Caption: Vickers Wellington RAF 9Sqn KAZ over England later code change to WS after Sep 1939

 Caption: Vickers Wellington RAF 9Sqn KA-Z over England later code change to WS after Sep 1939

RAF No 9 Squadron

RAF No 9 Squadron

Motto: Per noctum volamus (We fly by night)

No 9 was the first squadron to be formed outside the UK when the HQ Wireless Unit at St Omer was raised to squadron status on 8 December 1914. However, its existence was short-lived as the decision was taken to distribute wireless facilities in all squadrons, therefore the resources of No 9 were broken up and allocated to the other corps squadrons, the unit being formally disbanded on 22 March 1915.

It was reformed a few days later, on 1 April 1915, at Brooklands in the radio training role. A move to Dover also brought coastal patrols into its remit. It moved back to France in November 1915, carrying out bombing and recce missions, until late 1916 when it became a corps squadron, its BE's being replaced by RE8's in May 1917.

Having received a few Bristol Fighters, these began to replace the RE's in February 1919, the squadron remaining on the continent until the following June, when it returned to the UK as a cadre and disbanded on 31 December 1919.

Re-formation in what would become its main role until the present day, a bomber (strike) unit, took place on 1 April 1924, equipped with Vimys. Specialising in night bombing, as commemorated by the squadron badge and motto, the squadron was successively equipped with Virginias of various makes from 1925, Heyfords from 1936 and Wellingtons from 1939.

On 18 December 1939, the squadron took part in the disastrous daylight raid on Wilhelmshaven losing five aircraft and bringing about an end to RAF attempts to carry out daylight raids with 'heavy' bombers. Following a detachment to Lossiemouth during the Norwegian campaign the squadron settled down into the routine of a main force bomber squadron within No 3 Group.

July 1942 brought the last Wellington operations and conversion to Lancasters as well as a move to No 5 Group. On 12 November 144, together with No 617 Squadron, they dropped 12.000lb 'Tallboys' on the Tirpitz in Thomso fiord, causing her to capsize. As the end of the war in Europe loomed, No 9 was earmarked for operations in the Far East as part of 'Tiger Force', which was commanded by AM Sir Hugh Lloyd who had commanded No 9 at the beginning of the war. However, the Japanese surrender after the dropping of two A-bombs brought these plans to a close, although the squadron did move to India to undertake aerial survey work until April 1946.

Lancasters were replaced by Lincolns in July 1946 and in May 1952 the first Canberras arrived bringing the squadron into the jet age. In 1956, the squadron used its Canberras in action in both Malaya (March-May) and Egypt (October). The squadron disbanded for the first time since 1919 on 13 July 1961. A new No 9 Squadron appeared at Coningsby on 1 March 1962, equipped with Vulcans, it was part of Britain's nuclear deterrent. However, in 1969 the squadron was moved to Cyprus to form part of the Akrotiri Strike Wing, together with No 35 Squadron. The rundown of Britain's overseas bases brought the squadron back to Waddington in 1975 where it remained until disbanding on 1 May 1982.

On 1 June 1982, it became the first squadron to be equipped with the Tornado GR1 at Honington, moving to Bruggen in RAF Germany in 1986. With the rundown of RAF Germany, the squadron relocated back to the UK at Marham.

Squadron Codes used: - KA Feb 1939 - Sep 1939 | WS Sep 1939 - Apr 1951 | AA - AZ Aug 1986 - Current

Group and Duty

26 September 1939: Bomber squadron with No. 3 Group

Known Raids/ Significant Dates:

July 1942: Last sortie with Wellington; 12 November 1944: Took part in raid that sank the Tirpitz at Tromso using the 12,000lb bombs

Location

15 July 1939-7 August 1942: Honington
1940: Detachment to Lossiemouth
7 August 1942-14 April 1943: Waddington
14 April 1943-6 July 1945: Bardney

