No. 6 Squadron RFC
| No. 6 Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
Squadron badge
|
|
| Active | 31 January 1914 – 1 April 1918 (RFC) 1 April 1918 – 31 May 2007(RAF) 6 September 2010 – present |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Air Force |
| Type | Flying squadron |
| Role | Multi–role combat |
| Part of | No. 1 Group RAF |
| Home station | RAF Lossiemouth |
| Nickname(s) | 'The Flying Tin Openers' |
| Motto(s) |
Oculi Exercitus (Latin for The eyes of the army) |
| Battle honours |
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| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Wing Commander W D Cooper |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron badge | An eagle, wings elevated, preying on a serpent |
| Squadron badge heraldry | Approved by King George VI in January 1938 |
| Squadron roundel |  |
| Squadron Codes | EA–EZ (Present) |
No. 6 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 at RAF Lossiemouth. It was previously equipped with the Jaguar GR.3 in the close air support and tactical reconnaissance roles, and was posted to RAF Coltishall, Norfolk until April 2006, moving to RAF Coningsby until disbanding in May 2007. The squadron officially reformed as a Typhoon squadron on 6 September 2010.
No. 6 Squadron's motto Oculi Exercitus (The Eyes of the Army), and its squadron roundel (featuring the Royal Regiment of Artillery's red lightning bolts, on a light rather than dark blue background), were both adopted in recognition of their close cooperation with the Royal Artillery during the First World War. In particular the support they provided to 87 Battery Royal Field Artillery for whom they confirmed the fall of artillery fire by dropping notes on the gun line, acting as their 'eyes'. Their badge depicting an eagle attacking a serpent was adopted as a result of fighter defence of army units during the First World War.
The squadron was formed on 31 January 1914, at Farnborough as No. 6 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps. Its first squadron commander was Major John Becke. The squadron had an initial aircraft inventory of two Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2s and two Farmans, with the squadron also initially incorporating a flight operating man-lifting kite.
The bird depicted on the squadron badge is a falcon, with the snake serving two purposes, one the then (First World War) obvious anti-Central Powers symbolism, the second to circumvent the rules about squadron badges featuring a squadron's number. The cunningly coiled snake (rumoured to have been cooked up by No. 6 Squadron members Louis Strange and Lanoe Hawker) neatly sidestepped the regulations.
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Wikipedia