1. April 1911

No. 1 Balloon Company

13. April 1912

No. 1 Balloon Company renamed No.1 Squadron

20. January 1920

No.1 Sqn disbanded at the UK

21. January 1920

No.1 Sqn reformed at Risalpur in British India

1. November 1926

No.1 Sqn disbanded at RAF Hinaidi, Iraq

1. February 1927

No.1 Sqn reformed at RAF Tangmere

23. June 1958

No.1 Sqn disbanded at RAF Tangmere

1. July 1958

Reformed at RAF Stradishall by renumbering No. 263 Sqn.

28. January 2011

No.1 Sqn disbanded at RAF Cottesmore

15. September 2012

No.1 Sqn reformed at RAF Leuchars

 1912 - 1920

?

?

Mar. 1916

Bailleul, France

Mar. 1916

Mar. 1918

Clairmarais South, France

Mar. 1918

Apr. 1918

Fienvillars, France

Apr. 1918

Oct. 1918

Senlis, France

Oct. 1918

Oct. 1918

Bouvincourt, France

Oct. 1918

Nov. 1918

Le Hameau, France

Nov. 1918

Mar. 1919

RAF London Colney

Mar. 1919

20. Jan. 1920

 1920 - 1926

Risalpur, British India

21. Jan. 1920

May 1920

Bangalore, British India

May 1920

Apr. 1921

RAF Hinaidi, Iraq

Apr. 1921

1. Nov. 1926

 1927 - 1958

RAF Tangmere

1. Feb. 1927

9. Sep. 1939

Octeville, France

9. Sep. 1939

29. Sep. 1939:

Norrent Fontes, France

29. Sep. 1939:

9. Oct. 1939:

Vassincourt, France

9. Oct. 1939:

11. Apr.1940

Berry-au-Bac, France

11. Apr.1940

19. Apr. 1940

Vassincourt, France

19. Apr. 1940

10. May 1940

Barry-ac-Bac, France

10. May 1940

17. May 1940

Conde-Vraux, France

17. May 1940

18. May 1940

Anglure, France

18. May 1940

3. Jun. 1940

Chateaudun, France

3. Jun. 1940

14. Jun. 1940

Nantes/ Chateau Bougon, France

14. Jun. 1940

17. Jun. 1940

St. Nazaire, France

17. Jun. 1940

18. Jun. 1940

RAF Northholt

18. Jun. 1940

23. Jun. 1940

RAF Tangmere

23. Jun. 1940

1. Aug. 1940

RAF Northolt

1. Aug. 1940

9. Sep.1940

RAF Wittering

9. Sep.1940

15. Dec.1940

RAF Northolt

15. Dec.1940

5. Jan. 1941

RAF Kenley

5. Jan. 1941

7. Apr. 1941:

RAF Croydon

7. Apr. 1941:

1. May 1941

RAF Redhill

1. May 1941

1. Jun. 1941

RAF Kenley

1. Jun. 1941

14. Jun. 1941

RAF Redhill

14. Jun. 1941

1. Jul. 1941

RAF Tangmere

