No. 51 Squadron RAF

No. 51 Squadron of the Royal Air Force most recently operated the Nimrod R1 from RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire until June 2011. Crews from No. 51 Squadron are currently training alongside the United States Air Force on the Boeing RC-135, which is planned to enter service with the RAF over the next seven years as the Air Seeker. The first Air Seeker has been delivered.

World War I
Formed at Thetford, Norfolk, 51 Squadron Royal Flying Corps flew B.E.2 and B.E.12 aircraft. The squadron's primary role during the First World War was defence of the UK against German Zeppelin raids. It also used the Avro 504K to give night flying training to new pilots. The squadron disbanded in 1919.

Between the Wars
The squadron was reborn when part of 150 Squadron was renumbered as 51 Squadron in March 1937, flying Virginias and Ansons. At this time the squadron badge was being chosen and a goose was chosen as a play on words: the squadron was flying the Anson and the Latin for goose is Anser. It was also appropriate for a bomber unit to have a heavy wild fowl to represent it.

World War II
51 Squadron dropped leaflets over Germany on the very first night of the Second World War, using the Whitley aircraft; bombs replaced leaflets in early 1940. A brief period as part of Coastal Command patrolling against the U-Boats in the Bay of Biscay preceded the re-equipment with the Halifax in 1942. 51 spent the rest of the war in Europe flying as part of No. 4 Group RAF, RAF Bomber Command's strategic bombing offensive against the Nazis, operating from RAF Snaith in East Yorkshire.

Postwar
The squadron became part of Transport Command with Stirlings and later Yorks following the end of the European war, transporting men and material to India and the far east. The squadron disbanded in 1950, after taking part in the Berlin Airlift.

The squadron again reformed in the 'Special Duties' role when No. 192 Squadron RAF was renumbered at RAF Watton on 21 August 1958, moving to nearby Wyton in April 1963. It was only following the end of the Cold War that the signals intelligence role of the squadron was publicly recognised. Signals intelligence encompasses both Electronic Intelligence (Elint) and Communications Intelligence (Comint). The squadron flew this role using de Havilland Comets and English Electric Canberras, the former being replaced by a modified version of the Hawker-Siddeley Nimrod in 1974. Three of the Canberras were retired from service in 1974, with the final Canberra following in 1976.

A move to RAF Waddington occurred in 1995 after RAF Wyton changed its role from an operational flying RAF station. Several of the support organisations, EWOSE (Electronic Warfare Operational Support Establishment) and EWAD (Electronic Warfare and Avionics Detachment), EWTU (Electronic Warfare & Traing Unit) relocated at the same time.

The squadron has taken part in most operations the British armed forces have been involved with in recent years, including the Falklands War, the first Gulf War, operations in Kosovo and the war in Iraq in 2003.

In February 2008, UK press reports suggested that 51 Squadron had listened in to Taliban insurgents speaking in broad West Yorkshire and West Midlands accents (The Sun inevitably headlined their article "Talibrum"), suggesting that they were British raised, if not British citizens.

One of the three Nimrods on strength was retired at the end of November 2009 with the other two remaining in service until June 2011. The Nimrods will be replaced by three Boeing RC-135W Rivet Joint aircraft starting in 2014, which will be known in RAF service as the Air Seeker. In January 2011 personnel from 51 Squadron began training at Offutt Air Force Base in the US for conversion to the RC-135. Crews will deploy on joint missions with the USAF 343rd Reconnaissance Squadron until the new aircraft are available.

Aircraft operated

 * B.E.2
 * B.E.12
 * Avro 504K
 * Vickers Virginia
 * Avro Anson
 * Armstrong Whitworth Whitley
 * Handley Page Halifax
 * Short Stirling
 * Avro York
 * de Havilland Comet
 * English Electric Canberra
 * Nimrod R MK 1