Squadrons are the main form of flying unit of the Royal Air Force (RAF). These include Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) squadrons incorporated into the RAF when it was formed on 1 April 1918, during the First World War. Other squadrons of the RAF include those from other air forces which have served within the RAF structure and squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm before it transferred to the Royal Navy in 1939.
Some squadrons have an individual tradition of presenting their squadron number in Roman numerals or using a suffix to their squadron number (such as "(F)" for "Fighter", "(B)" for "Bomber" or "(AC)" for "Army Co-operation") to indicate a past or present role. An example would be No. 18 (Bomber) Squadron RAF which currently actually operates the heavy-lift Chinook helicopter. However, these practices have, at least in the past, been deprecated at higher levels and generally only apply to certain squadrons with long traditions, especially those numbered from 1-20.
Flying training units and operational evaluation squadrons are generally (Reserve) squadrons, although they are regular active-duty units. Some Squadron names include the location they were originally formed.
Regular RAF Squadrons
Combat Squadrons
| Squadron
|
Squadron Code
|
Airframe
|
Based at
|
Details
|
| No.1 (Fighter) Squadron RAF
|
AA
|
Eurofighter Typhoon
|
|
|
| No. II Squadron RAF
|
AB
|
Eurofighter Typhoon
|
|
|
| No. 3 Squadron RAF
|
AC
|
Eurofighter Typhoon
|
|
|
| No. IV Squadron RAF
|
AD
|
F-16D Block 52 Plus
|
|
|
| No. 5 Squadron RAF
|
AE
|
F-16D Block 52 Plus
|
|
|
| No. 6 (Bomber) Squadron RAF
|
AF
|
F-16D Block 52 Plus
|
|
|
| No. 7 Squadron RAF
|
AG
|
F-16D Block 52 Plus
|
|
|
| No. 8 (Fighter) Squadron RAF
|
AH
|
F-16D Block 52 Plus
|
|
|
| No. IX Squadron RAF
|
AI
|
F-16D Block 52 Plus
|
|
|
| No. 10 Squadron RAF
|
AJ
|
F-35A Lightning II
|
|
|
| No. XI Squadron RAF
|
AK
|
F-35A Lightning II
|
|
|
Helicopter Squadrons
| Squadron
|
Squadron Code
|
Airframe
|
Based at
|
Details
|
| No. 103 Squadron
|
BA
|
Merlin
|
|
|
| No. 104 Squadron
|
BB
|
Merlin
|
|
|
| No. 105 Squadron
|
BC
|
Merlin
|
|
|
| No. 110 Squadron
|
BD
|
Chinook HC6
|
|
|
| No. 113 Squadron
|
BE
|
Chinook HC6
|
|
|
| No. 115 Squadron
|
BF
|
Bell Griffin HAR2
|
|
|
| No. 116 Squadron
|
BG
|
A-109 Power Elite
|
|
|
Mobility Squadrons
| Squadron
|
Squadron Code
|
Airframe
|
Based at
|
Details
|
| No. 251 Squadron
|
CA
|
C-17 Globemaster
|
|
|
| No. 252 Squadron
|
CB
|
Atlas C-1
|
|
|
| No. 253 Squadron
|
CC
|
Atlas C-1
|
|
|
| No. 260 Squadron
|
CD
|
Hercules C5
|
|
|
| No. 261 Squadron
|
CE
|
Hercules C5
|
|
|
| No. 270 Squadron
|
CF
|
BAe 146 CC2
|
|
|
| No. 271 Squadron
|
CG
|
BAe 146 C3
|
|
|
| No. 272 Squadron
|
CH
|
|
|
|
| No. 273 Squadron
|
CI
|
|
|
|
Training Squadrons
| Squadron
|
Squadron Code
|
Airframe
|
Based at
|
Details
|
| No. 324 Squadron
|
DA
|
Prefect T1
|
|
Elementary Flight Training
|
| No. 325 Squadron
|
DB
|
Prefect T1
|
|
Elementary Flight Training
|
| No. 326 Squadron
|
DC
|
Tucano T1
|
|
Basic Fast Jet Training
|
| No. 327 Squadron
|
DD
|
Tucano T1
|
|
Basic Fast Jet Training
|
| No. 328 Squadron
|
DE
|
Hawk T2
|
|
Advanced Fast Jet Training
|
| No. 329 Squadron
|
DF
|
Hawk T2
|
|
Advanced Fast Jet Training
|
| No. 330 Squadron
|
DG
|
King Air T1
|
|
Multi-Engine/Aircrew Training
|
| No. 331 Squadron
|
DH
|
King Air T1
|
|
Multi-Engine/Aircrew Training
|
| No. 332 Squadron
|
DI
|
Squirrel HT1
|
|
Basic Helicopter Training
|
| No. 333 Squadron
|
DJ
|
Squirrel HT1
|
|
Basic Helicopter Training
|
| No. 334 Squadron
|
DK
|
Griffin HT1
|
|
Advanced Helicopter Training
|
| No. 335 Squadron
|
DL
|
Griffin HT1
|
|
Advanced Helicopter Training
|
Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance Squadrons
| Squadron
|
Squadron Code
|
Airframe
|
Based at
|
Details
|
| No. 490 Squadron
|
EA
|
Sentinel AEW1-A
|
|
|
| No. 491 Squadron
|
EB
|
Sentinel R1
|
|
|
| No. 492 Squadron
|
EC
|
RC-135W Rivet Joint
|
|
|
| No. 493 Squadron
|
ED
|
MQ-9 Reaper
|
|
|
Royal Auxiliary Air Force Squadrons
Combat Squadrons
| Squadron
|
Squadron Code
|
Airframe
|
Based at
|
Details
|
| No. 501 Squadron
|
FA
|
F-16 Block 52
|
|
|
| No. 502 Squadron
|
FB
|
F-16 Block 52
|
|
|
Mobility Squadrons
| Squadron
|
Squadron Code
|
Airframe
|
Based at
|
Details
|
| No. 511 Squadron
|
FC
|
Hercules C5
|
|
|
| No. 512 Squadron
|
FD
|
Hercules C5
|
|
|
Helicopter Squadrons
| Squadron
|
Squadron Code
|
Airframe
|
Based at
|
Details
|
| No. 521 Squadron
|
FE
|
Merlin
|
|
|
| No. 522 Squadron
|
FF
|
Merlin
|
|
|
| No. 523 Squadron
|
FG
|
Griffin HAR2
|
|
|