No. 9 Squadron (also known as No. IX (Bomber) Squadron or No. IX (B) Squadron) is the oldest dedicated bomber squadron of the Royal Air Force. Formed in December 1914, it saw service throughout the First World War, including at the Somme and Passchendaele. During the Second World War, No. IX (B) Squadron was one of two Avro Lancaster units specialising in heavy precision bombing (the other was No. 617 Squadron) and sank the battleship Tirpitz on November in Operation Catechism. Between and April, the squadron flew the Avro Vulcan B. as part of the V-Force. In June, it became the first front-line squadron in the world to operate the Panavia Tornado GR. In May, No. IX (B) Squadron received the RAF's first Tornado GR, which it operated until re-equipping with the Eurofighter Typhoon FGR at its present home station of RAF Lossiemouth on April as an Aggressor Squadron. On July, while deployed on NATO operations in the Black Sea region, IX (B) Squadron were officially certified as a Multi-Role Combat Ready Squadron.

History

First World War (1914–1919)

No. IX (B) Squadron was formed on December at Saint-Omer in France, the first outside of the UK, from a detachment of the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) Headquarters Wireless Flight. Known as No. (Wireless) Squadron, it was tasked with developing the use of radio for reconnaissance missions through artillery spotting. This lasted until March when the squadron was disbanded and had its equipment dispersed amongst No. Squadron, No. Squadron, No. Squadron and No. Squadron.

The squadron reformed at Brooklands in Surrey on April, under the command of Major Hugh Dowding (later commander of RAF Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain) as a radio-training squadron, flying the Farman MF., Blériot XI and Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.. The squadron moved to Dover in Kent on July, re-equipping with the Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.a, Avro and a single Martinsyde S., before returning to Saint-Omer on December as an army co-operation squadron. Moving to Bertangles on December, No. Squadron commenced bombing missions on January with the B.E.c. It flew reconnaissance and artillery spotting missions during the Battle of the Somme in, assisting the British Army's XIII Corps on the first day. It later operated during the Second Battle of Arras in.

It re-equipped with the Royal Aircraft Factory R.E. in May, using them for artillery spotting and contact patrols during the Battle of Passchendaele, during which it suffered casualties, and carrying out short range tactical bombing operations in response to the German spring offensive in March. While it started to receive Bristol Fighters in July, it did not completely discard the R.E. until after the end of the war. No. Squadron returned to the UK in August, arriving at Castle Bromwich where it remained until disbanding on December.

Between the wars (1919–1938)

The squadron's life as a bomber unit began on April, reforming at RAF Upavon in Wiltshire, quickly moving to RAF Manston in Kent, flying the Vickers Vimy. Less than a year later, the squadron re-equipped with the Vickers Virginia heavy bomber, occasionally supplemented by Vickers Victoria transports, which it retained until this was replaced by the Handley Page Heyford in. On January, No. IX (B) Squadron became the third RAF squadron to receive the modern Vickers Wellington monoplane, when their first Wellington arrived at RAF Stradishall in Suffolk – reaching full strength by April.

Second World War (1938–1945)

1939–1943

The Second World War began with the unit being one of the few equipped with modern aircraft, the Vickers Wellington bomber, flying out of RAF Honington in Suffolk; the Wellington later gave way to the Avro Lancaster in September upon the squadron's move to RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire, with which the unit would complete its most famous sorties.

On September, the squadron's Wellington aircraft and crews were the first to hit the enemy; the first to get into a dogfight; possibly the first to shoot down an enemy aircraft; the first to be shot down by one; and towards the end of the war, the first to hit the German battleship Tirpitz with the Tallboy, pound bomb, an achievement by the crew of an Avro Lancaster on her nd operation with the squadron.

No. IX (B) Squadron fought with RAF Bomber Command in Europe throughout the Second World War; took part in all the major raids and large battles; and pioneered and proved new tactics and equipment. It also produced several of the leading figures in The Great Escape, such as Les 'Cookie' Long, as well as Colditz inmates – including the legendary 'Medium Sized Man' Flight Lieutenant Dominic Bruce originator of the famous 'tea chest' escape. They became one of the two specialised squadrons attacking precision targets with the Tallboy bomb, and led the final main force raid, on Berchtesgaden in Germany on April.

