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No. II(AC) Squadron

Motto: Hereward.
Badge: Three concentric circles over all a Wake Knot - approved by HRH King Edward VIII in May 1936. The circles represent the RAF and the Wake Knot is derived from the arms of Hereward the Wake and indicates the basic role of the unit as a guardian of the Army.
Battle Honours: Western Front 1914-1918*, Mons, Neuve Chappelle*, Ypres 1915*, Loos, Somme 1916*, Arras, Somme 1918, Lys, France and Low Countries 1939-1940*, Dunkirk*, Fortress Europe 1942-1944, France and Germany 1944-1945, Normandy 1944*, Arnhem*, Walcheren, Rhine, Gulf 1991*

Honours marked with and asterisk, are emblazoned on the Squadron Standard

Formed at Farnborough on 13 May 1912 as one of the original Squadrons of the RFC, the Squadron quickly gained fame for a number of long distance flights around the UK. At the outbreak of WWI, No 2 Sqn became the first RFC Squadron to cross the Channel, and concentrated on reconnaissance duties. On 26 Apr 1915, 2nd Lt Rhodes-Moorhouse was awarded the first air VC during a raid on Courtrai. In March 1918 a second VC was awarded to 2nd Lt AA MacLeod when after shooting down 3 Fokker Triplanes his aircraft was damaged and caught fire. MacLeod managed to fly the aircraft whilst standing on the wing, and after crash-landing between allied and enemy lines, dragged his observer from the wreckage. After the War, the Squadron was based in Ireland on Army co-operation duties during the partition, and then embarked to China during 1927. After returning home the Squadron was based at Manston and re-equipped with Atlas on Army co-operation work. Subsequent types flown include Audax and Hector biplanes and at the start of WWII was flying Lysanders. A brief spell in France as part of the BEF in 1939, No 2 Sqn returned to England and received Tomahawk fighter aircraft and then Mustangs in April 1942. In July 1944, No 2 Sqn returned to France with Spitfire Mk.14s and later the Mk.11 photo-recce version as part of the Army of Occupation. Through the 1950s the Squadron flew Meteors, Swifts and Hunters which remained until replaced by Phantoms in 1971. During 1976 these were replaced Jaguars while the Squadron was based at Laarbruch, Germany. Drawdown of the RAF in Germany saw No 2 Sqn return to the UK. It is now based at Marham and is equipped with the reconnaissance version of the Tornado, the GR1A.