II (Army Cooperation) Squadron Timeline
II(AC) Sqn began its illustrious existance in 1912. Each of the subsequent years has provided in some measure or other events which require to be recorded. Arrayed below in the form of a chronological table are those events. Scroll down and be reminded of the heritage of Hereward's own:
1912
May - II(AC) Squadron formed at Farnborough flying a mixture of the Bristol Boxkite, Breguet Biplane, B.E. Prototype and the Farman S.7 Longhorn.
Jul - Standardised on the B.E.2 and Henry Farman Biplane
1913
Jan - Squadron relocated to Montrose in Scotland
Feb - Equipped with the B.E.2A
Apr - Equipped with B.E.2B
Aug - Captured British Altitude record of 16,000 ft
1914
Apr - Equipped with the Farman S.11 Shorthorn
Aug - Equipped with the R.E.1
Aug - Deployed to France (the first British aeroplane to fight a war)
Sep - Observer on Recce flight becomes first member of RFC to be wounded in battle
Sep - Equipped with the R.E.2 and R.E.5
1915
Feb - Equipped with the Vickers FB5 and B.E.2C
May - Lt. Rhodes-Moorhouse awarded posthumous Victoria Cross; first highest honour for heroism in the air
Jul - Equipped with the Bristol Scout and B.E.2D
1916
June - As a local, unofficial measure, Squadron aircraft first painted with Black Triangles to provide positive identification to friendly troops. Later in the year the triangles were repainted white to become the symbol carried by squadron aircraft to this day.
1917
Jan - Equipped with the B.E.2E
Apr - Equipped with the Armstrong Whitworth FK8
1918
May - Lt. "Babe" McLeod awarded Victoria Cross; youngest aerial recipient of this honour
1919
Feb - Squadron returned to the UK and reduced to cadre
1920
Jan - Temporarliy disbanded and then reformed at Oranmore in Ireland
Feb - Re-equipped with the Bristol F.2B fighter
1921
1922
Feb - Squadron returned to the UK to be based at Digby
1923
Feb - Last flight remaining in Ireland returned to England
Dec - Entire Squadron moved to RAF Andover
1924
Apr - Squadron moved to Manston
1925
1926
1927
Apr - Squadron embarks for China
May - Squadron sets up base at Shanghai Racecourse
Nov - Squadron returns to Manston
1928
Sep - Armament Practice Camp conducted at Sutton Bridge
1929
Sep - Armament Practice Camp conducted at North Coat Fitties
Dec - Re-equipped with the Armstrong Whitworth Atlas 1
1930
Aug - Army (Divisional) co-operation exercises held with the squadron detached to Friday Wood
1931
Apr/May - Armament Practice Camp resulted in the Squadron winning the coveted 22 Group Air Gunners' Cup
July - Squadron badge (incorporating the "Hereward Knot") given official approval
Sep - Official approval given for squadron aircraft to carry the triangular emblem used in the First World War
nd - First mention in Squadron Record Books of foreign pilots being posted to the squadron (2 Iraqis)
1932
Apr/May - Squadron repeated feat of winning the Armament Practice Camp 22 Group Air Gunners' Cup
1933
May - Re-equipped with the Hawker Audax 1
1934
Jun - Squadron displayed 6 aircraft at the annual RAF Display at RAF Hendon
Oct - Mobilisation Exercise saw the Squadron deploy to RAF Sealand
1935
Jul - Squadron participated in the Royal Review at RAF Mildenhall
Dec - Squadron moves to RAF Hawkinge
1936
Feb - No. 22 (Army Co-op) Group and, therefore,15:47 04/01/2006 II(AC)Sqn Squadron became part of Fighter Command
1937
Nov - Re-equipped with the Hawker Hector 1
1938
Jul - Re-equipped with the Westland Lysander I