Operation Catechism - The sinking of Tirpitz (1944)

The battleship Tirpitz had been moved into a fjord in Northern Norway where she threatened the Arctic convoys and was too far north to be attacked by air from the UK. She had already been damaged by a Royal Navy midget submarine attack and a second attack from carrier born aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm. Both attacks however had failed to sink her. The task was given to No. IX (B) Squadron and No. Squadron who, operating from a base in Russia, attacked Tirpitz with Tallboy bombs which damaged her so extensively that she was sent to Tromsø to be used as a floating battery. This fjord was in range of bombers operating from Scotland. There in October from a base in Scotland she was attacked again. Finally on November, the two squadrons attacked Tirpitz. The first bombs missed their target, but following aircraft scored three direct hits in quick succession causing the ship to capsize. All three RAF attacks on Tirpitz were led by Wing Commander J. B. "Willy" Tait. Both squadrons claim that it was their bombs that actually sank Tirpitz, however it was the Tallboy bomb dropped from No. IX (B) Squadron Lancaster WS-Y (LM) piloted by Flying Officer Dougie Tweddle to which the sinking of the warship is attributed. Tweddle was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his part in the operations against Tirpitz.

Due to the sinking of Tirpitz having been attributed to the squadron, an intense rivalry developed between No. (the junior squadron in terms of RAF squadron seniority) and No. IX (B) Squadron after the sinking of the warship. The Tirpitz bulkhead that was presented to Bomber Command by the Royal Norwegian Air Force, in commemoration of friendship and co-operation during the Second World War was of particular interest with both squadrons "owning" the bulkhead at various times until, when the bulkhead was presented to the RAF Museum at Hendon.

1945

On April, No. IX (B) Squadron flew their last operational mission of the war when they, along with No. Squadron, attacked Obersalzberg – targeting the Berghof, Eagle's Nest (residences of Adolf Hitler) and the local SS barracks. Seventeen Lancasters of No. IX (B) Squadron participated, with eleven bombing the primary target and one bombing a local bridge. With the end of the war in Europe, No. IX (B) Squadron was assigned to the 'Tiger Force', which was composed of multiple Bomber Command squadrons, with the intention of striking the Japanese Empire. However, due to the Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August, the war was brought to an end before this could be carried out, although No. IX Squadron was deployed to India to carry out aerial survey work until April.

Post–War

After the War, the Lancaster was replaced by the Avro Lincoln until, when the squadron re-equipped with English Electric Canberra B. jet-bombers. They were used during three months of operations in Malaya in and during the Suez Crisis. No. IX (B) Squadron was disbanded on July.

Reforming on March at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire, No. IX (B) Squadron converted to the Avro Vulcan B. and became part of the V-Force of RAF Bomber Command. Their Vulcans were equipped in late with WE. nuclear bombs at RAF Cottesmore in the low-level penetration role and assigned to NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), before spending six years in the same role – at RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus, as part of the Near East Air Force Wing where the squadron formed part of the UK's commitment to Central Treaty Organization. Between and the squadron was based at RAF Waddington, again assigned to SACEUR, and still equipped with WE. in the low-level penetration role, before disbanding in April.

Tornado (1982–2019)

1982–1990 (Honington to Brüggen)

No. IX (B) Squadron began to form at RAF Honington in Suffolk in early under Wing Commander P. J. Gooding, with the squadron receiving its first Panavia Tornado GR on January. The first IX (B) Squadron Tornado sortie was made from Honington on April. The squadron was officially reformed on June, becoming the world's first operational Tornado squadron. The squadron was again equipped with WE., handed down from the Vulcan force. The squadron was officially declared combat ready to SACEUR in January. No. IX (B) Squadron suffered the RAF's first Tornado loss on September, when Tornado GR ZA suffered complete electrical failure causing the pilot Squadron Leader. M. Stephens to order ejection. The navigator, Flight Lieutenant N. Nickles, safely ejected from the aircraft however Stephens failed to eject and was lost in the crash.

