Aim sure

On 1st March 1915, the officers and men who made up No.1 Reserve Squadron and the Recruits Depot, all of whom were based at South Farnborough, Hampshire, were brought together to form No.15 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps. Initially, the new squadron was equipped with a diverse range of flying machines, including Henri and Maurice Farmans, Avros, Bleriots, Moranes and BE2c aircraft. Having relocated to an airfield at Hounslow, west of London, where the squadron was allowed time to work up to operational status, it was, on 11th May, relocated to another airfield at Swingate Down, to the east of Dover, on the Kent coast. On 23rd December 1915, No.15 Squadron, RFC, deployed to France for operational duties. Throughout its time on the Western Front, during the First World War, the squadron was engaged in observation and reconnaissance duties, initially using BE2c aircraft but later, during June 1916, upgrading to R.E.8s. The work undertaken by the squadron, in its reconnaissance role, was recognised by higher authority, on a number of occasions, in the form of telegrams or communiqués. On 1st April 1918, No.15 Squadron became part of the newly formed Royal Air Force, which came into being with the amalgamation of the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service. With the end of hostilities in November 1918, came a reduction in the fighting strength of the RAF and, although not disbanded as a number of squadrons were, No.15 was reduced to a cadre. The axe finally fell on the final day of December 1919, when No.15 Squadron was disbanded.

It was to be approximately five years before No.15s number plate was to be resurrected when, on 20th March 1924, No.15 Squadron was reformed as part of the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment (A&AEE), at Martlesham Heath, Suffolk. Over a period of ten years, No.15 Squadron completed 12,100 flying hours on over seventy-five different types of airframe. Over that same period, it also saw five changes of commanding officer.

On 1st June 1934, No.15 was re-designated as a new unit, equipped with Hawker Hart Mk.I aircraft, undertaking daylight operations flying as part of Bomber Command. The new C.O. was Squadron Leader Thomas Elmhirst, who secured permission for his squadron to change the number plate to Roman numerals and have the XV applied to the fuselage on all the squadrons aircraft. This decision was to have a lasting effect and was only interrupted by the Second World War. Thomas Elmhirst also gave thought to the fact the squadron should have its own badge and motto, both of which were approved, during 1935. In early 1936, the squadron re-equipped with Hawker Hind bomber aircraft. These machines remained in service with No.XV until 13th July 1938, when the unit converted to Fairey Battle bomber aircraft. It was with the latter aircraft that the squadron prepared for war when, on 27th August 1939, a state of emergency was declared.

History repeated itself when the Squadron returned to France on a war footing, but it was forced to return to England in order to re-equip with the Bristol Blenheim bomber. The new aircraft was initially seen as a wonder aircraft, but No.XV Squadron was virtually decimated in strength following the German invasion of the Netherlands in May 1940. With the Blenheim being designated unsuitable for the task, the squadron began converting to the Vickers Wellington bomber, designed by Barnes Wallace, on 7th November 1940. This was really a stop-gap measure as on 30th April 1941 No.XV began converting to the Short Stirling, four-engine, heavy bomber. During the next couple of years, night after night, the squadron carried the fight back to the enemy, enduring many losses and exploits of valour in the process. It participated in all the 1,000 bomber raids against Germany.

As 1943 drew to a close, No.XV prepared to continue the fight with new equipment. Having converted to the Avro Lancaster bomber in late December 1943, the squadron went operational in mid-January 1944 with its new aircraft. By the time the war came to an end, No.XV was flying Lancaster B.1 Specials, which were specially adapted to carry 22,000lb Grand Slam bombs. February 1947 saw another change of equipment when the squadron converted to the Avro Lincoln bomber, whilst based at RAF Wyton in Huntingdonshire. However, by the end of that same year, No.XV found itself deploying aircraft to Shallufa, Egypt, as part of Operation Sunrise.

Another change of occurred at the end of November 1950, when No.XV Squadron was disbanded but immediately reformed with Boeing B29 Washington bomber aircraft. It was during the Washington period, in March 1951, that the squadrons code letters ‘LS’, which it had been adopted during late 1939, were removed from the aircraft fuselages. The new scheme called for a natural metal finish, adorned with only the RAF roundel, fin flash and aircraft serial. With technology advancing all the time, No.XV entered a new phase in its history in June 1953, when it was declared fully operational flying English Electric Canberra bombers. During the next couple of years, the squadron continued to train and undertook many navigational and bombing exercises, which proved fruitful in 1956 when the Suez crises erupted. No.XV was deployed to Nicosia, as part of Operation Accumulate, on 23rd October. During the short period of fighting that followed, No.XV dropped a higher concentration of bombs than any other squadron. Following a cease-fire, the squadron returned to England where, on 15th April 1957, it was disbanded.