1939
Aug (23) - II (AC) Sqn receives Battle Orders
Sep/Oct - Squadron deploys to Drucat (Abbeville), N France
1940
Feb - Re-equipped with the Westland Lysander II
May - First offensive sorties undertaken
May - Squadron withdraws from Northern France and returns to the UK and initially establishes itself at Lympne
May - Participates in the defence of Calais with supply drops to beleaguered forces
Jun - Operational Flying stopped and Squadron rested
Jun - Squadron moved to Hatfield
Sep - Re-equipped with the Westland Lysander III and conducted trials with the Boulton Paul Defiant I and Fairey Battle
Oct - Squadron begins "Special Operations" sorties to Occupied France
1941
Aug - Re-equipped with the Curtis Tomahawk I, IIA and IIB
1942
Apr - Re-equipped with the North American Mustang I
1943
Mar - Participation in "Spartan", a mobility exercise which was a prelude to the anticipated invasion of Occupied Europe
Jul - The Squadron leaves RAF Sawbridgeworth to be based at RAF Gravesend
Aug - Another move, this time to RAF Odiham
Nov - Another move, this time to RAF North Weald
Dec - Another move, back to RAF Sawbridgeworth
1944
Feb - Re-equipped with the North American Mustang IA
Apr - The Squadron leaves RAF Sawbridgeworth to be based at RAF Gatwick
6 Jun - Tactical Reconnaissance over the D-Day beaches, Normandy
Jun - Re-equipped with the North American Mustang II
20 Jun - First aircraft deployed to France
Jul - Full squadron deployment to France (B10 Plumetot)
Nov - Re-equipped with the Vickers Supermarine Spitfire FRXIV
1945
8 May - Last Operational WW2 sortie carried out by the squadron
Sep - Vickers Supermarine Spitfire PRXI added to the Spitfire FRIV Fleet
1946
Jan - Spitfire PRXI replaced with the Vickers Supermarine Spitfire PRmk19
Jun - Following other unit disbandments, Shiny Two becomes the sole Recce squadron in Germany (BAFO) Dec - Squadron maintains a detachment at RAF Gatow (Berlin)
1947
Apr - Squadron completes the Berlin detachments and aircraft return to Celle
Apr - The Squadron moves to RAF Wunsdorf
1948
Apr - The Squadron moves to RAF Wahn to vacate Wunsdorf which was being used for the Berlin Airlift
1949
Sep - The Squadron returns to RAF Wunsdorf
1950
Dec - Re-equipped with the Gloster Meteor FRmk9
1951
Mar - PRmk10s added to the Meteor fleet
Apr - Meteor PRmk10s exchanged for FRmk9s and squadron then assumes the Fighter Reconnaissance role
Sep-Dec - Exercise Thunderflash; Exercise Nickel Coin; Exercise Stopgap I and II; Exercise Clean-up; Exercise Counter-Thrust; Exercise Cirrus; Exercise Jupiter; Exercise Surprise Package; Exercise Combine
- Squadron awarded the "Duncan Trophy" for best all-weather flying record
1952
Apr - Squadron moves to RAF Gutersloh
1953
Jun - Participation in the Coronation Flypast
Jul - Royal Review at RAF Odiham
Jul - Squadron moves to RAF Wahn
1954
Oct - Presentation of the Squadron Standard at RAF Geilenkirchen
1955
1956
Dec - Re-equipped with the Supermarine Swift FRmk5
1957
May - Second place in the NATO Recce competition "Royal Flush II"
1958
Aug - Participation in Recce competition "Royal Flush"
1959
1960
1961
Mar - Re-equipped with the Hawker Hunter FRmk10
Sep - Squadron moves back to RAF Gutersloh
1962
1963
Oct - Exercise Triplex West; 4 aircraft to El Adem - the first time since Shanghai (1927) that the squadron had left the confines of Europe
1964
1965
Jun - Participation in Recce competition "Royal Flush"