1. Jul. 1941

8. Jul. 1942

RAF Acklington

8. Jul. 1942

9. Feb. 1943

RAF Biggin Hill

9. Feb. 1943

15. Mar. 1943:

RAF Lympne

15. Mar. 1943:

15. Feb. 1944

RAF Martlesham Heath

15. Feb. 1944

3. Apr. 1944

RAF North Weald

3. Apr. 1944

22. Apr. 1944

RAF Ayr

22. Apr. 1944

29. Apr. 1944

RAF Predannack

29. Apr. 1944

20. Jun. 1944

RAF Harrowbeer

20. Jun. 1944

22. Jun. 1944

RAF Detling

22. Jun. 1944

11. Jul. 1944

RAF Lympne

11. Jul. 1944

10. Aug.1944

RAF Detling

10. Aug.1944

18. Dec. 1944

RAF Manston

18. Dec. 1944

8. Apr. 1945:

RAF Coltishall

8. Apr. 1945:

14. May 1945

RAF Ludham

14. May 1945

23. Jul. 1945

 RAF Hutton Cranswick

23. Jul. 1945

Sep. 1945

RAF Hawkinge

Sep. 1945

Oct. 1945

RAF Hutton Cranswick

Oct. 1945

1946

RAF Tangmere

1946

23. June 1958

 1958 - 2011

RAF Stradishall

1. Jul. 1958

Nov. 1961

RAF Waterbeach

Nov. 1961

Aug. 1963

RAF West Raynham

Aug. 1963

18. Jul. 1969

RAF Wittering

18. Jul. 1969

28 Jul. 2000

RAF Cottesmore

28 Jul. 2000

28. Jan.2011

 2012 - today

RAF Leuchars

15. Sep. 2012

8. Sep. 2014

RAF Lossiemouth

8. Sep. 2014

today

Nicosia (Suez Konflict)

Aug. 1956

Dec. 1956

 1912 - 1920

?

?

13. May 1912

Maj Edward M Maitland

13. May 1912

 1. May 1914

Maj Charles A H Longcroft

 1. May 1914

Aug. 1914

Capt Felton V Holt

Aug. 1914

28. Jan. 1915

Maj W Geoffrey H Salmond

28. Jan. 1915

19. Aug. 1915

Maj Phillip B Joubert de la Ferte

19. Aug. 1915

24. Nov. 1915

Maj G F Pretyman DSO

24. Nov. 1915

24. Dec. 1916

Maj G C St P de Dombasle

24. Dec. 1916

20. Jun. 1917

Maj A B Adams

20. Jun. 1917

 3. Aug. 1918

Maj W E Young DFC

 3. Aug. 1918

Feb. 1919

Capt C S T Lavers

Feb. 1919

20. Jan. 1920

 1920 - 1926

Sqn Ldr John O Andrews DSO, MC & Bar

21. Jan. 1920

18. Sep. 1920

Sqn Ldr J B Graham, MC, AFC

18. Sep. 1920

10. Nov. 1922

Sqn Ldr G G A Williams

10. Nov. 1922

8. Oct. 1923

Sqn Ldr E O Grenfell, MC, DFC, AFC

8. Oct. 1923

25. May 1924

Sqn Ldr E D Atkinson, DFC, AFC

25. May 1924

19. Apr. 1926

Sqn Ldr C N Lowe

19. Apr. 1926

1. Nov. 1926

 1927 - 1958

?

