#1841 1(F) Squadron, Typhoon FGR4 print
Description
Squadron Prints Lithograph No. 1841 - ZK300, Typhoon FGR4, 1(Fighter) Squadron, RAF Lossiemouth.
No. 1 Squadron was one of the first four squadrons of the Royal Flying Corps, formed on 13 May 1912. Its origins lie in No. 1 Airship Company of the Air Battalion Royal Engineers, established in 1878. Reorganised as No. 1 Aeroplane Squadron in 1914, it deployed to France in March 1915, conducting fighter, ground-attack and escort operations over the Western Front. Re-equipping with Nieuport 17 and later 27 aircraft, shortly followed by S.E.5as, the squadron became a dedicated fighter squadron, downing more than 300 German aircraft during WWI. Returning to the UK in 1919, the Squadron undertook overseas service in India and Iraq before disbanding in 1926. It reformed at RAF Tangmere in 1927 and, equipped with successive generations of fighters, entered the Second World War with the Advanced Air Striking Force in France. Following the Battle of France, 1(F) Squadron returned to the UK and fought in the Battle of Britain as part of 11 and 12 Groups. It later conducted offensive sweeps over occupied Europe, night-fighter operations, and fighter-bomber missions, before returning to the fighter role in 1944, including counter-V1 operations. Post-WWII, the Squadron transitioned through early jet aircraft and remained at the forefront of UK air defence. In 1969, based at RAF Wittering, it became the first front-line unit to operate the Harrier, demonstrating its global reach and operational flexibility, most notably during the Falklands conflict in 1982 from HMS Hermes. Equipped with the second-generation Harrier, the Squadron deployed extensively during operations in Iraq, the Balkans and Afghanistan, becoming the last RAF Harrier squadron to fly on operations before disbanding in January 2011. On 15 September 2012, 1(F) Squadron reformed at RAF Leuchars as a Typhoon FGR4 unit. As a multi-role squadron, it provides contingency operations while maintaining a continuous commitment to UK Quick Reaction Alert (North) and supporting No. 1435 Flight in the Falkland Islands. Since its reformation, the Squadron has deployed repeatedly on global operations and NATO commitments including Operation SHADER, the UK’s contribution in the campaign against Daesh, where 1(F) Squadron was the first Typhoon unit to deploy at short notice. Conducting close air support and air interdiction missions over Iraq and Syria, deployments included Typhoon’s first operational use of Paveway IV, Mauser 27mm strafe and later, Storm Shadow. 1(F) Squadron has also conducted NATO Air Policing in Romania and the Baltics, operated NATO QRA from Iceland, achieved an “Above Average” grading during NATO CAPEVAL, and flown long-range patrols along NATO’s eastern flank following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
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