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
Jun - The squadron won every category in NATO Recce competition "Big Click (Royal Flush XIV)"
Dec - Re-equipped with the McDonnell-Douglas Phantom FGRmk2 at RAF Bruggen
1971
May - Squadron moves to RAF Laarbruch
1972
Aug - For the second time (see Jun 1970) the squadron won every category in NATO Recce competition "Big Click"
1973
1974
1975
1976
Re-equipped with the Sepecat GRmk1 Jaguar
1977
Mar - First squadron deployment to IAF Deccimomannu for APC (Armament Practice Camp)
Jul - Squadron participated in QEII's Silver Jubilee Flypast
1978
1979
1980
Jul - The squadron participated for the first time in "Red Flag" in the US
1981
1982
1983
1984
Jul - New Squadron Standard presented by Prince Charles
1985
1986
Apr - Squadron deploys to CFB Cold Lake for Exercise Maple Flag
1987
Mar - Squadron deploys to RAF Bruggen for 6 months whilst runway at RAF Laarbruch is resurfaced
1988
Dec - Squadron receives the 1988 Wilkinson Battle of Britain Memorial sword for development of night reconnaissance tactics and techniques
1989
Jan - Re-equipped with the Panavia Tornado GRmk1A
1990
Nov - Her Majesty the Queen visits RAF Laarbruch and meets with members of II(AC) Sqn
Dec - First aircraft deployed to Tabuk as part of Operation Desert Shield
1991
Nov - After 47 years of being based in Germany the squadron leaves RAF Laarbruch and redeploys to RAF Marham
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
Jan/Mar - Participation in operation BOLTON (No-Fly Zones in Northern and Southern Iraq), the first time in 54 years that the Squadron had dropped bombs in anger
2000
2001
2002
2003
Mar - Squadron deployed to the Gulf Theatre of Operations in support of Operation Telic
2004
2005
Feb - Squadron deploys to Ali Al Salem airbase in Kuwait as part of Operation TELIC
2006
Jan - Squadron deploys to Nevada for "Red Flag"
2007
May - Squadron celebrates 95th Anniversary
2008
2009
Apr - Squadron finished its participation in Operation Telic; prepares for deployment to Afghanistan.
2010
Oct - Squadron returns from Afghanistan
2011
Mar - Squadron takes part in Operation Ellamy over Libya.
2012
2014
2015
Jan - Squadron deploys to Afghanistan for Operation HERRICK.
Aug - Squadron deploys to Akrotiri for Operation SHADER
Sep - Squadron deploys to Africa for Operation TURUS
May - II(AC) Squadron formed at Farnborough flying a mixture of the Bristol Boxkite, Breguet Biplane, B.E. Prototype and the Farman S.7 Longhorn.
Jul - Standardised on the B.E.2 and Henry Farman Biplane
1913
Jan - Squadron relocated to Montrose in Scotland
Feb - Equipped with the B.E.2A
Apr - Equipped with B.E.2B
Aug - Captured British Altitude record of 16,000 ft
1914
Apr - Equipped with the Farman S.11 Shorthorn
Aug - Equipped with the R.E.1
Aug - Deployed to France (the first British aeroplane to fight a war)
Sep - Observer on Recce flight becomes first member of RFC to be wounded in battle
Sep - Equipped with the R.E.2 and R.E.5
1915
Feb - Equipped with the Vickers FB5 and B.E.2C
May - Lt. Rhodes-Moorhouse awarded posthumous Victoria Cross; first highest honour for heroism in the air
Jul - Equipped with the Bristol Scout and B.E.2D
1916
June - As a local, unofficial measure, Squadron aircraft first painted with Black Triangles to provide positive identification to friendly troops. Later in the year the triangles were repainted white to become the symbol carried by squadron aircraft to this day.
