Formed at Beaulieu in Hampshire on 1 Sep 1917 as a light bomber unit, it served until just after WWI when it was disbanded. It was reformed under the RAF expansion plan in 1936, as a bomber squadron and served with distinction in WWII. It ended its fixed wing life with Canberra B.2 at RAF Gütersloh on 1 Aug 1956.
103 Squadron reformed in Aug 1959 with the Sycamore HR.14 from 284 Squadron at RAF Nicosia, where it provided air mobility to the security forces on Cyprus. On 31 Jul 1963 it was split into 1563 Flight (remaining at Nicosia) and 1564 Flight (departed to El Adem) and disbanded.
The very next day, the 103 Squadron number plate was in use again when it reformed from the Whirlwind HAR.10 of B Flight, 110 Squadron at RAF Seletar in Singapore. It maintained detachments at Tawau where it relieved 846 NAS Whirlwind HAS.7s in Apr 1964, Kuching (see image above), Labuan and Kai Tak and took over SAR cover from 110 Squadron with a detachment at Butterworth between Aug 1965 and Mar 1967.
It received a boost in numbers on 1 Nov 1965 when some of the ex-225 Squadron Whirlwinds and crews were reassigned. The unit moved to RAF Changi in Mar 1969 and it finally moved to RAF Tengah in Sep 1971. This was followed by the arrival of the Wessex HC.2 in Nov 1972 and its last Whirlwind departed during Dec. It was disbanded on 1 Aug 1975.
The very next day, the 103 Squadron number plate was in use again when it reformed from the Whirlwind HAR.10 of B Flight, 110 Squadron at RAF Seletar in Singapore. It maintained detachments at Tawau where it relieved 846 NAS Whirlwind HAS.7s in Apr 1964, Kuching (see image above), Labuan and Kai Tak and took over SAR cover from 110 Squadron with a detachment at Butterworth between Aug 1965 and Mar 1967.
It received a boost in numbers on 1 Nov 1965 when some of the ex-225 Squadron Whirlwinds and crews were reassigned. The unit moved to RAF Changi in Mar 1969 and it finally moved to RAF Tengah in Sep 1971. This was followed by the arrival of the Wessex HC.2 in Nov 1972 and its last Whirlwind departed during Dec. It was disbanded on 1 Aug 1975.
Aircraft were built from boxes at Seletar from end of 1962 . The squadron was operational within about 8 months and the first aircraft went to Kuching aboard HMS Albion when the Confrontation began. They then moved to Labuan and we did have a one aircraft deployment to Sibu until we were relieved by the Royal Navy
Sep 18, 1970 - During the Changi period a ceremony took place for the consecration and presentation of the squadron standard. The presenting officer was Air Chief Marshall The Earl of Bandon GBE CB CVO DSO RAF (Retired). Officer Commanding No 103 Squadron was Squadron Leader P R Bond.
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103 Squadron List of helicopters |
C/N | Version | Built | In this Org | In other Org | |||
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13145 w/o 1959 | Sycamore 4 | 1952 | XE307 : 17 Sep 1959 Crashed and w/o in Cyprus, c 8nm SE of Nicosia (nr Tymbou / Ki+ | XE307 | |||
13271 w/o 1960 | Sycamore 4 | 1955 | XG511 : Rotor struck ships mast during rescue and crashed off Famagusta on 7 Dec 1+ | ||||
13272 w/o 1963 | Sycamore 4 | 1955 | XG512 : Rotors struck ground after nosewheel collapsed on landing at Tobruk on 4 J+ | ||||
13371 w/o 1963 | Sycamore 4 | 1955 | XG517 : Rotors struck ground on landing at Tobruk on 23 Aug 1963 while with 103Sq | ||||
13404 Scrapped | Sycamore 4 | 1956 | XJ895 : 275 Sq; 284 Sq from Sep 1959; El Adem Stn Flt; 103 Sq; 1564 Flt; CFS / S-J | ||||
13406 | Sycamore 4 | 1956 | XJ897 : 284 Sq; 103 Sq from Aug 1959; 1563 Flt from Aug 1963; CFS | ||||
13408 | Sycamore 4 | 1956 | XJ898 : 284 Sq; 103 Sq from Aug 1959; 1563 Flt from Aug 1963; Khormaksar SAR Flt; + | ||||
wa143 | har.2 | 1956 | XK987 B : ex 103 Sq / B, before 1972 | ||||
wa144 Scrapped | har.2 | 1956 | XK988 : 103 Sq; 110 Sq; 103 Sq / D | ||||
13444 | Sycamore 4 | 1957 | XL824 : 284 Squadron from 1958; 103 Squadron from Aug 1959; 1564 Flight; CFS(H) fr+ | XL824 | |||
wa266 | hcc.8 | 1959 | XN126 : 110 Sq; 103 Sq; CFS(H); 22 Sq; CFS; 2 FTS | ||||
wa355 | har10 | 1961 | XP339 : 225 Sq, 103 Sq, 32 Sq; to Pryton Hill | - XP339 | |||
wa374 Scrapped | har10 | 1962 | XP358 : 103Sq/K by Aug 1963 | ||||
wa377 Scrapped | har10 | 1962 | XP361 : 225 Sq; 110 Sq; 103 Sq; 22 Sq by 1981 | ||||
wa378 Scrapped | har10 | 1962 | XP362 : 103 Sq / Q (date unknown) | ||||
wa386 | har10 | 1962 | XP398 : 225 Sq; 110 Sq; 103 Sq; 202 Sq; 1563 Flt to 84 Sq 1972. | ||||
wa388 | har10 | 1962 | XP400 : at 1 SoTT Halton as 8444M, ex 103 Sq / N by Jul 1975. Still there Jan 1980+ | ||||
wa410 w/o 1967 | har10 | 1963 | XR478 : 103 Sq; 110 Sq; 230 Sq | ||||
wa412 w/o 1965 | har10 | 1963 | XR480 : HAR.10 to 103 Sq | ||||
wa414 Scrapped | har10 | 1963 | XR482 : 103 Sq; 110 Sq; 103 Sq; 110 Sq; 28 Sq | ||||
wa415 | har10 | 1963 | XR483 : 103Sq/X by Jul 1964 (SAR fit). | - N2979G - - | |||
wa121 | hc.2 | 1962 | XR588 : 28 Sq from Feb 1968; 103 Sq | XR588 XR588 | |||
wa531 | hc.2 | 1966 | XT604 : ff 7 Jul 1966, dd 2 Aug 1966 to RAF. Wessex HAR.2; Khormaksar SAR Flt Nov + | - XT604 |
103 Squadron Operations |
Dates | Operation | |
---|---|---|
1963-aug-01 | 1966-aug-11 | Konfrontasi |