During their time at RAF Honington, the squadron featured in the RAF recruitment film Tornado, produced in by the Central Office of Information. The film features a training exercise in which Tornado crews prepare and execute a strike on a coastal surface-to-air missile site. On October, No. IX (B) Squadron moved to RAF Brüggen as part of RAF Germany, becoming the fourth Tornado squadron to be based there.

Gulf War and Yugoslavia (1991–2000)

In the build up to the First Gulf War in, personnel of No. IX (B) Squadron were deployed to Tabuk Air Base and Dhahran Airfield in Saudi Arabia, as well as Muharraq Airfield in Bahrain. As part of Operation Granby, crews from these bases flew their first sorties on January to gain air superiority over Iraqi airspace. Initial bombing raids were focused on Iraqi air bases with the Tornado using unguided pound bombs and JP submunition delivery systems to knock out runways. On January, the squadron lost Tornado GR ZD near Tabuk when its control column failed to respond properly shortly after takeoff. After jettisoning their external stores, the crew attempted two landings to no avail, forcing the crew to eject. Over the course of the campaign, No. IX (B) Squadron flew two-hundred sorties dropping three-hundred pound bombs. The squadron suffered no loses in combat throughout the conflict, only losing ZD outside of combat.

In the aftermath of Operation Granby, no-fly zones were set up over Iraq, with Operation Warden beginning in in the north and Operation Jural in the south in. No. IX (B) Squadron along with other RAF Brüggen-based squadrons, each conducted four month long tours of duty as part of Operation Jural. Returning home to RAF Brüggen after Operation Granby, No. IX (B) Squadron continued to maintain their nuclear delivery role until.

On May, the first Tornado GR was delivered to No. IX (B) Squadron at RAF Brüggen. As a result of the Strategic Defence Review in it was planned decided that in, No. IX (B) Squadron and No. Squadron, would relocate from RAF Brüggen to RAF Marham, Norfolk.

No. IX (B) Squadron participated in the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia to liberate Kosovo as part of Operation Engadine, the British contribution to NATO's Operation Allied Force. Initial sorties were flown from RAF Brüggen but the squadron later deployed to Solenzara Air Base, Corsica, along with No. Squadron. In, No. IX (B) Squadron became the first operational Tornado GR squadron.

Iraq War, Libya and Afghanistan (2001–2011)

Under the command of Wing Commander Derek Watson, the squadron formed part of Operation Telic, the British involvement in the Iraq War, after being deployed in February. No. Squadron, No. IX (B) Squadron, No. Squadron, No. Squadron and No. Squadron contributed to Tornado GR Wing based at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait. No. IX (B) Squadron suffered its only loss of the war on March, when a Tornado was shot down by an American Patriot surface-to-air missile system in Kuwait while returning from a mission. The pilot, Flight Lieutenant Kevin Barry Main, and navigator, Flight Lieutenant David Rhys Williams, were both killed. Immediately after the incident it was claimed that the RAF crew had failed to switch on their identification friend or foe system. However a US journalist embedded with the U.S. Army unit operating the Patriot battery said the "army Patriots were mistakenly identifying friendly aircraft as enemy tactical ballistic missiles."

While the Tornado GR was capable of carrying the ALARM anti-radiation missile, No. IX (B) Squadron and No. Squadron specialised in the role, in which they were known as "Pathfinder" squadrons. From to, The squadron annually deployed in support of Operation Telic.

No. IX (B) Squadron saw its first tour of duty in Afghanistan, on Operation Herrick at Kandahar Airfield in early January, taking over from No. Squadron. The squadron's Tornados flew both close air support (CAS) missions in support of ground forces, as well as flying multiple reconnaissance missions using the Raptor and Litening III pods. The squadron handed over their duties to No. (AC) Squadron on April after a three-month deployment. In that time the squadron launched times, amassed nearly, flying hours and undertook almost forty CAS missions. The penultimate leg of the squadron's journey home was completed aboard HMS Albion from Santander in Spain, due to air travel disruption after the Eyjafjallajökull eruption.

