Foundation and First World War

No. 3 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, was formed at Larkhill on 13 May 1912 by the renaming of No. 2 (Aeroplane) Company of the Air Battalion Royal Engineers, under the command of Major Robert Brooke-Popham. Being already equipped with aeroplanes and manned by pilots and air mechanics, No. 2 (Aeroplane) Company was thus the first British, Empire or Commonwealth independent military unit to operate heavier-than-air flying machines, hence the 3 Squadron motto Tertius primus erit, meaning "The third shall be the first". On 5 July 1912, two members of the squadron, Captain Eustace Loraine and Staff Sergeant Wilson were killed in an aircraft crash, making them the first RFC fatalities.^[3] In 1913, No 3 Squadron deployed to Halton in Buckinghamshire to support the land manoeuvres of the Household Division. A temporary airfield was set up on what later became RAF Halton's Maitland Parade Square. During the exercise, No 3 Squadron flew a number of reconnaissance sorties and staged the first confrontation between an airship and an aeroplane.^[4]

As well as training and reconnaissance duties, the squadron spent much of its time carrying out experimental work and working out tactics, including how to direct artillery fire from the air.^[5] In late 1913, the squadron carried out trials in the use of machine guns from aircraft, which eventually resulted in the selection of the Lewis gun for use by the RFC and from early in 1914 carried out trials in airborne photography, helping to develop the cameras that would be used by the RFC in the First World War. Other trials included the first night flights carried by the RFC.^[6]

The squadron was sent to France on the outbreak of the Great War, arriving at Amiens on 13 August 1914, carrying out its first reconnaissance mission, piloted by Captain Philip Joubert de la Ferté on 19 August.^[7][8] The squadron initially operated primarily in the reconnaissance role using a variety of aircraft types.^[7][9] In December 1914, the squadron started to receive Morane-Saulnier L parasol-wing aircraft, and was almost solely equipped with the Morane Parasol by April 1915.^[10] It started to replace its Morane-Saulnier L with the improved Morane-Saulnier LA, which had ailerons instead of the wing warping of the earlier aircraft, in September 1915, and all its Parasols were Type LAs by December 1915.^[11] In 1916 it supplemented its Parasols with a flight of four Morane-Saulnier BB biplanes,^[12] and from the middle of 1916 replaced its Morane-Saulnier LAs with Morane-Saulnier P parasols.^[13]

The English ace James McCudden served as a mechanic and occasional observer with 3 Squadron in the early part of the war, leaving the squadron in January 1916 for flying training.^[14] Cecil Lewis, author of Sagittarius Rising joined the squadron in May 1915 and flew Morane Parasols with the squadron during the Somme offensive.^[15][16] Later in October 1917, with the introduction of Sopwith Camels, a fighter/scout role was taken on, with 59 enemy aircraft being claimed by the end of the war. The squadron disbanded on 27 October 1919.^[17][18]

There were nine flying aces among its ranks, including Douglas John Bell, George R. Riley, Will Hubbard, Adrian Franklyn, Hazel LeRoy Wallace, Lloyd Hamilton, David Hughes, Neil Smuts and William H Maxted.^[19]

Interwar

It reformed in India on 1 April 1920 as a fighter squadron equipped with Sopwith Snipes, being disbanded again 30 September 1921.^[2] It was immediately reformed the next day at RAF Leuchars, Scotland, as a naval observation squadron equipped with the Airco DH.9A, receiving the Westland Walrus and Avro Bison before being disbanded to form two independent flights on 1 April 1923.^[17][18]

It reformed as a fighter squadron with Snipes a year later on 1 April 1924, operating a succession of different types, based in the UK, including the Gloster Gladiator.^[20] The only highlight of these years was the 1935 deployment to the Sudan during the Italian invasion of Abyssinia.^[18]

Second World War

Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIc BD867 of No. 3 Squadron in 1942.

At the start of the Second World War No 3 Squadron was posted as part of Fighter Command to RAF Station Biggin Hill equipped with the Hawker Hurricane. It briefly deployed to France in support of the British Expeditionary Force following the German attack on the West in 1940, being forced to withdraw after 10 days, having claimed 60 German aircraft for the loss of 21 of its own. On 21 July 1940 "B" flight was detached to form the nucleus of the newly formed No. 232 Squadron. Once back up to strength, No. 3 Squadron was used as air defence for the Royal Naval base at Scapa Flow, remaining in Scotland until April? 1941, based at the RAF Station at Wick in Northern Scotland.^[21] In June 1941 No 3 Squadron moved from Martlesham Heath to RAF Stapleford Tawney operating four-cannon Hurricane IIs in 'Rhubarb' attacks on defended ground targets and shipping in northern France and Belgium.^[22]

The squadron then co-operated with "Turbinlite" searchlight equipped Douglas Havocs in the night fighter role.^[18]

In February 1943 it re-equipped with the Hawker Typhoon for fighter-bomber and anti-shipping strikes. It re-equipped in March 1944 with the new Hawker Tempest fighter, operating over the Normandy beach-head and against German V1 flying bombs, claiming 288 V-1s shot down.^[18]

