No. 57 Squadron
Motto: Corpus Non Animum Muto - 'The body changes but not the spirit'.
Badge:A phoenix crest rising from the flames.
Battle Honours:Western Front 1916-1918*, Amiens*, France and Low Countries 1939-1940*, Norway 1940*, Channel and North Sea 1940, Ruhr 1941-1943*, Fortress Europe 1941-1944, Berlin 1941-1943*, Walcheren, France and Germany 1944-1945*, South Atlantic 1982
Honours marked with and asterisk, are emblazoned on the Squadron Standard
Number 57 Squadron formed at Copmanthorpe, Yorkshire, on 8 June 1916 and began working up on FE2Ds prior to moving to France at the end of the year. By February 1917, the unit was finally ready for action and began offensive and reconnaissance patrols and shortly after converted to DH4s in readiness for a change of role to high altitude bombing. At the end of the War, the Squadron was employed on communications flying with DH9As before returning to the UK in August 1919 and disbanding at the end of the year. The Squadron reformed at Netheravon in October 1931 and took its Hart bombers to Upper Heyford some six months later where the remainder of the decade remained fairly quiet.
March 1938 saw the first Blenheims arrive and shortly after the outbreak of World War II, the Squadron moved to France as part of the Air Component of the British Expeditionary Force carrying out reconnaissance and light bombing raids. The unit was withdrawn to Wyton in May 1940, moving on to Lossiemouth the following month where it took part in anti-shipping patrols. By the turn of the year, No 57 had returned to Wyton, this time flying Wellington night-bombers as part of the Bomber Command Main Force. September 1942 saw the arrival of Lancasters, these famous aircraft being used in raids on the Ruhr, Berlin and the secret German weapons factory at Peenemunde. The Squadron's final raid of the War was against Hitler's retreat at Berchesgaden.
A planned move to the Far East with recently arrived Lincolns was cancelled following the Japanese surrender, and the Squadron disbanded at East Kirby on 25 November 1945, only to reform with the renumbering of No 103 Squadron the next day at Elsham Wolds. The Lincolns were replaced by Washingtons, a version of the American B-29 bomber, in 1951, these stop-gap aircraft remaining until 1953 when Canberras arrived.
Four years later, No 57 Squadron disbanded until reformed at Honington in January 1959 with Victors. The last of the V-bombers stayed with the Squadron for over 20 years until disbanded at Marham in June 1986 by which time the aircraft where used as tankers, having played a vital role supporting the recapture of the Falkland Islands in 1982.
In July 1992, the Hercules OCU at Lyneham, No 242, was renumbered No 57 (Reserve) Squadron.
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