No. 46 Squadron RAF
| No. 46 Squadron | |
|---|---|
| Active | 19 April 1916 – 31 December 1919 1936 – 20 February 1950 15 August 1954 – 30 June 1961 1 December 1966 – 31 August 1975 |
| Country |
 United Kingdom |
| Branch |
 Royal Air Force
|
| Battle honours | Western Front, 1916–18: Messines, 1917*: Cambrai, 1917*: Home Defence, 1917: Somme, 1918*: Hindenburg Line: Norway, 1940*: Battle of Britain, 1940*: Home Defence, 1940–41: Fortress Europe, 1941: Malta, 1941–42*: El Alamein*: Egypt & Libya, 1942–43: Mediterranean 1942–43: South-East Europe, 1944*: Honours marked with an asterisk are those emblazoned on the Squadron Standard |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron badge heraldry | Two arrowheads, surmounted by a third, all in bend. The arrows in the badge signify speed in getting into action and their position and number represent three aircraft climbing. |
| Squadron codes |
RJ Apr 1939 – Sep 1939 PO Sep 1939 – Jun 1941 XK Jan 1945 – Feb 1950 |
No. 46 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Air Force, formed in 1916, was disbanded and re-formed three times before its last disbandment in 1975. It served in both World War I and World War II.
No. 46 Squadron was formed at Wyton aerodrome on 19 April 1916, from a nucleus trained in No. 2 Reserve Squadron; it moved to France in October of that year equipped with Nieuport two-seater aircraft.
The squadron undertook artillery co-operation, photography, and reconnaissance operations until May 1917, when it took on a more offensive role after rearming with the Sopwith Pup.
The change from a corps to a fighter squadron came at a moment when Allied air superiority was being seriously challenged by Germany, in particular through the introduction of the "circuses" formed and led by Manfred von Richthofen. Operating under the 11th Army Wing, the squadron was intensively engaged and had many combats with the enemy. In July 1917, No. 46 Squadron returned to Sutton's Farm (later Hornchurch) in Essex, for the defence of London, which had been heavily raided by Gotha bombers a short time before; no enemy aircraft penetrated its patrol area. The squadron returned to France at the end of August.
In addition to offensive patrol work, the unit undertook extensive ground strafing and did close support work in the attack on Messines Ridges.
In November 1917, the squadron was equipped with Sopwith Camels, and gave valuable assistance to the infantry in the Battle of Cambrai attack.
During the last year of the war, the squadron bombed lines of communication and ammunition dumps in the enemy's rear areas.
Intensive low-level ground attack work was carried out after the German Spring Offensive, in March 1918; 46 Squadron suffered high casualties as a result.
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