16-я эскадрилья Королевских ВВС: История и современность.

Flying squadron of the Royal Air Force

Number 16 Squadron Royal Air Force, nicknamed 'the Saints', is a flying squadron of the Royal Air Force (RAF) who currently provide elementary flying training (EFT) with the Grob Tutor T1, presently based at RAF Wittering, an RAF airbase in Cambridgeshire, England. It originally formed as a squadron of the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) on 1915 02 10, at Saint Omer, France, to carry out a mixture of offensive patrolling and reconnaissance, and was disbanded in 1919 with the end of the First World War. The squadron reformed as part of the recently formed Royal Air Force (RAF) on 1924 04 01, and again took on a reconnaissance role which it continued throughout the Second World War. Post war, the squadron was disbanded and reformed several times, and was converted to a bomber squadron. Equipped with the Tornado GR1 from 1984, the squadron took part in the Gulf War in 1990. It was again disbanded in September 1991, before reforming in November 1991 as the operational conversion unit (OCU) for the Jaguar. With the Jaguar's imminent withdrawal from service, the squadron disbanded once more in 2005. No. 16 Squadron reformed again and took on its current role on 2008 10 01.

The squadron was formed at Saint Omer, France on 1915 02 10, from elements of Numbers. 2, 6, and 9 Squadrons. It immediately began fighting in the First World War under Hugh Dowding, For the rest of the Great War, the 'Saints' were deployed throughout Northern France and operated a mixture of aircraft including Bleriot XI, Martinsyde S.1 and Royal Aircraft Factory B. E.2c on offensive patrol and tactical reconnaissance duties. Disbandment occurred on New Year's Eve 1919. In September 1915, Duncan Grinnell Milne joined the squadron as a junior pilot, and later (1933) published an account of his time in the squadron. His portrait of Dowding (who when the book was originally published had not then attained his later fame) is unflattering. The squadron was reformed at Old Sarum in Wiltshire in the tactical reconnaissance role on 1924 04 01. Initially, it operated the Bristol Fighter, but this was replaced by the Atlas in January 1931, and by the Audax in December 1933. and the Squadron continued in its tactical role in wartime France from April 1940. In May 1940, it returned to England and conducted roving sea patrols searching for both downed aircrew and enemy forces. From April 1942, 16 Squadron was re equipped with the Allison engined North American Mustang I for fighter sweeps and reconnaissance duties over France from its base at RAF Weston Zoyland in Somerset. The Spitfire Mk. V took over this role from September 1943.

No. 16 Squadron was disbanded at RAF Celle on 1946 12 31 (age 77) but reformed at RAF Fassberg the same day, and took the 24 cylinder H engined Hawker Tempest Mk. V on charge, until converting to the radial engined Mk. II on 7 June 1946. On 1948 12 07, the squadron took delivery of its first jet engined aircraft, the de Havilland Vampire FB.5, which subsequently gave way to the de Havilland Venom FB.1 in November 1954 until disbandment at Celle once more on 1957 12 31 (age 66). Although Buccaneers could carry two WE.177 weapons, after taking into account attrition in the conventional phase of a high intensity European war, and after withholding some aircraft in reserve, RAF planners expected that squadron strength remaining would still be sufficient to deliver the nuclear weapons stockpile. The Buccaneer distinguished itself in many bombing exercises; among its victories included the winning of the Salmond Trophy in 1978 and 1979. The squadron briefly expanded in 1983 1984, absorbing some aircraft and personnel from its sister 15 Squadron which had converted to the Panavia Tornado GR1. 16 Squadron followed in late 1984 following the 'designate' process where a new 16 Squadron 'formed up' at RAF Honington, before moving to Laarbruch and assuming the squadron standard from the Buccaneer unit which had continued to operate throughout. Despite the change of aircraft, the squadron's role remained unchanged in countering a Soviet threat in Europe with conventional weapons and eighteen WE.177 nuclear bombs. As with the Buccaneer, there was a ratio of 1.5 weapons per aircraft. Ahead of Operation GRANBY in 1990 and the first Gulf War, the squadron deployed to Tabuk airbase. No. 16 was the lead squadron in the deployment, with No. 20 and crews from other Tornado GR1 squadrons. The 'Tabuk Force' used JP233s and bombs on low level sorties against Iraqi airfields and other targets. Some of the Squadron's aircraft later formed a TIALD flight that conducted accurate medium level bombing. Following hostilities, the Squadron disbanded on 1991 12 31 (age 32).

On 1991 11 01, the Squadron reformed at RAF Lossiemouth as No. 16(Reserve) Squadron, a reserve squadron and an operational conversion unit (OCU), replacing and taking over the aircraft and weapons of No. 226 OCU, training and converting new pilots for the SEPECAT Jaguar. Although no longer a front line operational squadron, as a reserve, or shadow squadron, its twelve aircraft were equipped with conventional weapons and eight WE.177 nuclear weapons for use in a high intensity European war, and it remained assigned to SACEUR for that purpose. Although a non operational squadron, its pilots were still involved in Operation DENY FLIGHT and Operation NORTHERN WATCH. The squadron moved to RAF Coltishall in Norfolk, on 21 July 2000, thus consolidating the RAF's entire Jaguar force at one airbase, joining numbers 6, 41, and 54 squadrons. This led to the disbandment of No. 16 Squadron on 2005 12 31 (age 18) as the Jaguar approached retirement. The Squadron Standard was laid up in Notre Dame Cathedral Saint Omer, France on 20 March 2005.

On 2008 10 01, the Squadron was reformed at RAF Cranwell, Lincolnshire, as part of No. 22 Group, operating the Grob Tutor T1. No. 16(R) Squadron continues its training role by instructing new Royal Air Force (RAF) pilots in elementary flying training (EFT) as part of No.1 Elementary Flying Training School (1EFTS). From 2005 to 2008, the unit was previously known as 1 Squadron, 1 EFTS following a restructuring of the RAF's pilot training. 16(R) Squadron instructs the RAF's new pilots along with some pilots from overseas foreign militaries. The Squadrons' role is to provide pilots to the more advanced flying training courses on their way to earning the coveted aircrew brevet, or pilot 'wings', prior to joining a front line squadron or unit. In early 2008, Prince William took his first steps on his aviation career at No. 16 Squadron's site, flying his first solo sortie in Tutor G BYXN; his father was also taught to fly at RAF Cranwell in 1971. In the first half of 2015, No. 16(R) Squadron, along with No. 115(R) Squadron relocated to RAF Wittering, Cambridgeshire, which saw flying return to the base for the first time since 2010.