Author Topic: The aircraft of No.3 Squadron Royal Air Force  (Read 21051 times)

Offline mfg495

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The aircraft of No.3 Squadron Royal Air Force
« on: March 10, 2009, 09:30:45 PM »
I have just found a CD in my collection with imagery of No.3 Squadron RAF, so I plan to, over a number of post show the type of aircraft that the squadron once flow.
Firstly a brief history of the squadron.

"No. 3 Squadron was one of the three founder squadrons of the Royal Flying Corps Squadrons formed on 13 May, 1912. The Squadron took over the aircraft of No. 2 (Aeroplane) Company at Larkhill. It deployed to France as part of the BEF in August 1914 on reconnaissance duties duties. Late in 1917, Sopwith Camels were received and the Squadron became a fighter/scout unit. After the Armistice in 1918, the Squadron disbanded and through the 1920s spent many short-lived periods at a variety of locations before arriving at Upavon in 1924 with Sopwith Snipes. During their ten-year stay, the Squadron flew Woodcocks, Gamecocks and Bulldogs and also deployed to Sudan during the Abyssinian crisis in 1935. Upon its return, No 3 Squadron introduced the Gladiator into RAF service and just as the Second World War started received Hurricanes at Biggin Hill.

A brief stint as part of the BEF in France was followed by relocation to Scotland on night-patrol duties. During 1943, the Squadron replaced the Hurricanes with Hawker Typhoons and switched to the anti-shipping and intruder roles. A switch to Tempests in 1944 saw No 3 Squadron destroy 288 V1 flying bombs, and move on to the Continent as part of the advance towards Germany. The Squadron remained in Germany, converting to Vampires in 1948, Sabres in 1953 and the Hunter in 1956. A short time with Javelin fighters was followed by a long period of Canberra flying, before the Squadron received Harriers in the early 1970s. In 1977 the unit moved to Gutersloh near the old East German border, before relocating to Laarbruch with Harrier GR7s. Following the decision to close Laarbruch, No. 3 Squadron returned to the UK in the Spring of 1999, arriving at RAF Cottesmore in Rutland. Subsequently, No 3 Squadron - along with its sister RAF Harrier and Royal Navy Sea Harrier units - combined to form Joint Force Harrier and undertook a number of deployments on board aircraft carriers including an operational tour to Sierra Leone as part of Operation Basilica. Elements of No 3 Squadron were also involved in Operation Telic.

On the 31 March 2006 the Squadron moved to RAF Coningsby to become the third RAF and first front-line RAF Squadron to be equipped with the Eurofighter Typhoon."

Text Source - RAF Website.

Now the first images - the early years.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/matzos/1-5.jpg
The aircraft of No.3 Squadron Royal Air Force


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/matzos/2-5.jpg
The aircraft of No.3 Squadron Royal Air Force


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/matzos/3-4.jpg
The aircraft of No.3 Squadron Royal Air Force


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/matzos/4-4.jpg
The aircraft of No.3 Squadron Royal Air Force


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/matzos/5-1.jpg
The aircraft of No.3 Squadron Royal Air Force


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/matzos/6-1.jpg
The aircraft of No.3 Squadron Royal Air Force

ΚΑΘΟΡΩΜΕΝ ΑΙΣΤΟΙ
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Offline Wingman81

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Re: The aircraft of No.3 Squadron Royal Air Force
« Reply #1 on: March 10, 2009, 10:30:03 PM »
Image #1  I'm not sure...
Image #2 BE2a, who's the guy?
Image #3  Im not sure maybe Bristol or Bleriot
Image #4 BE2a
Image #5 looks like Maurice Farman Longhorn
Image #6 I'm not sure

Thanks for the phantastic photos  :-green
« Last Edit: March 10, 2009, 10:37:19 PM by Wingman81 »

Letipapa

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Re: The aircraft of No.3 Squadron Royal Air Force
« Reply #2 on: March 11, 2009, 01:32:18 AM »
What a great topic mfg 495 :-clap :-clap :-clap. History, that's what I like, especially those early days. :-flo
An this airplanes, I believe that the first one is probably theBristol Boxkite,
third one Bristol Tractor Monoplane from 1912 and the last Henri Farman H.F.20
For the rest I would say that Kilian is wright. Of course it could be that I'm wrong, but I hope I'm wright.
Anyway, so wonderfull photo's these are. :-tri :-wave

Offline No.1

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Re: The aircraft of No.3 Squadron Royal Air Force
« Reply #3 on: March 11, 2009, 01:38:55 AM »
Excellent subject as always  :-clap :-clap

Letipapa

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Re: The aircraft of No.3 Squadron Royal Air Force
« Reply #4 on: March 11, 2009, 02:28:27 AM »
Yes indeed. :-clap
But let's look these photos closer. I wonder when I look at first one did those guys had any belts to fasten themselves to the seat. I do not see any, and I suspect that they really didn't have any. Am I wrong? :-clap

