No. 72 Squadron RAF

No. 72 Squadron was formed on 28 June 1917 at Upavon as a squadron of the Royal Flying Corps.Jefford 2001, p. 50. On Christmas Day, the squadron left for the Middle East and regrouped at Basra on 2 March. Here, they split in three flights, each assisting the Army in their various missions, and were disbanded in Baghdad on 22 September 1919.

File:The Royal Air Force in Britain, April 1941 TR139.jpg, No. 72 Squadron, April 1941]]

No. 72 Squadron was reformed at RAF Tangmere on 22 February 1937 from 'B' flight of No. 1 Squadron, initially equipped with the Gloster Gladiators that came across from No. 1 Squadron. In 1939, these were replaced by Supermarine Spitfires, which were used for air defence and convoy protection duties following the start of World War II. Then, in May 1940, the squadron moved to RAF Gravesend{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=47}} to provide air cover for Operation Dynamo, the evacuation of Dunkirk.{{cite web|url=https://www.nationalcoldwarexhibition.org/research/squadrons/72/|title=72 Squadron|publisher=RAF Museum|access-date=30 June 2019}}

At the start of the Battle of Britain, No. 72 Squadron was in the North of England at RAF Acklington as part of No. 13 Group, before moving south to RAF Biggin Hill during September to aid the main defence force.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=47}} The squadron was then moved to North Africa to support the Tunisian campaign before being supplied with the updated Spitfire Mk.IX in 1942. They then assisted the British 8th Army as they advanced through Italy and France up until the German surrender. At this point they were moved to Austria. It was here they were disbanded on 30 December 1946 at Zeltweg.

File:Gloster Javelin XA634 - RAF Leeming (7177640781).jpg, a type flown by No. 72 Squadron, 1959–61]]

The squadron was reformed on 1 February 1947 at RAF Odiham by renumbering No. 130 Squadron. They took over No. 130 Squadron's de Havilland Vampire F.1s, making no haste to remove that units 'AP' code.Flintham and Thomas 2003, p. 148. The Vampire soldiered on for three versions until it gave way to the Gloster Meteor F.8 in 1952, and when the squadron was given a night-fighter role in February 1956 these were replaced with Meteor NF.12s and Meteor NF.14s. In April 1959, the squadron got the all-weather fighter role and was given Gloster Javelin FAW.4s and later Javelin FAW.5s. These were flown until the squadron was disbanded at RAF Leconfield on 30 June 1961.

File:100 years of the RAF MOD 45163706.jpg, a type flown by No. 72 Squadron, 1961–64]]

File:Westland Wessex HC.2 XT670 AU 72 Sq COLT 18.09.71.jpg based at RAF Odiham, in tactical camouflage, 1971]]

On 15 November 1961, No. 72 Squadron was reformed at RAF Odiham, but now as a helicopter unit.Rawlings 1982, p. 89. They were equipped with twin-rotor Bristol Belvederes HC.1s until the Westland Wessex HC.2 replaced these aircraft in August 1964. For the next thirty-eight years they continued to use these aircraft and in that time the squadron saw action in Malaya, provided post-disaster assistance following the Torrey Canyon tanker disaster in 1967 and supported the security forces in Northern Ireland from 1969. During the mid 1970s the squadron also operated a SAR 'D' flight at RAF Manston.{{sfn|Green|1976|p=13}} From January 1997 the Wessex was partly supplanted with the more modern Westland Puma HC.1. The squadron's Wessex HC.2s departed RAF Aldergrove on 25 March 2002, shortly before their retirement.{{cite news |first=David |last=Sharrock |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1388875/The-Wessex-helicopter-ends-duty-in-Ulster.html |title=The Wessex helicopter ends duty in Ulster |newspaper=The Telegraph |date=26 March 2002 |access-date=31 January 2020}} No. 72 Squadron was then disbanded on 1 April 2002 at Aldergrove.

File:Short Tucano at Shoreham.jpg of No. 72 (Reserve) Squadron, 2005]]

On 12 July 2002, No. 1 Flying Training School divided its strength between two new reserve squadrons – No. 72 (Reserve) Squadron and No. 207 (Reserve) Squadron, with both units operating the Short Tucano T.1 at RAF Linton-on-Ouse, North Yorkshire.{{cite web |url=http://www.207squadron.rafinfo.org.uk/207r/207_reform.htm |title=When 207 Squadron 're-formed' at Linton-on-Ouse |website=207 SQUADRON ROYAL AIR FORCE HISTORY |access-date=31 January 2020}} No. 72 (Reserve) Squadron became No. 72 Squadron after the (Reserve) suffix was rescinded across the RAF on 1 February 2018.{{cite web |url=http://warnesysworld.com/raf-drops-reserve-suffix-squadrons/ |title=RAF Drops ‘Reserve’ Suffix from its Squadrons |website=Warnsey's World of Military Aviation |date=17 March 2018 |access-date=31 January 2020}} The final Tucano Basic Fast-jet Training (BFJT) course graduated on 25 October 2019, which was marked with a nine-ship flypast over the local area.{{cite web |url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/articles/final-graduation-of-raf-tucano-pilots/ |title=Final Graduation of RAF Tucano Pilots |publisher=Royal Air Force |website=raf.mod.uk |date=30 October 2019 |access-date=31 January 2020}} No. 72 Squadron disbanded on 31 October 2019.{{cite web |first=Rich |last=Cooper |url=https://www.key.aero/article/one-final-salute-tucano-bows-out |title=One final salute as Tucano bows out |website=Key.Aero |date=25 October 2019 |access-date=31 January 2020}}

