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No
XI Squadron was formed at Netheravon on the 14th February 1915, as the first
unit in the RFC specifically tasked with fighter duties. The Squadron deployed
to France on the 25th July 1915 with the Vickers FB.5 Gunbus and commenced
operations four days later. The first ‘kill’ was made on the 5th
September 1915. |
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Many
combats followed, one notable engagement resulting in the award of the Victoria
Cross to Lieutenant G S
M Insall. This was the fourth VC to be awarded to a member of the RFC.
Towards the end of 1916 the Gunbus was replaced with the FE2B. However,
by October 1916 the Squadron was credited with the record number of ‘kills’
up to that date. After the battle of Arras the FE2B was replaced with the
Bristol Fighter and it was with these aircraft that the Squadron first entered
Germany in May 1919, as part of the Royal Air Force of the Rhine. By the
end of the year, the unit had returned to England and was disbanded on New
Years Eve 1919. |
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XI
Squadron reformed at Andover on the 13th January 1923 and operated a variety
of aircraft including the Fairey Fawn and Hawker Horsley. Activities during
this period included participation in the air defence exercises of the period
and during 1927 a tour of provincial towns. On the 29th December 1928 the
Squadron departed for Risalpur on India’s Northwest frontier, equipment
at this time was the Westland Wapiti. The Squadron did not return to the
UK until it’s reformation at Leuchars in 1967. |
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The
Wapiti’s were actively engaged in frontier operations against rebellious
tribesmen, and crews found themselves flying in a country where the mountains
were higher than the operational ceiling of their aircraft! In 1932 the
ageing Wapiti’s were replaced by Hawker Harts which remained Squadron
equipment until 1939 when they in turn were replaced by Blenheims. |
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Before
the European conflict began, XI Squadron moved for a brief period to Singapore,
and then in May 1940 to Aden to take part in the Abyssinian campaign. For
the next two years the Squadron was moved regularly, serving at various
times in Egypt, Greece. Crete, Palestine and Iraq. The Squadron then moved
to Ceylon in time to defend the island from the Japanese Carrier Forces.
(See THE MOST DANGEROUS MONTH article in features) |
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In
September 1943 the Squadron re-armed with the Hurricane 11C and moved to
India where it engaged in offensive operations against the Japanese in the
Arakan area of Burma. Offensive support for the 14th Army continued until
1945. On the 2nd November 1944 XI became the first Squadron to re-enter
Burma when it landed at Tamu. After the Japanese surrender, the Squadron,
now equipped with Spitfire XIVs, moved to Malaya and then in May 1946 to
Japan as part of the Occupation Forces.
Here it remained until disbandment in February 1948. |
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In
October 1948 the Squadron reformed in Germany and was equipped with the
Mosquito FB.6 until August 1950 when it re-equipped with it’s first
jet aircraft, the Vampire. Jet propulsion continued with the Venom Fighter
Bomber in 1952. On the 28th August 1954, whilst stationed at Wunstorf, XI
Squadron was honoured by the presentation of it’s Squadron Standard. |
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The
Squadron was established as an interdiction unit when in 1959 it re-equipped
with the Meteor NF.11. In 1960 the Meteors were exchanged for the Javelin
FAW.4. XI Squadron continued to fly Javelins of various marks in Germany
until it was disbanded in January 1966. |
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On
the 1st April 1967 XI Squadron reformed at RAF Leuchars operating the Lightning
F.6 as part of the Air Defence of the UK. In March 1972 the Squadron moved
to RAF Binbrook where it continued it’s long association with the Lightning,
ending up as the last Lightning Squadron in service. |
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On
the 1st July 1988 it re-equipped with the Tornado F.3 as
the first element of the Leeming Air Defence Wing. Between 1990 and 2003
the Squadron represented the cornerstone of the UK's Immediate Reaction
Force (Air) and deployed both to the Middle East and the Balkans in support
of Operations Desert Shield, Deny Flight and Resinate. In November 2002
it was the first F.3 Squadron to deploy ASRAAM (Advanced Short Range Air
to Air Missile) operationally during a routine detachment to patrol the
No Fly Zone over Southern Iraq. |
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In
early 2003, in the light of potential operations in Iraq, the Squadron undertook
an additional role of SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defence) using ALARM
(Air Launched Anti-Radiation Missile). In a little under one month the Squadron
converted 11 aircraft and 14 crews to the new role and was declared operational
on 1st March 2003. Retaining it's full air-to-air weapon fit, the renamed
Tornado EF.3 was unique to XI(F) Squadron and was capable of both locating
and destroying enemy SAM systems whilst fulfilling key fighter duties. |
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On 29th March 2007, XI(F) Squadron reformed at RAF Coningsby flying the Typhoon F.2 as the lead multi-role Typhoon squadron.
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