Country United Kingdom Nickname(s) 'Crusader Squadron' | ||
Active 1 Aug 1917 – 1 Feb 192018 May 1937 – 15 Oct 19451 Sep 1946 – 1 Apr 19471 May 1947 – 1 Sep 194822 Jul 1959 – 10 Jul 1963 Role Army cooperationBomberFighterTransportMissile operation Motto(s) Latin: Velox et vindex("Swift to vengeance") | ||
No. 113 Squadron began service in 1917 with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force commanded by General Edmund Allenby. INitially, the squadron was a unit of the Royal Flying Corps, serving during the Sinai and Palestine Campaign and as a reconnaissance, army cooperation, bomber, fighter, transport and missile operation squadron during its existence.
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Formation in World War I as reconnaissance unit
No. 113 Squadron was formed on 1 August 1917 at what became RAF Ismailia, Egypt, as a corps reconnaissance and army co-operation unit, taking over duties of trench reconnaissance from No. 1 Squadron Australian Flying Corps, otherwise known as 67 (Australian) Squadron RFC. In September it began tactical reconnaissance and artillery spotting missions over Palestine, where it remained until the end of World War I. The squadron returned to Egypt on 16 February 1919 and a year later it was disbanded by being renumbered to No. 208 Squadron RAF on 1 February 1920.
Reformation as bomber squadron in World War II
No. 113 reformed at RAF Upper Heyford on 18 May 1937 as a day bomber unit, equipped with Hawker Hinds. In April 1938 it left for the Middle East, converting to Blenheim's in June 1939. After Italy joined the war, on 11 June 1940 the unit participated in the first attack by the RAF on the Italian air force base at El Adem, where 18 aircraft were destroyed or damaged on the ground, against the loss of three British aircraft from three squadrons. On 12 June 1940 the squadron participated in an attack on Tobruk, damaging the Italian cruiser San Giorgio. The squadron then moved to Greece in March 1941. There it was overtaken by the German invasion and lost all its aircraft, the squadron personnel being evacuated to Crete and Egypt. Bombing operations resumed in June 1941.
In November 1941 the British forces in North Africa started Operation Crusader and No. 113 Squadron was selected for a special role. Along with the Hurricanes of No. 33 Squadron RAF, the Squadron flew their Blenheims out to the desert airfield known as LG125, miles behind enemy lines. LG125 had been prepared for their arrival by the Long Range Desert Group. The Squadron's mission was to attack Rommel's supply lines deep in his rear. Unfortunately their aircraft were spotted by a German reconnaissance flight on the 21st, and on the 22nd the airfield was attacked by Ju88s which damaged many of the Blenheims. Six Hurricanes got airborne and shot down two of the Ju88s, a third being damaged by future ace and Texan Pilot Officer Lance Wade. Worried that further attacks would follow, the RAF decided it was a good idea to withdraw, No. 113 Squadron flying back to Ma'aten Bagush. The RAF considered the mission a success and repeated it almost a year later as Operation Chocolate, when No. 213 Squadron RAF and No. 238 Squadron RAF flew their Hurricane IICs into LG125 to attack Rommel's forces retreating from the Second Battle of El Alamein.
After the outbreak of war in the Far East the squadron, which was under command of Wing Commander Reginald Stidolph, DFC, a Rhodesian, was moved to Burma. The squadron arrived at on 7 January 1942 and immediately participated in the first allied bombing attack on Bangkok. A second raid was made on 24 January. The squadron attacked Japanese columns until it was evacuated to Calcutta in March. From Assam, No. 113 bombed Japanese communications and airfields until it converted to Hurricanes in March 1943. These were used for ground-attack duties, until replaced by Thunderbolts in April 1945, which were flown until the Squadron was disbanded on 15 October 1945.
Post war reformations as a transport squadron
On 1 September 1946 No. 620 Squadron RAF at RAF Aqir was renumbered to No. 113 Squadron RAF and was engaged in transport duties with Halifax A.7s until disbanded on 1 April 1947. The squadron reformed on 1 May 1947 at RAF Fairford now flying Douglas Dakotas alongside Halifax A.9s, being disbanded on 1 September 1948.
On Thor missiles
The squadron was reformed – as 113(SM) Sqn. – on 22 July 1959 as one of 20 Strategic Missile (SM) squadrons associated with Project Emily. The squadron was equipped with three Thor Intermediate range ballistic missiles, based at RAF Mepal.
In October 1962, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, the squadron was kept at full readiness, with the missiles aimed at strategic targets in the USSR. The squadron was disbanded on 10 July 1963, with the termination of the Thor Program in Britain.