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25 Squadron |
25 Squadron has a long
history of continuous service from its formation on 25th September 1915
to date. It is one of the longest serving operational squadrons in the
RAF.
After operating with the
Gloster Javelin in the late 1950's and early 1960's. 25 Squadron
reformed with the Bloodhound MK I on 1st November 1962 and remained a
Bloodhound squadron for over 26 years. As the Bloodhound era came to an
end with the end of the cold war, 25 Squadron reverted back to a flying
squadron with the Tornado F3 on 2nd July 1989 at RAF Leeming. 25 Squadron
disbanded on 4th April 2008.
Please visit the
25 Squadron Association web
site. |
On this page:
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| First Bloodhound MkII
Squadron. (25 Squadron was originally a Mk I squadron.) |
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RAF North Coates
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25
Squadron transferred from Bloodhound MkI to MkII in 1964 (was it on 1/10/1963)
and remained at North Coates until 1
Jan 1971. It is believed that at North Coates 25 Squadron consisted of
three sections each of the Type 86 and Type 87 Radars with eight
missiles (confirmation please). In 1970 25 Squadron combined its 3 T86
sections with the 3 T86 sections of 41 Squadron at RAF West Raynham to
form six missile sections with T86 radars prior to moving to RAF Germany
in 1970/71 (see 41 Squadron contribution by
Graham Sandford Jones). |
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Commanding Officers |
Sqn Ldr D J Fowler: |
Oct '63 - Aug '64 |
Sqn Ldr M J Bridges: |
Aug '64 - Jul '65 |
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Sqn Ldr M R S Cunningham: |
Jul '65 - Oct '66 |
Wg Cdr G Middlebrook: |
Oct '66 - Feb '69 |
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Wg Cdr H D Costain |
Feb '69 - Mar '73 |
Hank Costain was C.O. when 25 deployed to Germany |
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Contribution from Mike Brennan
The photo is 25 Sqn at RAF Northcoats before it moved to Germany. Mike
was posted to 112 Sqn, Cyprus in 1970 with others from 25 following on.
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Deployed to RAF Germany
Three flights of two sections each with Type 86 Radar and eight
missiles. |
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RAF Bruggen |
1 Oct 1970* - 1 Mar 1983 |
A Flt + HQ.
- Black and Purple Sections (Confirmed by Audrey Wilson) |
| RAF Wildenrath |
1 Jan 1971 - 1 Mar 1983 |
B Flt.
- Blue and
Yellow Sections (Confirmed by George Buck) |
| RAF Laarbruch |
1 Jan 1971 - 1 Mar 1983 |
C Flt
- Green and
Brown Sections. (Advance party arrives April 1970. Is the
correct date Nov 1981 for the return to the UK?). |
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Commanding Officers |
Wg Cdr J Broughton |
Mar '73 - Apr '75 |
Wg Cdr G A Massey: |
Aug '75 - Jul '77 |
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Wg Cdr E Durham: |
May '77 - Dec '78 |
Wg Cdr J Ault: |
Dec '78 - Nov '81 |
* Correct date provided by Graham Sandford Jones
25's article from the Laarbruch station
magazine - The Laarbruch Listener,
February 1974
Photos of 25 Squadron in Germany
25 Squadron 'C' Flt, RAF Laarbruch
Social Event
25 Squadron Operations in Germany
An article by Aubrey Wilson who
worked in Ops at Bruggen
25 at the Silver Jubilee Royal
Review (1977) Photos courtesy of Roger Jones, 'C' Flt RAF
Laarbruch
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(not Roger Jones - copy write not known) |
Returned to the UK
Three flights of two sections each with Type 86 Radar and six missiles. |
| RAF Wyton |
1 Mar 1983 - 2 July 1989 B Flt + HQ.
Sections - Griffin and Kestrel |
| RAF Barkston Heath |
1 Mar 1983 - 2 July 1989 A Flt.
Sections - Osprey and Falcon |
| RAF Wattisham |
25 April 1983 - 2 July 1989 C Flt.
Sections - Eagle and Merlin
Note: C Flt at RAF Laarbruch became E Flt 85 Squadron at Wattisham Nov 1981
transferring back to 25 Squadron 25 April 1983. |
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Commanding Officers |
Wg Cdr A C Collins |
Nov '81 - Nov '84 |
Wg Cdr G C Smith: |
Nov '84 - Jul '87 |
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Wg Cdr J P Anderson: |
Jul '87 - Jul '89 |
July '89 - 25 Forms as a Tornado F3 Squadron |
