Transport Missile operation
Motto	Latin: Velox et vindex ("Swift to vengeance")[1][2][3]
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldry	In front of a cross potent, between four like crosses, two swords in saltire, the points uppermost[3] The crosses are from the arms of Jerusalem. The swords reflect the unit's service in defence of the Holy Land[1][2]
Squadron Codes	BT (Apr 1939 - Sep 1939)[4][5] VA (Sep 1939 - Sep 1943)[1] AD (Apr 1945 - Oct 1945)[6][7]

No. 113 Squadron was a unit of the Royal Air Force that served as a reconnaissance, army cooperation, bomber, fighter, transport and missile operation squadron during its existence.

History

Formation in World War I as reconnaissance unit

No. 113 Squadron was formed on 1 August 1917 at RAF Ismailia, Egypt as a corps reconnaissance and army co-operation unit. In September it began tactical reconnaissance and artillery spotting missions over Palestine, where it remained until the end of World War I. The squadron returned to Egypt on 16 February 1919 and a year later it was disbanded by being renumbered to No. 208 Squadron RAF on 1 February 1920.^[3]

Reformation as bomber squadron in World War II

No. 113 reformed at RAF Upper Heyford on 18 May 1937 as a day bomber unit, equipped with Hawker Hinds. In April 1938 it left for the Middle East, converting to Blenheims in June 1939. After Italy joined the war in June 1940, the Squadron carried out bombing raids on Italian bases in Libya before moving to Greece in March 1941. There it was overtaken by the German invasion and lost all its aircraft, the Squadrons personnel being evacuated to Crete and Egypt. Bombing operations began again in June 1941, but the after the outbreak of war in the Far East the Squadron was moved to Burma where it attacked Japanese columns until it was evacuated to Calcutta in March 1942. From Assam No. 113 bombed Japanese communications and airfields until it converted to Hurricanes in March 1943. These were used for ground-attack duties being replaced by Thunderbolts in April 1945 which were flown until the Squadron was disbanded on 15 October 1945.^[3]

Post war reformations as a transport squadron

On 1 September 1946 No. 620 Squadron RAF at Aqir was renumbered to No. 113 squadron RAF and was engaged in transport duties with Halifax A.7s until disbanded on 1 April 1947. The Squadron reformed on 1 May 1947 at RAF Fairford now flying Douglas Dakotas alongside Halifax A.9s, being disbanded on 1 September 1948.^[3]

On Thor missiles

The squadron was reformed - as 113(SM) Sqn. - on 22 July 1959 as one of 20 Strategic Missile (SM) squadrons associated with Project Emily. The squadron was equipped with three Thor Intermediate range ballistic missiles, based at RAF Mepal.

In October 1962, during the Cuban missile crisis, the squadron was kept at full readiness, with the missiles aimed at strategic targets in the USSR. The squadron was disbanded on 10 July 1963, with the termination of the Thor Program in Britain.

Aircraft operated

From	To	Aircraft	Variant
Aug 1917	Apr 1918	Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2	BE.2e
Sep 1917	Feb 1920	Royal Aircraft Factory RE.8
Feb 1918	Oct 1918	Nieuport 17	17, 23 & 24
Feb 1919	Dec 1919	Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2	BE.2e
May 1937	Jun 1939	Hawker Hind
Jun 1939	Mar 1940	Bristol Blenheim	Mk.I
Jun 1941	Dec 1941	Bristol Blenheim	Mk.I
Mar 1940	Apr 1941	Bristol Blenheim	Mk.IV
Jun 1941	Oct 1942	Bristol Blenheim	Mk.IV
Oct 1942	Sep 1943	Bristol Blenheim	Mk.V
Sep 1943	Apr 1945	Hawker Hurricane	Mk.IIc
Apr 1945	Oct 1945	Republic Thunderbolt	Mks.I & II
Sep 1946	Dec 1946	Handley Page Halifax	A.7 & C.8
Sep 1946	Apr 1947	Handley Page Halifax	A.9
Sep 1946	Sep 1948	Douglas Dakota	C.4
Nov 1947	Sep 1948	Handley Page Halifax	A.9
22 July 1959	10 July 1963	Thor IRBM	SM.75

^[1][2][3][8]

See also

• List of UK Thor missile bases
• List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons

References

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Moyes 1976, pp. 156-158.
2. ^ ^{a b c} Rawlings 1978, pp. 248-249.
3. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Halley 1988, p. 190.
4. ^ Bowyer and Rawlings 1979, p. 13.
5. ^ Flintham and Thomas 2003, p. 49.
6. ^ Bowyer and Rawlings 1979, p. 15.
7. ^ Flintham and Thomas 2003, p. 62.
8. ^ Jefford 2001, p. 159.

Bibliography

• Bowyer, Michael J.F. and John D.R. Rawlings. Squadron Codes, 1937-56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd., 1979. ISBN 0-85059-364-6.
• Flintham, Vic and Andrew Thomas. Combat Codes: A full explanation and listing of British, Commonwealth and Allied air force unit codes since 1938. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd., 2003. ISBN 1-84037-281-8.
• Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918-1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
• Jefford, Wing Commander C.G., MBE, BA, RAF(Retd.). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1988 (second edition 2001). ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
• Moyes, Philip J.R. Bomber Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers) Ltd., 2nd edition 1976. ISBN 0-354-01027-1.
• Rawlings, John D.R. Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald & Jane's (Publishers) Ltd., 1969 (2nd edition 1976, reprinted 1978). ISBN 0-354-01028-X.

External links

• Squadron history of no. 113 Squadron at their own site.
• The official RAF history on MOD site
• Squadron histories for nos. 111-115 sqn on RafWeb's Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation

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