No. 31 Squadron RAF
No. 31 Squadron of the Royal Air Force currently operates the Tornado GR4 from RAF Marham, Norfolk.
History
Formed at Farnborough on 11 October 1915, the first Flight departed for India with its BE2Cs and Farmans at the end of November, arriving at Risulpur on 26 December. The two remaining Flights had arrived by May 1916, and the Squadron spent the remainder of the First World War on co-operation duties with the Indian Army. September 1919 saw the BE2s finally replaced by Bristol Fighters, and over the next decade these gave sterling service, not only on co-operation tasks, but also during the famous evacuation of Kabul where they were used to escort Victoria transports. During the 1930s, army co-operation duties continued, but with Wapitis, until, in April 1939, the Squadron changed to the bomber transport role for which Valentias were employed. These obsolescent biplanes performed admirably, transporting troops and supplies around the area and bombing rebel villages with great effect. During 1941, the Squadron began to concentrate on transport duties with seconded DC2s, and these aircraft flew supplies into the beleaguered enclave at Habbaniya in Iraq along with the surviving Valentias. Following its return to India, the Squadron re-equipped with the Dakota, and, after the Japanese invasion of Burma, they flew between Calcutta and Rangoon dropping supplies for the XIVth Army. After the War, the Squadron moved to Java, and it was whilst flying from Kemajoran, one of the Dakotas crashed and the survivors were hacked to death by Indonesian freedom fighters. Barely a year later, the Squadron was disbanded in Java and reformed at Mauripur, India after the renumbering of No. 77 Squadron. No. 31 continued its transport duties until the end of 1947 when it was again disbanded until the following July, when it once again reformed, this time at Hendon following the renumbering of the Metropolitan Communications Squadron. A variety of smaller transports were flown on liaison duties around the UK, and these included Ansons, Proctors, Spitfiress and even Tiger Moths. In 1955, the unit reverted to its previous identity, and No. 31 Squadron moved to Laarbruch in Germany and received Canberra PR7ss - a type it flew until 1971 when they were replaced by Phantoms. Now based at RAF Bruggen, SEPECAT Jaguars were received during 1976, and these stayed until the arrival of Tornado GR1s in 1984.
Current role
Now part of the Marham Wing, 31 Squadron's aircraft and crews were part of the RAF Tornado force in the Gulf War of 1991 and the Squadron continued to fly on regular operations over Iraq. On Jan 1 1995 the Squadron was declared operational in the Suppression of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD) role equipped with the Air Launched Anti Radiation Missile (ALARM). During 1999 the Squadron re-equipped with the Tornado GR4 qualifying for night flights by the end of that year. 1999 also saw 31 Sqn participate in Operation Engadine, NATO operations over the Former Republic of Yugoslavia. In 2001 No 31 Squadron moved to RAF Marham, and in 2003 formed the core of the Ali Al Salem Air Combat Wing, operating over Iraq during Operation Resinate South and Operation Telic. While all Tornado GR.4s are capable of carrying the ALARM Anti Radiation Missile, only 31 and IX Sqns specialise in the role. In this role they are known as "Pathfinder" squadrons.
RAF Tornado squadrons
GR4No. 9 Squadron - RAF MarhamNo. 12 Squadron - RAF LossiemouthNo. 14 Squadron - RAF LossiemouthNo. XV (Reserve) Squadron - RAF LossiemouthNo. 31 Squadron - RAF MarhamNo. 617 Squadron - RAF Lossiemouth
No. II Squadron - RAF MarhamNo. 13 Squadron - RAF Marham
No. XI Squadron - RAF LeemingNo. 25 Squadron - RAF LeemingNo. 43 Squadron - RAF LeucharsNo. 56 (Reserve) Squadron - RAF LeucharsNo. 111 Squadron - RAF LeucharsNo. 1435 Flight- RAF Mount Pleasant
See alsoList of RAF squadrons
Source
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