The 1st of September 1958 saw the re-formation of No.XV as a V-Bomber squadron, equipped with Handley Page Victor B.I bombers. These aircraft were not only adorned with the official RAF insignia described above, but were also permitted to carry the squadron badge, together with the Roman XV numerals. The squadron retained these aircraft until 1964 when it was again disbanded. For a period of five years No.XV Squadron ceased to exist. However, this changed on 1st October 1970, when the squadron number plate and badge were resurrected and No.XV was reformed at RAF Honnington, in Suffolk. Equipped with Blackburn S.2B Buccaneer aircraft, the squadron departed for RAF Laarbruch, where, during January 1971, it officially became part of Royal Air Force Germany. After thirteen years service with the squadron, the Buccaneers were replaced with Panavia Tornado, swing-wing, bombers. On 1st September 1983, No.XV became the first RAF Squadron in Germany to be equipped with this type of aircraft. During the latter quarter of 1990, No.XV had deployed two flights, totalling twelve crews, to Muharraq Air Base, on Bahrain Island, in readiness for operations against the Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. During the following conflict, two aircraft crewed by XV Squadron personnel were shot down, resulting in the loss of Flt Lt Stephen Hicks and the capture of Flt Lts John Peters, John Nichol and Rupert Clark.

The squadron returned to RAF Laarbruch at the end of March 1991, where a number of awards, for service in the Gulf War were announced. Wing Commander John Broardbent was awarded a Distinguished Service Order, whilst Sqn Ldr Gordon Buckley and Sqn Ldr Nigel Risdale were both awarded Distinguished Flying Crosses. Senior Engineering Officer S/L Rob Torrence was awarded the Member of the British Empire. Following disbandment in January 1992, No.XV was reformed a few months later on 1st April, at RAF Honnington, where it took on the role of the Tornado Weapons Conversion Unit. It was also granted the status of a Reserve Squadron. No.XV (R) Squadron remained at Honnington until 1st November 1993, when it re-located to RAF Lossiemouth, Moray, Scotland. During January 1998, it was re-designated as the Tornado GR1 Operational Conversion Unit and equipped with the up-graded Tornado GR4 variant. In 2011, just four years away from its 100th anniversary, No.XV (R) Squadron still operates from RAF Lossiemouth, providing refresher crews and new crews to the front line squadrons.


Text by kind permission of Martyn Ford Jones

No.15 Sqn Aviation Art Prints, Paintings and Drawings Aviation Art

Teamwork by Ivan Berryman. 8 of 9 editions available. All 4 editions featuring up to 7 additional signatures are available. £2.90 - £290.00

Incident over Mannheim by Ivan Berryman. 8 of 9 editions available. 6 of 7 editions featuring up to 5 additional signatures are available. £2.90 - £400.00

MacRobert's Reply by Ivan Berryman. 6 of 7 editions available. All 2 editions featuring up to 2 additional signatures are available. £2.90 - £220.00

The Attack on Villers Bocage by Ivan Berryman. 6 of 8 editions available. 2 of 3 editions featuring up to 3 additional signatures are available. £2.90 - £220.00

Here Comes Another One, Skipper by Keith Aspinall. 3 editions. One edition features an additional signature. £11.00 - £40.00

Musketeer Canberras by Ivan Berryman. 7 editions. £2.90 - £1800.00

McRobert's Reply by Geoff Lea. 2 of 3 editions available. The one edition featuring an additional signature is available. £42.00 - £70.00

The Homecoming by Keith Woodcock. One edition. £90.00

Operation Manna by Ivan Berryman. 10 editions. 4 of the 10 editions feature up to 2 additional signatures. £2.90 - £1000.00

Last One Away by Ivan Berryman. 8 editions. 3 of the 8 editions feature up to 7 additional signatures. £2.90 - £1150.00

Outbound from Mildenhall by Ivan Berryman. 6 of 7 editions available. £2.90 - £400.00

Teamwork by Philip West. 2 editions. Both editions feature up to 3 additional signatures. £150.00 - £195.00

An Aerial Action In Which Corporal Nott. Acting As Gunner, Drove Off A Hostile Aeroplane After Being Seriously Wounded. One edition. £10.00

Text for the above items :

Teamwork by Ivan Berryman. The afternoon of 3rd August 1944 saw Lancasters of 15 Sqn assigned to an attack on German V-1 Rocket stores at Bois de Cassan. While over the target the squadron encountered heavy flak. During the return journey, Lancaster LS-P fell behind the rest of the squadron but luckily for the crew, two P-38 Lightnings who had been involved in fighter sweeps, spotted the straggling Lancaster and escorted it back to base at Mildenhall.

Incident over Mannheim by Ivan Berryman. On the night of 12th September 1944, Lancaster NF958 (LS-M) of No.15 Sqn was lost in the skies above Mannheim when it was attacked by the Messerschmitt Bf.110G-2 of Ofw Ludwig Schmidt of II/NGJ 6, the bomber receiving hits to the bomb bay which ignited the incendiaries still in their racks. Five of the crew bailed out and were taken prisoner of war once captured. The pilot, F/O Norman Overend RNZAF, did not escape the aircraft. Flt Sgt Harry A Beverton was seen to leave the stricken Lancaster but was not seen again. Crew of Lancaster LS-M : F/O Norman Overend RNZAF Sgt Barry J Howarth (survived) Sgt George B Thomson (survived) Flt Sgt John D Jones (survived) Flt Sgt Robert P E Kendall (survived) Flt Sgt Harry A Beverton Sgt I Spagatner (survived).

