Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation


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No 56 Squadron Aircraft & Markings 1938 - Current


Gladiator I#

Gladiator I

Jul 1937 - May 1938

Hurricane I of No 56 Squadron (1939 coded LR) 

Hurricane I of No 56 Squadron (1940 coded US)

Hurricane I

Apr 1938 - Feb 1941

Hurricane IIB#

Hurricane IIB

Feb 1941 - Mar 1942

Typhoon IA

Sep 1941 - Dec 1943

Typhoon IB of No 56 Squadron (March 1943)

Typhoon IB

Mar 1942 - May 1944

Spitfire IX of No 56 Squadron

Spitfire IX

Apr 1944 - Jun 1944

Tempest V of No 56 Squadron (July 1945)

Tempest V

Jun 1944 - Apr 1946

Meeteor III of No 56 Squadron (ON codes taken over from No 124 Squadron)

Meteor F Mk 3

Apr 1946 - Sep 1948

Meteor F Mk 4 of No 56 Squadron (Coded US - 1948)

Meteor F mk 4 of No 56 Squadron (Red/White squadron markings)

Meteor F Mk 4

Sep 1948 - Dec 1950

Meteor F Mk 8 ofNo 56 Squadron

Meteor F Mk 8

Dec 1950 - Jun 1955

Swift F Mk 1 of No 56 Squadron

Swift F Mk 1

Feb 1954 - Mar 1955

Swift F Mk 2 of No 56 Squadron

Swift F Mk 2

Aug 1954 - Mar 1955

Hunter F Mk 5 of No 56 Squadron

Hunter F Mk 5

May 1955 - Nov 1958

Hunter F Mk 6 of No 56 Squadron

Hunter F Mk 6

Nov 1958 - Jan 1961

Lightning F Mk 1A of No 5 Squadron

Lightning F Mk 1A of No 56 Squadron (Firebirds Aerobatic Team)

Lightning F Mk 1A

Dec 1960 - Apr 1965

Lightning F Mk 3 of No 56 Squadron

Lightning F Mk 3

Mar 1965 - Dec 1971

Lightning F Mk 6 of No 56 Squadron

Lightning F Mk 6

Sep 1971 - Jun 1976

Canberra B Mk 2 of No 56 Squadron

Canberra B Mk 2

Apr 1967 - Jan 1975

Canberra T Mk 4 of No 56 Squadron

Canberra T Mk 4

Apr 1967 - Jan 1975

Phantom FGR Mk 2 of No 56 Squadron (early low visibility scheme)

Phantom FGR Mk 2 of No 56 Squadron (low visibility scheme)

variation of No 56 Squadron marking as carried from 1953

Phantom FGR Mk 2

Jun 1976 - Jul 1992

Tornado F Mk 3 of No 56 (Reserve) Squadron

Tornado F Mk 3

Jul 1992 - 2008

Sentry AEW Mk 1*

2008 - Current

*These aircraft were 'borrowed' from the relevant operational units

Rivet Joint R Mk 1*

2008 - Current

*These aircraft were 'borrowed' from the relevant operational units

Sentinel R Mk 1*

2008 - Current

*These aircraft were 'borrowed' from the relevant operational units

Images marked # are to show aircraft type not squadron markings

This page was last updated on 26/05/17 using FrontPage 2003©

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