1917
Jan - Equipped with the B.E.2E
Apr - Equipped with the Armstrong Whitworth FK8
1918
May - Lt. "Babe" McLeod awarded Victoria Cross; youngest aerial recipient of this honour
1919
Feb - Squadron returned to the UK and reduced to cadre
1920
Jan - Temporarliy disbanded and then reformed at Oranmore in Ireland
Feb - Re-equipped with the Bristol F.2B fighter
1921
1922
Feb - Squadron returned to the UK to be based at Digby
1923
Feb - Last flight remaining in Ireland returned to England
Dec - Entire Squadron moved to RAF Andover
1924
Apr - Squadron moved to Manston
1925
1926
1927
Apr - Squadron embarks for China
May - Squadron sets up base at Shanghai Racecourse
Nov - Squadron returns to Manston
1928
Sep - Armament Practice Camp conducted at Sutton Bridge
1929
Sep - Armament Practice Camp conducted at North Coat Fitties
Dec - Re-equipped with the Armstrong Whitworth Atlas 1
1930
Aug - Army (Divisional) co-operation exercises held with the squadron detached to Friday Wood
1931
Apr/May - Armament Practice Camp resulted in the Squadron winning the coveted 22 Group Air Gunners' Cup
July - Squadron badge (incorporating the "Hereward Knot") given official approval
Sep - Official approval given for squadron aircraft to carry the triangular emblem used in the First World War
nd - First mention in Squadron Record Books of foreign pilots being posted to the squadron (2 Iraqis)
1932
Apr/May - Squadron repeated feat of winning the Armament Practice Camp 22 Group Air Gunners' Cup
1933
May - Re-equipped with the Hawker Audax 1
1934
Jun - Squadron displayed 6 aircraft at the annual RAF Display at RAF Hendon
Oct - Mobilisation Exercise saw the Squadron deploy to RAF Sealand
1935
Jul - Squadron participated in the Royal Review at RAF Mildenhall
Dec - Squadron moves to RAF Hawkinge
1936
Feb - No. 22 (Army Co-op) Group and, therefore,15:47 04/01/2006 II(AC)Sqn Squadron became part of Fighter Command
1937
Nov - Re-equipped with the Hawker Hector 1
1938
Jul - Re-equipped with the Westland Lysander I
1939
Aug (23) - II (AC) Sqn receives Battle Orders
Sep/Oct - Squadron deploys to Drucat (Abbeville), N France
1940
Feb - Re-equipped with the Westland Lysander II
May - First offensive sorties undertaken
May - Squadron withdraws from Northern France and returns to the UK and initially establishes itself at Lympne
May - Participates in the defence of Calais with supply drops to beleaguered forces
Jun - Operational Flying stopped and Squadron rested
Jun - Squadron moved to Hatfield
Sep - Re-equipped with the Westland Lysander III and conducted trials with the Boulton Paul Defiant I and Fairey Battle
Oct - Squadron begins "Special Operations" sorties to Occupied France
1941
Aug - Re-equipped with the Curtis Tomahawk I, IIA and IIB
1942
Apr - Re-equipped with the North American Mustang I
1943
Mar - Participation in "Spartan", a mobility exercise which was a prelude to the anticipated invasion of Occupied Europe
Jul - The Squadron leaves RAF Sawbridgeworth to be based at RAF Gravesend
Aug - Another move, this time to RAF Odiham
Nov - Another move, this time to RAF North Weald
Dec - Another move, back to RAF Sawbridgeworth
1944
Feb - Re-equipped with the North American Mustang IA
Apr - The Squadron leaves RAF Sawbridgeworth to be based at RAF Gatwick
6 Jun - Tactical Reconnaissance over the D-Day beaches, Normandy
Jun - Re-equipped with the North American Mustang II
20 Jun - First aircraft deployed to France
Jul - Full squadron deployment to France (B10 Plumetot)
Nov - Re-equipped with the Vickers Supermarine Spitfire FRXIV
1945
8 May - Last Operational WW2 sortie carried out by the squadron
Sep - Vickers Supermarine Spitfire PRXI added to the Spitfire FRIV Fleet
1946
Jan - Spitfire PRXI replaced with the Vickers Supermarine Spitfire PRmk19
Jun - Following other unit disbandments, Shiny Two becomes the sole Recce squadron in Germany (BAFO) Dec - Squadron maintains a detachment at RAF Gatow (Berlin)
