The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Oldest RAF squadron to reform at Leuchars
THE OLDEST squadron in the RAF will officially reform at Leuchars during this year’s Jubilee Air Show on Saturday September 15, it was confirmed yesterday.
The standing-up of No 1 (Fighter) Squadron — as revealed in yesterday’s Courier — will mean the RAF has four front-line squadrons operating the multi-role FGR4 Typhoon.
It will be the second Typhoon squadron based in Scotland, following the stand-up of No 6 Squadron at Leuchars in 2010.
No 1 (F) Squadron has a distinguished history, becoming a founder squadron in the Royal Flying Corps, the RAF’S predecessor, in 1912.
Typhoon will join iconic aircraft like the Hurricane and Harrier which the squadron has flown.
The reformed squadron will look to build on the recent success of the multirole Typhoon now “battle-proven” after its deployment over Libya last year.
Air Officer Scotland and Station Commander RAF Leuchars, Air Commodore Gavin Parker, said: “2012 is the 100th anniversary of the creation of 1 (F) Squadron. I can think of no better way to celebrate in this diamond jubilee year than to return the squadron to front-line status, equipped with Typhoon, an aircraft that is central to the RAF’S current and future combat air capabilities.
“The stand-up of the fourth front-line squadron is the next major milestone in the growth of Typhoon as we build towards Future Force 20.
“The success of the programme to date is testament to the MOD’S continued investment in future battle-winning capabilities for the UK’S armed forces, the excellent work done by Defence Equipment & Support in continuing to develop and deliver on the aircraft’s huge potential, and the hard work and professionalism of all RAF personnel, both service and civilian, here at RAF Leuchars and at RAF Coningsby.
“As we prepare to transition the Typhoon force in Scotland to RAF Lossiemouth over the next few years, having two squadrons will improve our resilience and increase our flying capacity, allowing us to maximise our training opportunities, whilst meeting our operational commitments.
“1 (F) Squadron will be the second Typhoon squadron to stand up at RAF Leuchars. Since standing up 6 Squadron in 2010, we have seen typhoon come of age as a multi-role aircraft maintaining the defence of UK sovereign islands, as well as conducting air-to-air and air-to-surface sorties to protect the civilian population of Libya during Operation Ellamy.”
As part of the Strategic Defence Review, it is planned that Leuchars will lose its Typhoon fighters to RAF Lossiemouth from next year before it eventually becomes home to thousands of troops returning home from their deployment in Germany.
It had been thought the findings of an MOD basing review would be made public by the middle of this month, but the MOD is not committed to making any public statement soon.
However, North East Fife MP Sir Menzies Campbell has stated that the suitability of Leuchars to continue to provide air defence for the northern half of Britain is simply underlined by the planned arrival of further Typhoons, adding: “If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.”