Badge:

An eagle, wings elevated, preying on a serpent - approved by King George VI in January 1938

Motto:

Oculi exercitus - 'The eyes of the Army'

Key Dates:

1914 - Formed at Farnborough.

1956 - Took part in operations over the Suez Canal.

1991 - Took part in the Gulf War.

Current Aircraft and Location:

Current Aircraft: Typhoon.

Location: RAF Lossiemouth

Battle Honours:

Western Front 1914-1918*, Neuve Chappelle*, Ypres 1915*, Loos, Somme 1916*, Ypres 1917, Amiens, Hindenburg Line*, Iraq 1919-1920, Kurdistan 1922-1924, Palestine 1936-1939, Egypt and Libya 1940-1943*, El Alamein*, El Hamma, Italy 1944-1945*, South-East Europe 1944-1945, Gulf 1991.

(Honours marked with an asterisk, are emblazoned on the Squadron Standard)

History of 6 Squadron:

Formed at Farnborough on 31 January 1914, No 6 Sqn, RFC, worked up with fixed-wing aircraft and also had responsibility for the Kite Flight, transferred from No 1 Sqn. After arriving in France in August 1914, the Squadron immediately lost its aircraft to other under-strength units. In July 1915, equipped with BE2s, Capt G L Hawker was awarded the VC for outstanding courage and determination during 11 months of continuous operational flying. The Squadron finished the war flying RE8s, and shortly after the end of the War, it transferred to Iraq and re-equipped with Bristol Fighters.

During the following years, it undertook operations against various uprisings before transferring to Egypt in 1929 and receiving Fairey Gordon bombers. Following increased tension between Arabs and Jews No 6 Sqn moved to Ramleh in Palestine during 1937 with Hawker Hardys. During the early part of WWII, the Squadron and its Lysanders remained in Palestine, but detached aircraft to the Western Desert until 1941 when Hurricanes were on strength. Further action in the Desert on anti-tank duties continued from 1942 until the end of the North African campaign. After converting to rocket-firing Hurricanes in 1944, the Squadron moved to Italy and flew the remainder of the War over the Balkans. A brief stint in Palestine after the War as followed by a move to Cyprus with Tempests.

During 1948 the unit received Vampires and a series of moves around the Middle East followed before finally arriving back in Cyprus with Venoms. Before receiving Canberras in 1956, No 6 Sqn took part in the Suez operation with its Venoms. The Squadron finally left the Middle East in 1969 when it moved to Coningsby to become the first Phantom Squadron. During 1974, No 6 Sqn moved to RAF Coltishall and re-equipped with Jaguar fighter bombers. Operational deployments with the Jaguar have seen the squadron involved in Operation Granby (Gulf War 1), Warden (later Op Resinate North - Northern Iraq - until 2003) and Deny Flight (Balkans). In April 2006 No 6 Sqn moved to RAF Coningsby where it was the last RAF Sqn operating the Jaguar.

On Monday 6 September 2010, No 6 Squadron, the first Typhoon fighter squadron in Scotland, officially stood up at Royal Air Force Leuchars. The occasion was marked with a ceremony which involved the presentation of the Squadron’s Standard to the Officer Commanding. On 11 September the Squadron’s Standard was paraded for the Chief of the Air Staff, accompanied by an iconic flypast, to mark the beginning of the RAF Leuchars Airshow and celebrate the reformation of the Squadron.

On 23 June 2014, No. 6 Squadron relocated to RAF Lossiemouth. The primary task at RAF Lossiemouth is to maintain the Quick Reaction Alert (Interceptor) North mission. 6 Sqn provides crews and aircraft at high states of readiness 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to police UK airspace whilst also providing capability and support to contingent operations worldwide. The Squadron also regularly takes part in exercises across the world including the USA and the Middle East.