1947
Apr - Squadron completes the Berlin detachments and aircraft return to Celle
Apr - The Squadron moves to RAF Wunsdorf
1948
Apr - The Squadron moves to RAF Wahn to vacate Wunsdorf which was being used for the Berlin Airlift
1949
Sep - The Squadron returns to RAF Wunsdorf
1950
Dec - Re-equipped with the Gloster Meteor FRmk9
1951
Mar - PRmk10s added to the Meteor fleet
Apr - Meteor PRmk10s exchanged for FRmk9s and squadron then assumes the Fighter Reconnaissance role
Sep-Dec - Exercise Thunderflash; Exercise Nickel Coin; Exercise Stopgap I and II; Exercise Clean-up; Exercise Counter-Thrust; Exercise Cirrus; Exercise Jupiter; Exercise Surprise Package; Exercise Combine
- Squadron awarded the "Duncan Trophy" for best all-weather flying record
1952
Apr - Squadron moves to RAF Gutersloh
1953
Jun - Participation in the Coronation Flypast
Jul - Royal Review at RAF Odiham
Jul - Squadron moves to RAF Wahn
1954
Oct - Presentation of the Squadron Standard at RAF Geilenkirchen
1955
1956
Dec - Re-equipped with the Supermarine Swift FRmk5
1957
May - Second place in the NATO Recce competition "Royal Flush II"
1958
Aug - Participation in Recce competition "Royal Flush"
1959
1960
1961
Mar - Re-equipped with the Hawker Hunter FRmk10
Sep - Squadron moves back to RAF Gutersloh
1962
1963
Oct - Exercise Triplex West; 4 aircraft to El Adem - the first time since Shanghai (1927) that the squadron had left the confines of Europe
1964
1965
Jun - Participation in Recce competition "Royal Flush"
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
Jun - The squadron won every category in NATO Recce competition "Big Click (Royal Flush XIV)"
Dec - Re-equipped with the McDonnell-Douglas Phantom FGRmk2 at RAF Bruggen
1971
May - Squadron moves to RAF Laarbruch
1972
Aug - For the second time (see Jun 1970) the squadron won every category in NATO Recce competition "Big Click"
1973
1974
1975
1976
Re-equipped with the Sepecat GRmk1 Jaguar
1977
Mar - First squadron deployment to IAF Deccimomannu for APC (Armament Practice Camp)
Jul - Squadron participated in QEII's Silver Jubilee Flypast
1978
1979
1980
Jul - The squadron participated for the first time in "Red Flag" in the US
1981
1982
1983
1984
Jul - New Squadron Standard presented by Prince Charles
1985
1986
Apr - Squadron deploys to CFB Cold Lake for Exercise Maple Flag
1987
Mar - Squadron deploys to RAF Bruggen for 6 months whilst runway at RAF Laarbruch is resurfaced
1988
Dec - Squadron receives the 1988 Wilkinson Battle of Britain Memorial sword for development of night reconnaissance tactics and techniques
1989
Jan - Re-equipped with the Panavia Tornado GRmk1A
1990
Nov - Her Majesty the Queen visits RAF Laarbruch and meets with members of II(AC) Sqn
Dec - First aircraft deployed to Tabuk as part of Operation Desert Shield
1991
Nov - After 47 years of being based in Germany the squadron leaves RAF Laarbruch and redeploys to RAF Marham
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
Jan/Mar - Participation in operation BOLTON (No-Fly Zones in Northern and Southern Iraq), the first time in 54 years that the Squadron had dropped bombs in anger
2000
2001
2002
2003
Mar - Squadron deployed to the Gulf Theatre of Operations in support of Operation Telic
2004
2005
Feb - Squadron deploys to Ali Al Salem airbase in Kuwait as part of Operation TELIC
2006
Jan - Squadron deploys to Nevada for "Red Flag"
2007
May - Squadron celebrates 95th Anniversary
2008
2009
Apr - Squadron finished its participation in Operation Telic; prepares for deployment to Afghanistan.
2010
Oct - Squadron returns from Afghanistan
2011
Mar - Squadron takes part in Operation Ellamy over Libya.
2012
2014
2015
Jan - Squadron deploys to Afghanistan for Operation HERRICK.
Aug - Squadron deploys to Akrotiri for Operation SHADER
Sep - Squadron deploys to Africa for Operation TURUS
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