And 3rd and 4Th photo: always one man standing in front to turn the propeller and few guys staying near back of the fuselage. On the third photo they are holding the airplane. Obviously they had to do that, but I don't understand why. Did those airplanes had any brakes, or... :-think

Finally see last one, look at the background, there is one military balloon there very low, but on the right of the second airplane ,there is one black rounded spot too. Is that a second balloon, is this a kind of balloon shooting training maybe? :-think

Sorry, I allways ask too many questions, but photo's are so interesting. I beg everybody's pardon. :-obey :-wave

Offline Wingman81

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Re: The aircraft of No.3 Squadron Royal Air Force
« Reply #5 on: March 11, 2009, 02:35:08 AM »
You had to put start blocks in front of the wheels or hold it during start. There were no breaks like we know it today :)

Letipapa

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Re: The aircraft of No.3 Squadron Royal Air Force
« Reply #6 on: March 11, 2009, 09:51:41 PM »
So! Thank's Wingman81.  :-flo
To me it seems that this guys at back are also holding the airplane for some reason, too. :-think


Offline mfg495

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Re: The aircraft of No.3 Squadron Royal Air Force
« Reply #7 on: March 13, 2009, 02:26:56 PM »
Pre WW2

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/matzos/8-1.jpg
The aircraft of No.3 Squadron Royal Air Force


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/matzos/7-1.jpg
The aircraft of No.3 Squadron Royal Air Force


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/matzos/546.jpg
The aircraft of No.3 Squadron Royal Air Force


More to follow  :-wave

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Offline mfg495

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Re: The aircraft of No.3 Squadron Royal Air Force
« Reply #8 on: March 13, 2009, 02:35:13 PM »
WW2

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/matzos/CH34983SQNHURRICANES.jpg
The aircraft of No.3 Squadron Royal Air Force


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/matzos/CH35033SQN.jpg
The aircraft of No.3 Squadron Royal Air Force


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/matzos/CH35133SQNHURRICANE.jpg
The aircraft of No.3 Squadron Royal Air Force


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/matzos/Image05.jpg
The aircraft of No.3 Squadron Royal Air Force


Next, the first jets on the squadron

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Offline mfg495

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Re: The aircraft of No.3 Squadron Royal Air Force
« Reply #9 on: March 13, 2009, 02:38:32 PM »
Early jet aircraft on the Squadron.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/matzos/cot.jpg
The aircraft of No.3 Squadron Royal Air Force


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/matzos/3FSqnSabres.jpg
The aircraft of No.3 Squadron Royal Air Force


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/matzos/00000124.jpg
The aircraft of No.3 Squadron Royal Air Force


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/matzos/00000620.jpg
The aircraft of No.3 Squadron Royal Air Force


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/matzos/00000485.jpg
The aircraft of No.3 Squadron Royal Air Force


Next the first use of the Harrier  ;)

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Offline mfg495

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Re: The aircraft of No.3 Squadron Royal Air Force
« Reply #10 on: March 13, 2009, 02:53:18 PM »
Harrier GR.1

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/matzos/H2.jpg
The aircraft of No.3 Squadron Royal Air Force


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/matzos/H4.jpg
The aircraft of No.3 Squadron Royal Air Force


Harrier GR.3

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/matzos/H1.jpg
The aircraft of No.3 Squadron Royal Air Force


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/matzos/har.jpg
The aircraft of No.3 Squadron Royal Air Force


Harrier GR.7

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/matzos/HH1-1.jpg
The aircraft of No.3 Squadron Royal Air Force


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/matzos/HH2-1.jpg
The aircraft of No.3 Squadron Royal Air Force


 ;)
« Last Edit: March 13, 2009, 02:59:16 PM by mfg495 »

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Offline mfg495

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Re: The aircraft of No.3 Squadron Royal Air Force
« Reply #11 on: March 13, 2009, 02:55:26 PM »
The last aircraft and the one that is in Squadron use as of today - Typhoon

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/matzos/t4.jpg
The aircraft of No.3 Squadron Royal Air Force


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/matzos/t3.jpg
The aircraft of No.3 Squadron Royal Air Force


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/matzos/t2.jpg
The aircraft of No.3 Squadron Royal Air Force


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/matzos/t1.jpg
The aircraft of No.3 Squadron Royal Air Force


 :-ok :-salut

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Offline Wingman81

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Re: The aircraft of No.3 Squadron Royal Air Force
« Reply #12 on: March 13, 2009, 04:08:21 PM »
Sabres!!!  :-love

Offline mfg495

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Re: The aircraft of No.3 Squadron Royal Air Force
« Reply #13 on: March 13, 2009, 05:16:01 PM »
When you look at it
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/matzos/1a.jpg
The aircraft of No.3 Squadron Royal Air Force
--------------> http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/matzos/t4a.jpg
The aircraft of No.3 Squadron Royal Air Force

In just over 90 years  :-eek

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Offline No.1

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Re: The aircraft of No.3 Squadron Royal Air Force
« Reply #14 on: March 13, 2009, 05:34:31 PM »
 :-clap :-clap :-clap