Formed, as part of the Royal Flying Corps, in 1915 during World War I at Farnborough, 10 Squadron served on the Western Front in France in the spotting and bombing roles with a variety of aircraft types. Like many other squadrons, it was disbanded in 1919 following the end of the war. The Squadron reformed as a bomber unit at RAF Upper Heyford in 1928, before moving to RAF Dishforth in 1937.
During this time, the unit operated a variety of types, including Hyderabads, Hinaidis, Virginias and Handley Page Heyfords, beginning the Second World War equipped with the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley. The Squadron remained a part of Bomber Command throughout the war, re-equipping with the Halifax in 1941. Following the end of the war in Europe in 1945, the Squadron spent four years with Transport Command flying Dakotas, first in India and then, after a short disbandment, in Europe, taking part in the Berlin Airlift.
No 10 Squadron reverted to its original bomber role in the 1950s and early 1960s, seeing it take part in the Suez Crisis, equipped with the Canberra, and then flying Victors at RAF Cottesmore. In 1966, the Squadron became the first to receive the new VC10, reverting to an air transport squadron at RAF Fairford in the July of that year. The unit moved to RAF Brize Norton in 1967, where it remained until disbanded in 2005. The C1 differs from later marks of RAF VC10s in that they were delivered newly built as strategic transports. The VC10 K2, K3 and K4s of 101 Squadron are all converted airliners. 14 VC10 C1s were delivered to 10 Squadron between 1966 and 1967. The C1 was a variant of the civil 'Standard VC10' fitted with the wing and more powerful engines of the 'Super VC10'. The C1 carried 139 passengers in rear facing seats, eight standard pallets or up to 78 medical evacuation stretchers. Its strengthened floor allowed the C1 to transport 1,000lb bombs for the Tornado GR1 force during the Gulf War, each aircraft carrying 50 per flight.
During WW2, 10 Sqn flew 1,326 sorties in over 5,000 hours. The Squadron also took part in most other operations involving British forces, including the 1982 Falklands Conflict and the 2003 Gulf War in Iraq.
The Squadron operated the Vickers VC10 C1 from RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire. Introduced as air transport aircraft, the VC10 C1 fleet was modified in 1993 to allow it to operate in the AAR role as well, by the installation of wing-mounted refueling pods. The aircraft were known as C1(K)s.
Shown above is VC10 XV 105 in 1982. With Red Crosses painted on either side of the nose, medical evacuation flights were operated from Montevideo, Uruguay returning wounded servicemen to the UK from the Falklands Conflict.
The Squadron disbanded at RAF Brize Norton in 2005 but re-formed again there on 1 July 2011. The Airbus A330, KC-30 Voyager Tanker/Transport aircraft becomes its new equipment with the first aircraft planned to arrive in the autumn of 2011.
Motto: "Rem acu tangere" - To hit the mark
Badge: A winged arrow - approved by King George VI in September 1937. The badge was designed by Wg Cdr Whitelock, OC 10 Sqn from April 1929 - August 1930, after watching archery practice in Oxford. The bomb depicts the modern equivalent of the medieval arrow and the wings indicate great speed.
10 SQUADRON BATTLE HONOURS
Western Front 1915 - 1918
Loos, Somme 1918
Arras, Somme 1918
Channel & North Sea 1940 - 1945
Norway 1940
Ruhr 1940 - 1945
Fortress Europe 1940 - 1944
German Ports 1940 - 1945
Biscay Ports 1940 - 1945
Berlin 1940 - 1945
Invasion Ports 1940
France & Germany 1944 - 1945
Norway 1944
Rhine
Gulf 1991
Iraq 2003
Researching Family History has become a popular pastime in recent years as a direct result of the internet. To enable your successors to view a part of your personal family history in the future, why not obtain your own personal RAF Service Record?
Past members of the Armed Forces may now obtain their military service records free of charge.
For living, retired service officers wishing to obtain their RAF Service Records,·you will need to send off a·Subject Access Request Form , (SAR) and the easiest way place to obtain this to start the procedure is via the·Veterans -UK website .
http://www.veterans-uk.info/service_records/service_records.html· This same site will also explain the procedure and costs involved should you wish to obtain a deceased family member's record.
http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/FreedomOfInformation/FOIContact/RequestsForAccessToPersonalDataHeldByTheMinistryOfDefence.htm·is the section of the MoD website which also deals with requests for other ranks and Army & Navy records and should give you enough leads to be successful.
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-person/officerroyalairforce.htm· is the address of the National Archives , Kew, London .
PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT AGENCY
The Personnel Management Agency at HQ RAF Personnel and Training Command, RAF Innsworth, holds the personal files of officers and airmen dating from the inter-war years. Personal files from the First World War are now located at the Public Record Office. PMA is not a public record repository, and can only release records of service to the RAF officer or airman concerned, or to next-of-kin. Anyone else must obtain written permission from the person about whom they are enquiring before approaching PMA. A fee of £30 is levied for each record researched.
Enquiries about officers' records of service:
RAF Disclosures, Rm 221b Trenchard Hall, RAF Cranwell, SLEAFORD, Lincs, NG34 8HB
Enquiries about airmen's records of service:
RAF DPA, Rm 220 Trenchard Hall, RAF Cranwell, SLEAFORD, Lincs, NG34 8HB
For records of decorations and citations:
MOD Medal Office, Building 250, AFPAA, RAF Innsworth, Gloucester, GL3 1EZ
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