MacRobert's Reply by Ivan Berryman. Short Stirling N6086 MacRobert's Reply of 15 Sqn is shown during the bombing raid on the French Harbour of Brest on 18th December 1941. British bombers had been dispatched to bomb the German battleships Gneisenau and Scharnhorst that were docked there, an action that earned N6086's skipper Fl Off Peter Boggis a DFC. Stirling W7428 is also shown with her port wing ablaze, one of two Stirlings lost on this operation. The subject of the RAF's attention can be seen amid the smoke - Gneisenau in drydock and Sharnhorst alongside.

The Attack on Villers Bocage by Ivan Berryman. Lancasters of No.15 Squadron are shown releasing their bombs during the attack against German armour that had amassed in and near the French village of Villers Bocage on 30th June 1944. ED395 (LS-M), piloted by Fl Off W Hall, is in the background with LM473 (LS-P) in the foreground, flown by Fl Sgt N Overend. The village was almost completely obliterated during the bombing raid and the operation was deemed a tactical success.

Here Comes Another One, Skipper by Keith Aspinall. Lancasters of No.15 Squadron come under attack from night fighters as they return from another mission.

Musketeer Canberras by Ivan Berryman. The Suez conflict of 1956 necessitated a large deployment of bombers from the RAF's new fleet of jets. 24 Vickers Valiants and 29 English Electric Canberras operated out of Luqa, together with a further 59 of the type flying from bases in Nicosia and Cyprus under the codename Operation Musketeer. Adorned in the theatre's black and yellow identification stripes, two XV Sqn Canberras are depicted here on a bombing mission to attack Egyptian airfields in October 1956. The squadron flew a total of 37 missions during the Suez crisis, its aircraft dropping more bombs than any other Canberra squadron.

McRobert's Reply by Geoff Lea. MacRobert's Reply was the name given to a Short Stirling bomber of No 15 Squadron, serial N6086. The Stirling was paid the donation of 25,000 pounds by Lady MacRobert in commemoration of her three sons, all of whom were killed whilst serving with the RAF. The eldest son Alasdair died in a flying accident in 1938, whilst Roderick and Iain were both killed in action during 1941. On October 1941 MacRobert's Reply was handed over to No.15 Squadron at RAF Wyton, with Lady MacRobert attending the naming ceremony. The Stirling had the MacRobert coat of arms painted on the nose, and the code LS-F. The Stirling flew twelve missions between October 1941 and January 1942, before accidentally swinging on take off and colliding with a damaged Spitfire at RAF Peterhead on 7th February 1942. The aircraft was written off.

The Homecoming by Keith Woodcock. A snow covered landscape bathed in early morning sun provides welcome relief for the crew of an Avro Lancaster B1 of 15 Sqd as it returns from a night mission over Germany.

Operation Manna by Ivan Berryman. During the years of the German occupation of Holland in World War II, more than 20,000 Dutch civilians perished through starvation and lack of basic provisions. Operation Manna was set in motion on Sunday, 29th April 1945 when Lancasters of the Royal Air Force began the first of 2,835 sorties, dropping 6,672 tons of food, to relieve the crisis in the Netherlands. These humanitarian missions continued until 8th May, saving many thousands of civilians from certain death by starvation and malnutrition. Here, Lancaster 4K765, LS-Z of 15 Sqn piloted by Flying Officer Jack Darlow, releases its precious cargo over a sports field north of The Hague. Also in the crew was Alistair Lamb the Rear Gunner.

Last One Away by Ivan Berryman. A Lancaster of No.15 Squadron takes to the air at the start of a night sortie from Mildenhall in June 1944.

Outbound from Mildenhall by Ivan Berryman. Short Stirling III EH990 is depicted heading out over the North Sea on the evening of 7th October 1943, on a mine-laying sortie off the Frisian Islands. LS-K was piloted, on this occasion, by Fl/Sg Thomas Robertson Ewen, RAFVR on his first - and sadly only - mission as pilot, his aircraft falling victim to a marauding enemy night fighter.

Teamwork by Philip West. As night falls, Short Stirlings of XV Squadron based at Mildenhall, Cambridgeshire, await their crews for yet another nocturnal mission. One of the almost forgotten Bomber Command aircraft that made a very significant contribution to the war effort.

An Aerial Action In Which Corporal Nott. Acting As Gunner, Drove Off A Hostile Aeroplane After Being Seriously Wounded. While acting as gunner on escort duty, Corporal C. H. Nott, of No. 15 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, was hit in the eye and rendered unconscious during an aerial action. On recovering his senses he at once opened fire with his gun, and succeeded in driving off the enemys aeroplane, which had pressed the attack. His machine was riddled with shot and otherwise damaged, but without his magnificent pluck all would have been lost. For his conspicuous gallantry Corporal Nott was awarded the D.C.M.

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Aces for : No.15 Sqn RAF
A list of all Aces from our database who are known to have flown with this squadron. A profile page is available by clicking the pilots name.
Name	Victories	Info
Frank Neville Hudson	6.00

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