In March, No. IX(B) Squadron was the first RAF Tornado squadron to participate in Operation Ellamy, the British involvement in Libyan Civil War. The squadron performed the second-longest ranged attack sorties in the history of the RAF and the first to be launched from the UK mainland since the Second World War, launching from the squadron's home base at RAF Marham and carrying out Storm Shadow cruise missile strikes, hitting targets deep inside Libya. The squadron then deployed forward to continue operations from Gioia del Colle in Southern Italy. After a brief respite from the action, during which it was relieved by No. (AC) Squadron, the squadron was selected to return to Gioia del Colle. Squadron aircrew of No. IX (B) Squadron were inside Libyan airspace on October when the conflict came to an end with the capture of Colonel Gaddafi by National Transitional Council fighters. The squadron returned to Marham on November. The squadron was one of only three in the RAF awarded the right to emblazon the battle honour Libya on their squadron standard.

A No. IX (B) Squadron Panavia Tornado GR. ZA in a special scheme celebrating years of No. Squadron, .

Return to Afghanistan (2012–2014)

No. IX (B) Squadron returned to Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan as part of Operation Herrick in December, taking over from No. (AC) Squadron. No. IX (B) Squadron was deployed for four months before returning to RAF Marham on March. The squadron participated in Exercise Red Flag - at Nellis Air Force Base in the United States between January and February, operating alongside and against units of the US Air Force, US Navy, US Marine Corps and the Royal Australian Air Force.

No. IX (B) Squadron's last deployment to Afghanistan was in June when they again took over from No. (AC) Squadron before being replaced by No. Squadron in September – the last RAF Tornados to be deployed. To celebrate years of No. IX (B) Squadron, Tornado GR ZA was painted in a special commemorative scheme to mark the occasion.

Operations in Iraq and Syria (–)

On August, the British government decided to deploy RAF Tornados from RAF Marham to RAF Akrotiri to help support aid efforts to refugees in the Iraqi Sinjar Mountains, who were under attack by terrorist organisation Islamic State (IS). On September, the UK Parliament voted in favour of airstrikes against IS, with the first strikes occurring on the September. No. IX( B) Squadron contributed to the, missions conducted by RAF Tornados and the General Atomics MQ- Reapers during the first year of action against IS.

On December, squadron members both past and present held a service at Saint-Omer to mark years since No. Squadron was first formed. After Parliament approved strikes in Syria on December, the squadron's aircraft carried attacks the same day on IS owned oil fields in al-Omar, Syria.

On April, the squadron's aircrew participated in the missile strikes against Syria in response to the Syrian government's suspected chemical attack in Douma.

On July, nine Tornados of No. IX (B) Squadron and No. Squadron participated in a flypast over London to celebrate the Royal Air Force's th anniversary. On November, the RAF unveiled Tornado GR ZG in a special commemorative No. IX (B) Squadron scheme to celebrate the squadron's years of Tornado operations, the first of three Tornado retirement schemes to be made public.

On and February, the eight Tornados of No. IX (B) Squadron and No. Squadron that had been deployed to RAF Akrotiri returned home to RAF Marham ahead of the Tornado's retirement on March. The squadrons held a joint parade at Marham on March to mark the impending disbandment of the Tornado force. Although the parade flypast was the Tornado's last planned sortie in RAF service, both squadrons maintained readiness for operations until the type's out-of-service date of March. The two squadron commanders simultaneously lowered their pennants at : on the following day, making No. IX(B) Squadron the world's first and the RAF's joint-last operational Tornado squadron.

Eurofighter Typhoon ( onwards)

Four Eurofighter Typhoon FGR were assigned to No. IX (B) Squadron (Designate) at RAF Lossiemouth in Moray in February, the first appearing in squadron markings on February. No. IX (B) Squadron re-equipped as an aggressor and air defence squadron operating the Typhoon at : on April, thereby continuing in unbroken service upon Tornado's retirement. The squadron marked its change of aircraft, role and location with a further parade on May, having formally reformed on April.

