2008

43(F) Squadron = RAF

Leuchrs

Sqn Ldr. Neil Donald OC

43 Sqn RvAF
9/24/2008
 43 squadron

43 (Fighter) Squadron

"The Fighting Cocks"

Motto: Gloria finis - 'Glory is the end'. The motto of the Brook family, Sqn
Ldr AF Brook being the Squadron Commander from July 1925 to January
1928.

Badge: A black gamecock - approved by HRH King Edward VIII in July

1936. The badge was developed from an unofficial design produced in
1926 when the Squadron was equipped with the Gloster Gamecock. This
is the main reason
Battle Honours: Western Front 1917-1918*, Arras, Ypres 1917*,
Cambrai 1917, Somme 1918*, Lys, Amiens, Dunkirk*, Battle of Britain
1940*, Home defence 1940-1942, Fortress Europe 1942, Dieppe, North
Africa 1942-1943*, Sicily 1943, Salerno, Italy 1943-1945, Anzio and
Nettuno*, Gustav Line, France and Germany 1944*, Gulf 1991
September 24, 2008

* Honours marked with an asterisk are emblazoned on the Squadron Standard

Sqn Ldr. Neil Donald OC 43 Sqn RvAF

 43 squadron

Present Aircraft: Tornado F3

Squadron History:

No. 43 Squadron was formed at Stirling on 15 April 1916 as a unit of the

Royal Flying Corps. From a nucleus provided by No. 19 Reserve
Squadron, it took almost a year for the Squadron to reach the Western
Front in France. By this time their Sopwith 1½-Strutters were only suitable
for reconnaissance work. Following re-equipment with Sopwith Camels in
September 1917, the Squadron began to forge an excellent reputation for
itself. This was typified by the events of 12 April 1918, when two of the
Squadron's pilots, Captain JL Trollope and Captain HW Woollett, both
scored six confirmed victories in one day. After the war, the Squadron
briefly moved to Germany, returning to the UK in August 1919 prior to
disbandment at the end of the year.

No 43 Squadron reformed at Hendon on 1 July 1925. Now part of the

United Kingdom fighter defences, it was equipped with Snipes and then
Gamecocks in 1926, thus inspiring the Squadron badge and the nickname
'The Fighting Cocks'. Siskins (1928) and Furys (1931) followed. During
the 1930's a healthy rivalry developed between Tangmere-based Nos. 43
and 1 Squadrons, with the former gaining an outstanding reputation for
formation aerobatics at the annual Hendon displays. By September 1939,
the Squadron was flying Hurricanes. It covered the Dunkirk retreat and
during the Battle of Britain formed part of No. 11 Group, during which the
Squadron was credited with 60 'kills'. The Squadron returned south in
September 24, 2008

mid-1942, and took up fighter sweeps flights over France. In November of

that year, the Squadron departed for North Africa, stopping off in Gibraltar
en-route. After their arrival, Spitfires replaced the Hurricanes, and the unit
played a leading role in the air battles over Sicily and Italy before moving
on to Austria as the War ended. The Squadron was disbanded in Italy in
May 1947.

Sqn Ldr. Neil Donald OC 43 Sqn RvAF

 43 squadron
In February 1949, Meteor-equipped No 266 Squadron at Tangmere was
renumbered No 43. In 1954, four years after moving to Leuchars, the first
Hunters to enter RAF service were received and these remained on
strength until disbanded in October 1967. Her Majesty the Queen
presented 43 Squadron with its Colours for the first time in June 1957 at
Leuchars, returning once again in May 1988 to present a replacement
Standard. During most of the 1960's the Squadron was based in Cyprus
until 1969, when it returned to Leuchars equipped with Phantom FGI
aircraft operating in the maritime air defence role.

In July 1989, after operating for almost 20 years with the Phantom, the
Squadron began re-equipping with the Tornado F3 with which it was
declared operational one year later. In November 1990 the Squadron
deployed to Saudi Arabia as the lead RAF Tornado F3 Squadron at
Dhahran and was on active service throughout the Gulf War, returning to
Leuchars in March 1991.

Since then, it has been carrying out air defence duties over the United
Kingdom and the southern no-fly zones of Iraq, with crews and engineers
performing regular detachments to the Falkland Islands.
motto that forms part

second-to-none, and
badge, Gloria Finis -

have lived up to the

the Fighting Cocks

have had a record

In peace and war,

'Glory is the End'.

of the Squadron
September 24, 2008

Sqn Ldr. Neil Donald OC 43 Sqn RvAF