#1704 14 Sqn Shadow R1+ print
Description
Squadron Prints Lithograph No. 1704 - ZZ504, Shadow R1+, 14 Squadron, RAF Waddington.
No. 14 Squadron was formed at Shoreham on 3 February 1915. After a period of training, it moved to Egypt in November that year to perform Army co-operation duties with its BE 2s. From late 1916 it began to advance forward, in support the land campaign, moving through the Sinai Peninsula, into Palestine and eventually on to Syria. Concurrently, small Squadron detachments supported Arab irregular forces taking part in the Arab Revolt. After operating a varied assortment of different aircraft types, the Squadron re-equipped with RE 8s from November 1917. In January 1919 it returned to the UK, before disbanding the following month. The Squadron reformed on 1 February 1920, in Palestine, by renumbering No. 111 Squadron at Ramleh. Its Bristol F 2Bs patrolled Transjordan and Palestine for the next 20 years, often working in Cooperation with No. 2 Armoured Car Company. Successive new aircraft types heralded enhanced capabilities, as it re-quipped with DH 9As, Fairey IIIFs, Gordons and eventually Wellesleys. It was during this time that the Squadron gained its Arabic script motto meaning ‘I spread my wings and keep my promise’. At the outbreak of WWII the Squadron moved to Egypt but soon returned to Amman. Conversion to Blenheims began in September 1940 and these were used on bombing operations over the Western Desert. Marauders were received in August 1942, which were used for long-range maritime reconnaissance, minelaying and anti-shipping missions in the Mediterranean. The Squadron moved to Algeria in March 1943 for anti-submarine duties but returned to the UK in October 1944. After re-equipping with Wellington XIVs, it flew anti-submarine patrols from Chivnor, until disbanding on 1 June 1945. Reborn the same day, by renumbering No. 143 Squadron at Banff, the Squadron operated Mosquito VIs until disbanding again on 31 March 1946. The following day No. 128 Squadron at Wahn, equipped with Mosquito FB16s, was renumbered to No. 14 Squadron. It received Mosquito B35s in December 1947 before converting to Vampire FB5s in February 1951, Venom FB1s in May 1953 and Hunter F4s in May 1955. In September 1949 the Squadron moved briefly to Celle, before relocating to Fassberg in November 1950, Oldenburg in May 1955, Ahlhorn in September 1957 and Gütersloh in September 1958. Following a further disbandment on 17 December 1962, continuation of the No. 14 numberplate was secured by the renumbering of No. 88 Squadron at Wildenrath, operating Canberra B(I)8s until 30 June 1970. From this date the Squadron operated from Brüggen, equipped initially with Phantom FGR2s, followed by Jaguar GR1s in April 1975 and Tornado GR1s in November 1985. In August 1990, following Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, personnel and aircraft from 14 Squadron were deployed to the Middle East as part of the Coalition Forces. The Squadron regularly returned to the Middle East in the years that followed, to enforce the No-Fly Zones over Southern Iraqi. In April 1999, in response to the Serbian aggression in Kosovo, the Squadron mounted air strikes from RAF Brüggen, against the Serbian military infrastructure, as part of Operation ENGADINE. In January 2001, 14 Squadron moved to RAF Lossiemouth and soon after re-equipped with the Tornado GR4. The Squadron conducted Air Interdiction and Close Air Support missions as part of Operation TELIC during several periods between 2003 and 2009 and deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation HERRICK 13 from October 2010 to January 2011. On 1 June 2011, the Squadron disbanded at RAF Lossiemouth but reformed at RAF Waddington on 14 October 2011 equipped with the Shadow R Mk1. Between 2011 and 2020 the Squadron was continuously employed on operations in Afghanistan and the Middle East, as part of Operation HERRICK and Operation SHADER. Since 2020, 14 Squadron has been held at immediate readiness, supporting both enduring and emergent operations in the UK and globally.