On March, due to its participation in Operation Herrick, No. IX (B) Squadron was awarded the battle honour 'Afghanistan –' (without the right to emblazon on the squadron standard) by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, To mark the th anniversary of VE Day on May, a pair of No. IX (B) Squadron Typhoons performed a flypast over Edinburgh.

On November, the squadron deployed Typhoons to Konya Air Base in Turkey to conduct training alongside locally based General Dynamics F- Fighting Falcons. On April, four Typhoons from No. IX (B) Squadron deployed to Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base, Romania, to carry out enhanced Air Policing on behalf of NATO. In March, No. IX (B) Squadron deployed to Ämari Air Base, Estonia, in support of Operation Azotize, operating in tandem with TLG of the German Air Force.

Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated include:

Heritage

Badge and motto

The squadron's badge features a green bat with wings extended, the bat reflecting the squadron's previous night-bombing. The badge was approved by King Edward VIII in November.

The squadron's motto is Per noctem volamus (Latin for 'We fly through the night').

Call signs

As of March, aircraft operated by No. IX (B) Squadron use the following peacetime air traffic control call signs within UK airspace: Aggressor, Barron, Batman, Boris, Dracula, Fang, Ivan, Nightwing, Tirpitz and Vodka.

Battle honours

No. IX (B) Squadron has received the following battle honours. Those marked with an asterisk (*) may be emblazoned on the squadron standard.

RAF No. 9 Squadron Battle Honours

Battle Honour
Western Front (–)*
Somme ()*
Ypres ()*
Amiens
Hindenburg Line
Channel & North Sea (–)
Norway ()
Baltic (–)
France & Low Countries ()
German Ports (–)
Fortress Europe (–)*
Berlin (–)*
Biscay Ports (–)
Ruhr (–)
France & Germany (–)
Tirpitz*
The Dams*
Rhine
Gulf ()*
Kosovo*
Afghanistan (–)
Iraq ()*
Iraq (–)
Libya ()*

Aircraft Operated by RAF No. 9 Squadron

Aircraft
Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.a (December – February)
Farman MF. (December – February; April – November)
Blériot XI (December – March; April – August)
Farman MF. (December – March)
Blériot XI Parasol (January – March)
Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.b (January – February)
Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.c (January – February; August – October)
Royal Aircraft Factory B.E. (April – July)
Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.a (July – November)
Avro (July – November)
Martinsyde S. (July – November)
Royal Aircraft Factory R.E. (November)
Bristol Scout (December – June)
Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.d (June – September)
Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.e (August – June)
Royal Aircraft Factory R.E. (May – May)
Bristol F.b (July – October; February – July)
Vickers Vimy (April – October)
Vickers Virginia Mk.IV (September – March)
Vickers Virginia Mk.V (January – May)
Vickers Virginia Mk.VI (June – April)
Vickers Virginia Mk.VII (July – June)
Vickers Virginia Mk.VIII (January – March)
Vickers Virginia Mk.IX (July – February)
Vickers Virginia Mk.X (January – April)
Handley Page Heyford Mk.III (March – May)
Vickers Wellington Mk.I (January – December)
Vickers Wellington Mk.Ia (September – September)
Vickers Wellington Mk.Ic (February – October; May –Jun)
Vickers Wellington Mk.II (March – August)
Vickers Wellington Mk.III (July – August)
Avro Lancaster Mk.I (September – December; May – July)
Avro Lancaster Mk.III (September – December; May – July)
Avro Lancaster Mk.VII (November – April)
Avro Lincoln B. (July – May)
English Electric Canberra B. (May – June)
English Electric Canberra B. (September – July)
Avro Vulcan B. (April – April)
Panavia Tornado GR. (January –)
Panavia Tornado GR. (May – March)
Eurofighter Typhoon FGR. (February – present)