On 28 November 2019, the squadron stood-up at RAF Valley operating the Beechcraft Texan T.1.{{cite book|title=AirForces Monthly|date=January 2020|publisher=Key Publishing Ltd|location=Stamford, Lincolnshire, England|pages=8}}

On 13 November 2020, No. 72 Squadron became No. 72 (Fighter) Squadron to reflect its former role as a fighter unit.{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/RAF_Valley/status/1327226183822565377 |title=No 72 (Fighter) joins XXV (Fighter) and IV (Army Co-Operation) Squadrons in the 4 Flying Training School ‘stable’ here at RAF Valley. |publisher=RAF Valley (Twitter) |date=13 November 2020 |access-date=18 November 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/royalairforce/posts/10159025875229885 |title=A squadron which played a key role in the Battle of Britain has been given permission to include Fighter in its title. |publisher=Royal Air Force (Facebook) |date=13 November 2020 |access-date=18 November 2020}}

• List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons

;Citations

{{reflist}}

;Bibliography

{{refbegin}}

• Bowyer, Michael J.F. and John D.R. Rawlings. Squadron Codes, 1937-56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd., 1979. {{ISBN|0-85059-364-6}}.
• Delve, Ken. The Source Book of the RAF. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1994. {{ISBN|1-85310-451-5}}.
• Docherty, Tom. Swift to Battle: No. 72 Fighter Squadron RAF in Action, Volume 1: 1937 to 1942, Phoney War, Dunkirk, Battle of Britain, Offensive Operations. Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK: Pen and Sword, 2009. {{ISBN|978-1-84415-829-4}}.
• Docherty, Tom. Swift to Battle: No. 72 Fighter Squadron RAF in Action, Volume 2: 1942 to 1947, North Africa, Malta, Sicily, Southern France and Austria. Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK: Pen and Sword, 2009. {{ISBN|978-1-84884-087-4}}.
• Docherty, Tom. Swift to Battle: No. 72 Fighter Squadron RAF in Action, Volume 3: 1947 to 1961, Cold War Operations. Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK: Pen and Sword, 2010. {{ISBN|978-1-84884-186-4}}.
• Flintham, Vic and Andrew Thomas. Combat Codes: A full explanation and listing of British, Commonwealth and Allied air force unit codes since 1938. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd., 2003. {{ISBN|1-84037-281-8}}.
• {{cite book |last1=Green |first1=W|last2=Swanborough|first2=G |title=Royal Air Force Yearbook 1976 |year=1976 |publisher= Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund |location= Bromley |ref= {{harvid|Green|1976}} }}
• Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918-1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. {{ISBN|0-85130-164-9}}.
• Jackson, Ashley, The British Empire and the Second World War (London/New York: Hambledon Continuumn, 2006).
• Jefford, C.G. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 2001. {{ISBN|1-84037-141-2}}.
• {{cite book |last1=Jefford |first1=C. G. |title= RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912 |year=1988 |publisher= Airlife Publishing |location= Shrewsbury, UK |isbn= 1-85310-053-6 }}
• Rawlings, John D.R. Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Jane's Publishing Company Ltd., 1982. {{ISBN|0-7106-0187-5}}.
• Rawlings, John D.R. Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers) Ltd., 1969 (new edition 1976, reprinted 1978). {{ISBN|0-354-01028-X}}.
• Robinson, Anthony. RAF Fighter Squadrons in the Battle of Britain. London: Arms and Armour Press Ltd., 1987 (Reprinted in 1999 by Brockhampton Press, {{ISBN|1-86019-907-0}}.)
• Sturtivant, Ray and Hamlin, John. RAF Flying Training And Support Units since 1912. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 2007. {{ISBN|0-85130-365-X}}.

{{refend}}

{{Commons category|No. 72 Squadron RAF}}

• [https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/squadrons/72-squadron/ Official RAF No.72 Squadron Website]
• [http://www.aviartnutkins.com/images/specials/Spitfire-on-Patrol-Nutkins.jpg No.72 Squadron in art]
• [http://www.northwealdairfieldhistory.org/content/72-squadron-flypast Photographs of No.72 Squadron's farewell visit and flypast at RAF North Weald, March 2002]
• [http://www.rafweb.org/Squadrons/Sqn071-75.htm No 71 - 75 Squadron Histories]

{{RAF squadrons}}

{{Royal Air Force}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:No. 72 Squadron Raf}}

Category:Flight training in the United Kingdom

072 Squadron

072 Squadron

Category:Military units and formations established in 1917

Category:1917 establishments in the United Kingdom

Category:Military history of Basutoland during World War II