No. 43 Squadron RAF
| No. 43 Squadron | ||
|---|---|---|
Squadron badge | ||
| Information | ||
| Role | Air Defence | |
| Aircraft Operated | Panavia Tornado F3 | |
| Home Station | RAF Leuchars | |
| Motto | Gloria finis "Glory is the end" | |
| History | ||
| Date Founded | 15 April 1916 | |
| Badge | A black gamecock | |
| Notable Battle Honours | Western Front 1917–1918, Arras, Ypres 1917, Cambrai 1917, Somme 1918, Lys, Amiens, Dunkirk, Battle of Britain 1940*, Home defence 1940–1942, Fortress Europe 1942, Dieppe, North Africa 1942–1943, Sicily 1943, Salerno, Italy 1943–1945, Anzio and Nettuno, Gustav Line, France and Germany 1944, Gulf 1991. | |
No. 43 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Panavia Tornado F3 from RAF Leuchars.
Table of contents |
History
43 Squadron was formed on 15 April 1916 as part of the Royal Flying Corps. Prior to the outbreak of World War II the squadron re-equipped with Hawker Hurricanes, it was with these aircraft that the squadron covered the Dunkirk retreat and fought in the Battle of Britain. In November 1942 43 Sqn moved to North Africa, now flying Supermarine Spitfires. The squadron ended the war in Austria and was disbanded in 1947.
In February 1949 No. 266 Squadron was renumbered No. 43 Squadron, now flying Gloster Meteors at RAF Tangmere. The squadron moved to Leuchars in 1950 and in 1954 began to receive the Hawker Hunter. During much of the 1960s the Squadron operated from Cyprus and was disbanded in 1967. 43 Sqn reformed at Leuchars in 1969 with the F-4 Phantom which it flew until its replacement by the Tornado F3 in 1990.
Current role
With the F3 the squadron participated in the 1991 Gulf War and maintained a presence in the Iraqi no-fly zones. 43 Sqn crew and personnel have operated in the Falklands as part of 1435 Flight and participated in Operation Telic.
RAF Tornado squadrons
F3
- No. XI Squadron – RAF Leeming
- No. 25 Squadron – RAF Leeming
- No. 43 Squadron – RAF Leuchars
- No. 56 (Reserve) Squadron – RAF Leuchars
- No. 111 Squadron – RAF Leuchars
- No. 1435 Flight – RAF Mount Pleasant
GR4
- No. 9 Squadron – RAF Marham
- No. 12 Squadron – RAF Lossiemouth
- No. 14 Squadron – RAF Lossiemouth
- No. XV (Reserve) Squadron – RAF Lossiemouth
- No. 31 Squadron – RAF Marham
- No. 617 Squadron – RAF Lossiemouth
GR4A
- No. II Squadron – RAF Marham
- No. 13 Squadron – RAF Marham
See also
Categories: Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons