List of Royal Flying Corps squadrons


A list of Royal Flying Corps squadrons with date and location of foundation.
The Royal Flying Corps was the aviation arm of the British Army. Squadrons were the main form of flying unit from its foundation on 13 April 1912, until its merging with the Royal Naval Air Service to form the Royal Air Force on 1 April 1918.
In June 1914, the RFC consisted of five aircraft squadrons; No. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. No. 1 Squadron was in the process of converting from balloons, while No. 7 was still being formed. On the outbreak of the First World War on 4 August 1914, the Military Wing of the RFC comprised 147 officers and 1,097 men with 179 aircraft. During the war the RFC underwent a rapid expansion, and by the end of 1916 had 46,000 personnel, and 2,712 aircraft in 64 operational and 33 reserve squadrons. A year later there were 10,938 aircraft in 115 operational and 109 training squadrons.

Squadrons

Reserve/Training Squadrons

Originally named Reserve Aeroplane Squadrons when formed, these were renamed to Reserve Squadrons on 13 January 1916, and then again to Training Squadrons on 31 May 1917 for the RFC or a little later for Royal Flying Corps Canada units.
NB: This number sequence was not linked to the operational squadrons; No. 1 Squadron RFC is not the same unit as No. 1 Training Squadron RFC.
NameDateLocationRef.Notes
Reserve Aeroplane SquadronAugust 1914Farnborough
No. 1 Training Squadron12 November 1914FarnboroughOriginally Reserve Aeroplane Squadron, then No. 1 RAS
No. 2 Training Squadron12 November 1914Brooklands
No. 3 Training Squadron21 January 1915NetheravonOriginally No. 3 Reserve Aeroplane Squadron
No. 4 Training Squadron29 January 1915Farnborough
No. 5 Training Squadron11 May 1915Castle Bromwich
No. 6 Training Squadron17 July 1915Montrose
No. 7 Training Squadron28 July 1915Netheravon
No. 8 Training Squadron28 July 1915Netheravon
No. 9 Training Squadron27 July 1915Norwich
No. 10 Training Squadron1 September 1915Joyce GreenFormed from a detachment of No. 2 Reserve Aeroplane Squadron
No. 11 Training Squadron12 October 1915NortholtFormed out of No. 4 Reserve Aeroplane Squadron
No. 12 Training Squadron15 November 1915Dover
No. 13 Training Squadron27 November 1915Dover
No. 14 Training Squadron1 December 1915Catterick
No. 15 Training Squadron15 December 1915Thetford
No. 16 Training Squadron15 December 1915Beaulieu
No. 17 Training Squadron25 December 1915Croydon
No. 18 Training Squadron1 January 1916Montrose
No. 19 Training Squadron29 January 1916HounslowBecame 39 Sqn RFC
No. 20 Training Squadron1 February 1916Dover
No. 21 Training Squadron22 May 1916Shoreham
No. 22 Training Squadron24 August 1916Aboukir
No. 23 Training Squadron24 August 1916Aboukir
No. 24 Training Squadron25 May 1916Netheravon
No. 25 Training Squadron22 May 1916Thetford
No. 26 Training Squadron22 May 1916Turnhouse
No. 27 Training Squadron22 May 1916Gosport
No. 28 Training Squadron1 June 1916Castle Bromwich
No. 29 Training Squadron15 June 1917ShawburyLater No. 5 Training Squadron, Australian Flying Corps
No. 30 Training Squadron15 June 1917ParkhouseLater No. 6 Training Squadron, Australian Flying Corps
No. 31 Training Squadron1 October 1916Wyton
No. 32 Training Squadron24 October 1917YatesburyLater No. 7 Training Squadron, Australian Flying Corps
No. 33 Training Squadron24 October 1917WendoverLater No. 8 Training Squadron, Australian Flying Corps
No. 34 Training Squadron1 November 1916Castle Bromwich
No. 35 Training Squadron1 February 1917Filton
No. 36 Training Squadron5 July 1916Beverley
No. 37 Training Squadron2 November 1916Catterick
No. 38 Training Squadron1 August 1916Rendcomb
No. 39 Training Squadron26 August 1917MontroseDisbanded into 46 Training Depot Station
No. 40 Training Squadron5 July 1916Northolt
No. 41 Training Squadron5 July 1916Bramham Moor
No. 42 Training Squadron2 November 1916Hounslow
No. 43 Training Squadron2 November 1916Castle Bromwich
No. 44 Training Squadron2 November 1916Lilbourne
No. 45 Training Squadron2 November 1916London ColneyDisbanded into 46 Training Depot Station
No. 46 Training Squadron23 October 1916Doncaster
No. 47 Training Squadron2 November 1916Cramlington
No. 48 Training Squadron2 November 1916Narborough
No. 49 Training Squadron23 September 1916Norwich
No. 50 Training Squadron7 December 1916Wye
No. 51 Training Squadron30 December 1916Filton
No. 52 Training Squadron14 January 1917Cramlington
No. 53 Training Squadron1 February 1917Sedgeford
No. 54 Training Squadron15 February 1917Wyton
No. 55 Training Squadron15 November 1916Wyton
No. 56 Training Squadron7 February 1917London Colney
No. 57 Training Squadron10 December 1916IsmaliaDisbanded into 17 Training Depot Station
No. 58 Training SquadronFarnboroughMoved to Egypt in January 1917
No. 59 Training Squadron1 February 1917Gosport
No. 60 Training Squadron7 April 1917Beverley
No. 61 Training Squadron1 May 1917Cramlington
No. 62 Training Squadron1 May 1917Gosport
No. 63 Training Squadron28 March 1917Ternhill
No. 64 Training Squadron7 April 1917Dover
No. 65 Training Squadron1 May 1917Croydon
No. 66 Training Squadron1 May 1917Wye
No. 67 Training Squadron3 June 1917Castle Bromwich
No. 68 Training Squadron7 April 1917Catterick
No. 69 Training Squadron1 October 1917Catterick
No. 70 Training Squadron10 December 1917Netheravon
No. 71 Training Squadron28 November 1917Netheravon
No. 72 Training Squadron10 January 1918Wyton
No. 73 Training Squadron7 July 1917Thetford
No. 74 Training Squadron21 October 1917Netheravon
No. 75 Training Squadron14 November 1917Waddington
No. 78 Training Squadron9 February 1917Beverleyat Camp Borden by March 1917
No. 79 Training Squadron9 February 1917Beverleyat Camp Borden by March 1917
No. 80 Training SquadronJanuary 1917Doncasterat Camp Borden by April 1917
No. 81 Training Squadron9 February 1917Beaulieuat Camp Borden by April 1917
No. 82 Training Squadron9 February 1917Montroseat Camp Borden by April 1917
No. 83 Training Squadron9 February 1917Catterickat Deseronto by May 1917
No. 84 Training Squadron9 February 1917Turnhouseat Deseronto by May 1917
No. 85 Training Squadron9 February 1917Montroseat Rathbun by May 1917
No. 86 Training Squadron9 February 1917Spitalgateat Deseronto by May 1917
No. 87 Training Squadron9 February 1917Gosportat Deseronto by May 1917
No. 88 Training Squadron15 March 1917Catterickat Rathbun by May 1917
No. 89 Training Squadron15 March 1917Turnhouseat Armour Heights by July 1917
No. 90 Training Squadron15 March 1917Doncasterat Armour Heights by July 1917
No. 91 Training Squadron15 March 1917Gosportat Armour Heights by July 1917
No. 92 Training Squadron15 March 1917Netheravonat Armour Heights by July 1917
No. 93 Training Squadron1917Armour Heights
No. 94 Training Squadron
No. 95 Training Squadron
No. 96 Training Squadron
No. 97 Training Squadron
No. 186 Training Squadron1 April 1918ThrowleyFormed as part of the Royal Air Force
No. 187 Training Squadron1 April 1918East RetfordFormed as part of the Royal Air Force
No. 188 Training Squadron20 December 1917Throwley
No. 189 Training Squadron20 December 1917Ripon
No. 190 Training Squadron24 October 1917RochfordFormed as No. 190 Depot Squadron
No. 191 Training Squadron6 November 1917MarhamFormed as No. 191 Depot Squadron
No. 192 Training Squadron5 September 1917GainsboroughFormed as No. 192 Depot Squadron
No. 193 Training Squadron9 August 1917El Amriya, EgyptDisbanded into No. 20 Training Depot Station
No. 194 Training Squadron9 August 1917El AmriyaDisbanded into No. 16 Training Depot Station
No. 195 Training Squadron9 August 1917Abu Sueir, EgyptDisbanded into No. 19 Training Depot Station
No. 196 Training Squadron9 August 1917Heliopolis, EgyptDisbanded into Aerial Flying School
No. 197 Training Squadron9 August 1917Almaza, EgyptDisbanded into Artillery Observation School
No. 198 Training Squadron8 February 1917RochfordFormed as No. 98 Depot Squadron, later No. 198 Depot Squadron before becoming a night training squadron in December 1917.
No. 199 Training Squadron1 June 1917Rochford
No. 200 Training Squadron1 July 1917East Retford
No. 201 Training Squadron14 August 1918East FortuneFormed from the No. 1 Torpedo Training Squadron as part of the Royal Air Force

Schools

NameDateLocationRef.Notes
Central Flying School12 May 1912Upavon
Flying Training SchoolNovember 1915Beaulieu
No. 1 Aerial Gunnery SchoolAyr
No. 1 School of GunnerySeptember 1916HytheMachine Gun School renamed
No. 1 School of Aerial GunneryHythe
No. 1 Balloon SchoolRollestone Camp/Larkhill
No. 1 Fighting School29 May 1918AyrNo. 1 School of Aerial Fighting & Gunnery renamed
No. 1 School of Aerial Fighting19 September 1917AyrNo. 1 Aerial Gunnery School renamed
No. 1 School of Aerial Fighting & Gunnery10 May 1918AyrNo. 1 School of Aerial Fighting renamed
No. 1 School of Military Aeronautics1915Wantage Hall, Reading
No. 1 School of Special Flying2 August 1917GosportNo. 1 Training Squadron renamed
No. 1 School of Technical Training 1917Halton
No. 1 School of Technical Training 1915Coley ParkDetachment until September 1918
No. 1 School of Navigation and Bomb Dropping1917Stonehenge Aerodrome
No. 2 School of Aerial GunneryTurnberry
No. 2 Balloon SchoolLydd
No. 2 Fighting SchoolJune 1918Marske Aerodrome
No. 2 School of Aerial FightingDriffield-
No. 2 School of Military Aeronautics27 October 1916Brasenose College, Oxford
No. 2 School of Navigation and Bomb Dropping1917Andover
No. 2 School of Special FlyingRedcar
No. 2 Wireless School8 November 1917Chiddingstone Causeway
No. 3 Fighting SchoolBircham Newton
No. 3 School of Aerial Fighting & GunneryDriffield
No. 3 School of Military AeronauticsExeter College, Oxford
No. 3 School of Military Aviation25 November 1916Aboukir, Egypt
No. 4 School of Air GunneryDecember 1917Marske Aerodrome
Aerial Flying School13 November 1917Heliopolis, EgyptNo. 196 Training Squadron renamed
Armament School19 November 1917Uxbridge
Artillery & Infantry Cooperation School
Artillery Cooperation SchoolLeaside AerodromeRoyal Flying Corps Canada unit
Artillery Observation School20 November 1917Almaza, EgyptNo. 197 Training Squadron renamed
Machine Gun School3 October 1915DoverBecame the School of Aerial Gunnery in September 1916 at Hythe
Military SchoolRuislipPlanned name/use of Northolt airfield
Observer SchoolOxford
Observer SchoolReading
Officers Training SchoolReading
Naval Seaplane Training School30 July 1917Lee-on-Solent
Royal Engineers Balloon School
School of Aerial Fighting1918Marske Aerodrome
School of Aerial Fighting1917BeamsvilleRoyal Flying Corps Canada unit
School of Aerial GunneryLoch Doon
School of Aerial GunneryOctober 1917Hicks Field, TexasCamp Taliaferro
School of Army Co-operation1918Worthy Down
School of InstructionReading
School of Photography Training Brigade
School of Special FlyingArmour HeightsRoyal Flying Corps Canada unit
Wireless and Observers School24 October 1916BrooklandsWireless School renamed
Wireless and Observers School1917Worthy Down
Wireless School24 August 1916BrooklandsWireless Experimental Flight renamed