No. 32 Squadron RAF
| No. 32 (The Royal) Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
_Squadron_RAF.jpg) |
|
| Active | 12 January 1916 – 29 December 1919 1 April 1923 – present |
| Country |
 United Kingdom |
| Branch |
 Royal Air Force
|
| Role | Air Transport |
| Size | 5 aircraft |
| Base | RAF Northolt |
| Nickname(s) | The Royal |
| Motto(s) |
Latin: Adeste Comites ("Rally round, comrades") |
| Equipment |
British Aerospace 146 AgustaWestland AW109 |
| Battle honours | Western Front, 1916–1918 Somme, 1916–1918* Arras Ypres, 1917* Amiens France and Low Countries, 1939–1940* Battle of Britain, 1940* Home Defence, 1940–1942 Dieppe* North Africa, 1942–1943* Italy, 1943 South East Europe, 1944–1945* Gulf 1991 The honours marked with an asterisk (*) are those emblazoned on the Squadron Standard |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Wing Commander Stephen Courtnadge, Officer Commanding 32 (TR) Squadron |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge heraldry | A hunting horn stringed |
| Post 1950 Squadron Roundel |  |
| Squadron Codes |
KT (Oct 1938 – Sep 1939) GZ (Sep 1939 – Nov 1942, Jul 1944 – May 1949) |
No. 32 (The Royal) Squadron (sometimes written as No. 32(TR) Squadron) of the Royal Air Force operates in the VIP and general air transport roles from RAF Northolt in Greater London.
Originally formed in 1916 as part of the Royal Flying Corps, the squadron saw action during the First and Second World Wars with fighter aircraft, but was disbanded in 1969. The Metropolitan Communications Squadron, involved in the VIP transport role, was renamed as No. 32 Squadron at that time. In 1995, the squadron was merged with the Queen's Flight and incorporated 'The Royal' title into its name. At this time the squadron moved from RAF Benson to RAF Northolt, where it remains.
The merger ended the RAF's provision of dedicated VIP transport aircraft; the aircraft of 32 Squadron are available to VIP passengers only if not needed for military operations. Two flights within the squadron operate the British Aerospace 146 and AgustaWestland AW109.
No. 32 Squadron was formed as part of the Royal Flying Corps on 12 January 1916 at Netheravon and moved to France as a fighter squadron equipped with Airco DH.2s in May. On 1 July 1916, its Commanding Officer, Major Lionel Rees was engaged in a combat with eight German Albatros two-seaters, and although wounded in the leg, managed to scatter the German aircraft, driving down two of the enemy, for which action he was awarded the Victoria Cross.
The squadron continued to fly patrols over the Western Front, including over the Somme and Arras battlefields, for a year before beginning to re-equip with the Airco DH 5, specialising in ground attack missions. These in turn began to be replaced by the S.E.5a in December 1917 which were flown for the rest of the war on fighter and ground attack missions. On 1 April 1918 No. 32 became part of the new Royal Air Force. In March 1919, the squadron returned to the UK as a cadre and disbanded on 29 December 1919. During the war just ended, sixteen aces had served in its ranks. They included: future Air Marshal Arthur Coningham DSO, MC, DFC; Walter Tyrrell, MC ; Arthur Claydon, DFC; John Donaldson, DSC, DFC, CdG; Wilfred Green, DFC, MM, CdG; Frank Hale, DFC; Hubert Jones, MC, AFC; William Curphey, MC; Maxmillian Mare-Montembault, MC; and George Lawson, DFC.
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