1. Feb. 1927

21. Mar. 1927

Flt Lt F L Luxmore DFC

21. Mar. 1927

11. Apr. 1927

Sqn Ldr E D Atkinson, MC, DFC, AFC

11. Apr. 1927

5. Jan. 1928

Flt Lt F L Luxmore DFC

5. Jan. 1928

3. Feb. 1928

Flt Lt Stanley F Vincent AFC

3. Feb. 1928

19. Mar. 1928

Sqn Ldr E O Grenfell, MC, DFC, AFC

19. Mar. 1928

27. Jul. 1931

Sqn Ldr Charles B S Spackman DFC

27. Jul. 1931

12. Nov. 1933

Sqn Ldr Roy W Chappell MC

12. Nov. 1933

1. Oct. 1934

Sqn Ldr C W Hill

1. Oct. 1934

22. Sep. 1935

Flt Lt Theodore N McEvoy

22. Sep. 1935

2. Oct. 1936

Sqn Ldr C W Hill

2. Oct. 1936

12. Apr. 1937

Sqn Ldr Francis R D Swain AFC

12. Apr. 1937

15. Jan. 1938

Sqn Ldr I A Bertram

15. Jan. 1938

17. Apr. 1939

Sqn Ldr  P J H Halahan, DFC

17. Apr. 1939

24. May 1940

Sqn Ldr D A Pemberton, DFC

24. May 1940

10. Nov. 1940

Sqn Ldr M H Brown, DFC

10. Nov. 1940

23. Apr. 1941

Sqn Ldr R E P Brooker, DFC

23. Apr. 1941

3. Nov. 1941

Sqn Ldr J A F MacLachlan, DSO, DFC & Bar

3. Nov. 1941

31. Jul. 1942

Sqn Ldr R C Wilkinson, OBE, DFM & Bar

31. Jul. 1942

30. May 1943

Sqn Ldr A Zweigbergh

30. May 1943

3. Apr. 1944

Sqn Ldr J Checketts, DSO, DFC

3. Apr. 1944

29. Apr. 1944

Sqn Ldr H P Lardner-Burke, DFC & Bar

29. Apr. 1944

11. Jan. 1945

Sqn Ldr D G S R Cox, DFC & Bar

11. Jan. 1945

21. Apr. 1945

Sqn Ldr R S Nash, DFC

21. Apr. 1945

9. Jan. 1946

Sqn Ldr H R Allen, DFC

9. Jan. 1946

26. Oct. 1946

Sqn Ldr C H MacFie, DFC

26. Oct. 1946

7. May 1947

Flt Lt N H D Ramsey (acting)

7. May 1947

15. Jul. 1947

Sqn Ldr T R Burne, DSO, DFC

15. Jul. 1947

4. Feb. 1949

Major Robin Olds USAF

4. Feb. 1949

1. Oct. 1949

Sqn Ldr T R Burne, DSO, DFC

1. Oct. 1949

10. Jan. 1950

Major D F Smith USAF

10. Jan. 1950

18. Aug. 1950

Sqn Ldr John L W Ellacombe DFC

18. Aug. 1950

21. Nov. 1952

Sqn Ldr R B Morison, DFC

21. Nov. 1952

27. Jul. 1953

Sqn Ldr D I Smith

27. Jul. 1953

1. Dec. 1953

Sqn Ldr F W Lister, DSO, DFC

1. Dec. 1953

1. Jun. 1955

Flt Lt H Irving (acting)

1. Jun. 1955

8. Aug. 1956

Sqn Ldr R S Kingsford

8. Aug. 1956

 1958 - 2011

Sqn Ldr L de Garis, AFC

1. Jul. 1958

1. Dec. 1958

Sqn Ldr J J Phipps

1. Dec. 1958

1. Jan. 1961

Sqn Ldr P V Pledger

1. Jan. 1961

1. Jan. 1963

Sqn Ldr F L Travers-Smith

1. Jan. 1963

28. Dec. 1964

Sqn Ldr David C G Brook

28. Dec. 1964

1. Nov. 1966

Sqn Ldr G Jones

1. Nov. 1966

20. Sep. 1968

Sqn Ldr L A B Baker

20. Sep. 1968

10. Apr. 1969

Wg Cdr J A Mansell

10. Apr. 1969

21. May 1969

Sqn Ldr L A B Baker

21. May 1969

4. Aug. 1969

Wg Cdr Dennis Allison

4. Aug. 1969

Oct. 1969

Sqn Ldr L A B Baker

Oct. 1969

1. Jan. 1970

Wg Cdr Kenneth W Hayr AFC

1. Jan. 1970

6. Jan. 1972

Wg Cdr E J E Smith, OBE

6. Jan. 1972

3. Dec. 1973

Wg Cdr Peter P W Taylor AFC

3. Dec. 1973

9. Jul. 1976

Wg Cdr J G Saye

9. Jul. 1976

17. Jul. 1978

Wg Cdr Richard B Duckett AFC

17. Jul. 1978

26. Mar. 1981

Wg Cdr Peter T Squire DFC, AFC

26. Mar. 1981

23. Dec. 1983

Wg Cdr John D L Feesey AFC

23. Dec. 1983

13. Jun. 1986

Wg Cdr Ian M Stewart

13. Jun. 1986

3. Oct. 1988

Wg Cdr I R Harvey MBE, BSc

3. Oct. 1988

17. May 1991

Wg Cdr C C N Burwell, MBE

17. May 1991

29. Apr. 1994

Wg Cdr David Walker, AFC, BSc

29. Apr. 1994

18. Mar. 1996

Wg Cdr Mark A Leakey BSc

18. Mar. 1996

26. Nov. 1997

Sqn Ldr I Cameron (acting)

