No.2 Squadron
(Motto: 'Strike From Above')

This unit was first established in late 1951 to operate the second batch of Spitfire F.22s delivered to Southern Rhodesia. It disbanded in early 1954 when the type was withdrawn.

In January 1956 the squadron was reformed at New Sarum to provide flying training for new recruits but disbanded in June 1957. It reformed at Thornhill in September 1957, again in the flying training role, but disbanded a year or two later.

No. 2 Squadron reformed again in March 1960 to provide instructor training on the Provost T.52 and Vampire T.11. It became an advanced flying training and operational conversion unit in 1963, when additional Vampires were received from No.1 Sqn. The unit's pilots were also tasked with security duties using the Provosts and ground attack/day fighter roles with the Vampires.

In the early 1980s the unit was re-quipped with the Hawk.

Air Bases:

Base	Duration
New Sarum	late 1951 - early 1954
New Sarum	January 1956 - June 1957
Thornhill	September 1957 - 1959
Thornhill	March 1960 - Present

Aircraft Used:

Type	Qty	Service	Badge	Example Serials
Spitfire F.22	9	Dec 1951 - early 1954		SR81,SR85,SR89
Vampire FB.9	8	1955 - November 1977		S5-DGH
Vampire T.11	16	March 1960 - November 1977		RRAF402,406,413
Provost T.52	?	March 1960 - ?
Vampire FB.52	13	November 1974 - late 1981		R1829,R1318,R1378
Vampire T.55	21	1969 - ?		R4126,R4223,R4323
Hawk Mk.60/60A	12	July 1982 - Present		601,606,611

Unit Insignia:

Figure 1

References:

• Air (WLAG) January 1990