It then deployed across the Channel, flying as part of the 2 TAF fighting through the low countries and into Germany. Amongst its pilots was F/L Pierre Clostermann, who flew with 3 Squadron from March 1945 until the end of the war in Europe.^[17][18]

A Hawker Tempest of No. 3 Squadron being fueled and armed at Newchurch

Post-War

The squadron moved onto jets with the De Havilland Vampire during 1948, in Germany, where it had remained after moving there in the latter stages of the war. Sabres and Hunters replaced the Vampires during the 1950s, followed by Gloster Javelins and then a conversion onto Canberra bombers. Most of its time with Canberras was spent at RAF Geilenkirchen moving to RAF Laarbruch in January 1968.^[23]

No. 3 (Fighter) Squadron's association with the Hawker Siddeley Harrier began in the early 1970s with the Harrier GR1 at RAF Wildenrath where it reformed from Canberras to Harriers and they joined 4 & 20 Squadron equipped with Harrier GR1's who were already operational at RAF Wildenrath. The squadron received the later GR3 and GR5 model Harriers successively at RAF Gütersloh, finally receiving the GR7 and relocating to RAF Laarbruch in the 1992. In 1999, with the drawdown of the RAF in Germany, the squadron moved back to the UK along with its sister squadron No. IV (AC) Squadron. The two squadrons operated at RAF Cottesmore, being joined by the other Harrier operator, No. 1 (F) Squadron, in summer 2000.^[24]

As part of Joint Force Harrier, 3 Squadron operated alongside the Fleet Air Arm Sea Harriers, and was capable of deployment from the Royal Navy aircraft carriers. Operations included Operation Allied Force over Kosovo in 1999, Operation Palliser over Sierra Leone in 2000 and Operation Telic over Iraq in 2003.^[25] In August 2004, it was announced that 6 Harriers would be deployed to Afghanistan in support of NATO forces.^[26]

Eurofighter Typhoon (2006–present)

Eurofighter Typhoon F2 ZJ922 of No. 3 (Fighter) Squadron at RIAT, July 2006.

After the Harrier GR7s had been passed to the Fleet Air Arm to be used by the recommissioned No. 800 Naval Air Squadron, No. 3 Squadron moved to RAF Coningsby where it re-equipped with the Eurofighter Typhoon on 1 April 2006 and became the first operational front line RAF Typhoon squadron in July 2007.^[27] The squadron began to take over Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) responsibilities from the Panavia Tornado F.3 on 29 June 2007.^[28]

In March 2011, No. 3 (F) Squadron deployed to Southern Italy to take part in Operation Ellamy over Libya in support of UN Security Council Resolution 1973.^[29]

In May 2012, four aircraft were deployed to RAF Northolt in an air defence role covering the duration of the Olympic Games, the first time RAF fighters had been stationed at the base since the Second World War.^[30]

During March 2018, six Typhoons from No. 3 Squadron deployed to Andravida Air Base in Greece for Exercise Iniochos 18. It was the first time that RAF Typhoons had participated in the annual NATO exercise.^[31]

On 3 September 2019, No. 3 (F) Squadron deployed to Oman for two weeks to participate in Exercise Magic Carpet.^[32][33]

Notes

Bibliography

• Ashworth, Chris (1989). Encyclopedia of Modern Royal Air Force Squadrons. Wellingborough, UK: Patrick Stevens Limited. ISBN 1-85260-013-6.
• Bruce, John. M. (1982). The Aeroplanes of the Royal Flying Corps (Military Wing). London, UK: Putnam. ISBN 0-370-30084-X.
• Halley, James J. (1988). The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918–1988. Tonbridge, UK: Air-Britain (Historians). ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
• Jefford, C. G. (1988). RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
• Lewis, Cecil (1994) [first published 1936]. Sagittarius Rising. London, UK: Warner Books. ISBN 0-7515-0931-0.
• Lewis, Peter (1959). Squadron Histories: R.F.C, R.N.A.S and R.A.F., 1912–59. London, UK: Putnam.
• Long, Jack T. C. Three's Company: An Illustrated History of No. 3 (Fighter) Squadron RAF. Barnsley, UK: Pen & Sword Books Ltd., 2005. ISBN 1-84415-158-1.
• March, P. (1991). Royal Air Force Yearbook 1991. Fairford, UK: Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund.
• Moyes, Philip J. R. Bomber Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London, UK: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers)., 1964 (new edition 1976). ISBN 0-354-01027-1.
• Raleigh, Walter (1922). The War in the Air: Being the Story of the part played in the Great War by the Royal Air Force: Vol. I. Oxford, UK: The Clarendon Press.
• Rawlings, John D. R. (1982). Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London, UK: Jane's Publishing Company. ISBN 0-7106-0187-5.
• Rawlings, John D. R. Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London, UK: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers)., 1969 (new edition 1976, reprinted 1978). ISBN 0-354-01028-X.
• Shores, Christopher; Franks, Norman; Guest, Russell (1990). Above The Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915–1920. London, UK: Grub Street. ISBN 0-948817-19-4.