No. 10 Squadron RAF

No. 10 Squadron is a Royal Air Force squadron. The squadron has served in a variety of roles (observation, bombing and transport) over its 90 year history.

Formation and early years
Formed, as part of the Royal Flying Corps, on 1 January 1915 during World War I at Farnborough Airfield, Hampshire, 10 Squadron served on the Western Front in France in the spotting and bombing roles with a variety of aircraft types. It was disbanded on 31 December 1919 following the end of the war, like many other squadrons.

Reformation and World War II
The squadron was reformed as a night bomber unit on Hyderabads at RAF Upper Heyford on 3 January 1928, before moving to RAF Boscombe Down in 1931 and later on to RAF Dishforth in 1937 to form part of the newly created No. 4 Group of RAF Bomber Command. During this time, the unit operated a variety of types, including Hinaidis, Virginias and Handley Page Heyfords, beginning the Second World War as the first unit equipped with the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley. The squadron remained a part of No. 4 Group throughout the war, re-equipping with the Halifax in December 1941. On 8 July 1940 they moved to RAF Leeming, Yorkshire and again on 19 August 1942 to RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

In Transport Command
Following the end of the war in Europe in 1945, the Squadron spent four years with Transport Command flying Dakotas, first in India and then, after a disbandment between 20 December 1947 and 4 October 1948 (when 238 Squadron was renumbered as No. 10 Squadron), in Europe, taking part in the Berlin Airlift and disbanding on 20 February 1950.

Back in Bomber Command
No 10 Squadron reverted to its original bomber role in the 1950s and early 1960s, seeing it take part in the Suez Crisis, equipped upon reformation at RAF Scampton on 15 January 1953 with the Canberra until disbandment exactly four years later on 15 January 1957, and after reforming at RAF Cottesmore on 15 April 1958 flying Victors until disbandment on 1 March 1964.

In the transport role again


On 1 July 1966, the squadron reformed yet again and became the first to receive the new Vickers VC10 C.1, reverting to an air transport squadron at RAF Fairford in July of that year. The unit moved to RAF Brize Norton in 1967, where it remained until disbanded in 2005. The C.1 differs from later marks of RAF VC10s in that they were delivered newly built as strategic transports. The VC10 K.2, K.3 and K.4s of 101 Squadron are all converted airliners.

Fourteen VC10 C.1s were delivered to 10 Squadron between 1966 and 1967. The C.1 was a variant of the civil 'Standard VC10' fitted with the wing and more powerful engines of the 'Super VC10'. The C.1 can carry 139 passengers in rear-facing seats, eight standard pallets or up to 78 medical evacuation stretchers.

The strengthened floor allowed the C.1 to transport 1,000 lb bombs for the Tornado GR1 force during the Gulf War, each aircraft carrying 50 per flight. During the war, 10 Sqn flew 1,326 sorties in more than 5,000 hours. The squadron also took part in most other operations involving British forces, including the 1982 Falklands War and the 2003 war in Iraq.

The squadron operated the Vickers VC10 C.1 from RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire. Introduced as air transport aircraft, the VC10 C.1 fleet was modified in 1993 to allow it operate in the AAR role as well by the installation of wing mounted refueling pods. The aircraft are now known as C.1(K)s.

The most visible role No. 10 squadron's VC10s have played is that of VIP transport and aeromedical evacuations. In the VIP role the C1s have flown the British Royal Family, government ministers and Prime Ministers around the world. In recent times it has been announced that the VC10 VIP role has been phased out, VIP transport now being carried out by chartered British Airways 767s and the RAF BAe 146 fleet. However, former Prime Minister Tony Blair reverted to the VC10 for more sensitive flights, notably during his diplomacy to Pakistan and the Middle East after the 11 September 2001 attacks.

The rationalisation of the VC10 force led to the withdrawal of No. 101 Squadron's K.2s in 2003, with the C.1(K) aircraft transferred over. No. 10 Squadron was disbanded in October 2005.

In 2011, with the closure of RAF Lyneham and the transfer of the RAF's Hercules force to Brize Norton, it was announced that No. 10 Squadron would be reformed in 2012 as the first operator of the new Airbus Voyager due to enter service in late 2011. The squadron was officially reformed on 1 July 2011.

Trivia

 * Only the squadron's C1K variant VC10s were named after airmen who had been awarded the Victoria Cross.