26. Nov. 1997

9. Jan. 1998

Wg Cdr A Golledge, DSO, BSc

9. Jan. 1998

26. Oct. 1999

Wg Cdr Sean M Bell, BSc

26. Oct. 1999

?

?

?

1. Nov. 2006

Wg Cdr K A Lewis, DFC

1. Nov. 2006

31. Oct. 2008

Wg Cdr D F Haines, MA MBA

31. Oct. 2008

?

?

?

28. Jan.2011

 1958 - 2011

Wg Cdr M Flewin

15. Sep. 2012

9. Oct. 2014

Wg Cdr M Sutton

9. Oct. 2014

?

?

?

?

Wg Cdr C Hoyle

 2016

?

Formed from No 1 Airship Company of the Air Battalion on 13. May 1912.  Became part of the Naval Wing when responsibility for airships was handed  over to the them on 1. January 1914, but on 1 May 1914, it was renamed the Airship Detachment RFC and a new No 1 Squadron was formed.

It's aircraft were allocated to the other four squadrons which, moved to France in August 1914, with No 1 eventually following in early 1915.  Originally equipped as a reconnaissance squadron, it gradually started using fighters, becoming a pure fighter unit in January 1917.  It remained in France until March 1919 when it returned to the UK, being disbanded on 20. January 1920

Reformed in India, 21. January 1921, it moved to Iraq in May 1921, being disbanded again on 1 November 1926.  Its next incarnation was at Tangmere from 1 February 1927 at a fighter squadron, where it remained until moving to France as part of the AASF, in 1939.  During this period, the squadron claimed over 100 aircraft destroyed for the loss of 17 Hurricanes and two pilots.  Returning to the UK the squadron fought in the Battle of Britain, carried out fighter sweeps over France and intruder operations over enemy airfields in France.

In 1942, the squadron re-equipped with Typhoons and Spitfire IXs in 1944 and operated in the fighter bomber role until the V1 campaign opened and it reverted back to the fighter role.  After this it took on the bomber escort role, re-equipping with the Spitfire FXXI in 1945.  The squadron entered the jet age in 1946 when it re-equipped with Meteors.

However, in 1947 the squadron adopted the role of Instrument Flying Training Unit for No 11 Group.  It carried out this task for less than a year before becoming a Meteor unit again.  Converting to Hunters in October 1955, the squadron disbanded on 23 Jun 1958.  However, on 1 July 1958 the squadron was reformed by re-numbering No 263 Squadron at Stradishall.  As a ground attack unit, No 1 was transferred to No 38 Group, Transport Command on 1 Jan 1960.

The squadron made history in July 1969, when it became the world's first operational unit to fly V/STOL aircraft when it introduced the Harrier to service.  The squadron remained at Wittering flying the Harrier GR1, GR3, GR5 (from 1988) and now the GR7 (from 1992).  In 2000, the squadron became part of the joint RAF/RN 'Joint Force Harrier', within No 3 Group, moving to its current base at Cottesmore in 2001.  In the Strategic Defence and Security Review of October 2010 it was announced that the Harrier force would be withdrawn from service early and consequently 16 aircraft from Nos 1, IV and 800 Squadrons made a final formation flight on 15 December 2010 and No 1 Squadron formally disbanded on 28. January 2011.  However the squadron was re-formed on 15. September 2012 at RAF Leuchars, equipped with the Typhoon FGA Mk 4 but in 2014 with the closure of RAF Leuchars it re-located to RAF Lossiemouth.

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