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  Squadron numbering and codes

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> Units and Formations

Flying Squadrons
5 Sqn
6 Sqn
8 Sqn
9 Sqn
10 Sqn
11 Sqn
12 Sqn
15 Sqn
18 Sqn
21 Sqn
22 Sqn
23 Sqn
25 Sqn
27 Sqn
29 Sqn
33 Sqn
35 Sqn
39 Sqn
41 Sqn
43 Sqn
44 Sqn
46 Sqn
49 Sqn
50 Sqn
51 Sqn
54 Sqn
56 Sqn
57 Sqn
61 Sqn
64 Sqn
65 Sqn
68 Sqn
69 Sqn
70 Sqn
71 Sqn
73 Sqn
75 Sqn
81 Sqn
83 Sqn
85 Sqn
88 Sqn
90 Sqn
92 Sqn
97 Sqn
100 Sqn
101 Sqn
103 Sqn
104 Sqn
106 Sqn
109 Sqn
110 Sqn
111 Sqn
112 Sqn
113 Sqn
116 Sqn
121 Sqn
133 Sqn
136 Sqn
139 Sqn
141 Sqn
142 Sqn
143 Sqn
144 Sqn
148 Sqn
149 Sqn
150 Sqn
151 Sqn
153 Sqn
154 Sqn
166 Sqn
170 Sqn
189 Sqn
198 Sqn
199 Sqn
203 Sqn
206 Sqn
207 Sqn
209 Sqn
210 Sqn
211 Sqn
214 Sqn
222 Sqn
227 Sqn
228 Sqn
229 Sqn
235 Sqn
236 Sqn
248 Sqn
249 Sqn
251 Sqn
253 Sqn
254 Sqn
255 Sqn
256 Sqn
264 Sqn
266 Sqn
280 Sqn
288 Sqn
300 Sqn
301 Sqn
302 Sqn
303 Sqn
305 Sqn
307 Sqn
309 Sqn
310 Sqn
349 Sqn
350 Sqn
401 Sqn
402 Sqn
404 Sqn
407 Sqn
409 Sqn
410 Sqn
411 Sqn
412 Sqn
415 Sqn
416 Sqn
420 Sqn
421 Sqn
430 Sqn
438 Sqn
439 Sqn
441 Sqn
442 Sqn
443 Sqn
452 Sqn
455 Sqn
460 Sqn
463 Sqn
467 Sqn
486 Sqn
503 Sqn
504 Sqn
527 Sqn
528 Sqn
532 Sqn
538 Sqn
542 Sqn
550 Sqn
576 Sqn
601 Sqn
609 Sqn
613 Sqn
616 Sqn
617 Sqn
619 Sqn
625 Sqn
626 Sqn
627 Sqn
630 Sqn

Heavy Conversion Units
1654 HCU
1656 HCU
1660 HCU
1661 HCU
1662 HCU
1665 HCU
1667 HCU
1668 HCU
21 HGCU

Advanced Flying Schools
201 AFS

Advanced Flying Units
12 AFU
15 AFU

Flying Training Schools
1 FTS
2 FTS
3 FTS
6 FTS
7 FTS
12 FTS
1 Lancaster Finishing School
Central Flying School

Operational Training/
Conversion Units
(Fighter)
6 OTU
53 OTU

56 OTU

(Bomber)
228 OCU
230 OCU

Air Armament Schools
1 AAS
2 AAS
Empire Central AS

Other schools
1 Gp Aircrew School
1 Ground Defence School
1 Air Observers School
Central Gunnery School
5 Gp Anti Air School

Other units
Bomber Command
Coastal Command
Fighter Command
HQ No 5 Group
HQ No 23 Group
1485 Gunnery Flight
2782 Defence Sqn
178 Support Unit
399 Signals Unit
Nationality based Sqns

Updated: 6 Dec 12

Squadron numbering

Squadrons of the RAF and Imperial Air Forces were allocated numbers in a block allocation. The original RFC and RNAS squadrons retained their original or modified numbering (eg 1 Sqn RNAS became 201 Sqn RAF). Nationality-based squadrons within the RAF were allocated numbers grouped together, as were RCAF, RNZAF and RAAF. An overview of the allocations is below. The sqns which flew from Lincolnshire bases are listed out on the nationalities page.

1 Sqn - 70 Sqn Royal Air Force Squadrons
71 Sqn American (Eagle) RAF Sqn
72-120 Royal Air Force Squadrons
121 American (Eagle) RAF Sqn
122 - 132 Royal Air Force squadrons
133 American (Eagle) RAF Sqn
134 - 160 Royal Air Force squadrons
161 Sqn RAF Special Duties
162 - 299 Royal Air Force squadrons
300 - 309 Polish RAF squadrons
310 - 314 Czech RAF squadrons
315 - 318 Polish RAF squadrons
319  
320 - 322 Dutch RAF squadrons
323 - 325  
326 - 329 Free French RAF squadrons
330 - 333 Norwegian RAF squadrons
334 - 336 Greek RAF squadrons
337 - 339  
340 - 347 Free French RAF squadrons
348  
349 - 350 Belgian RAF squadrons
351 - 352 Yugoslav RAF squadrons
353 - 358 RAF India squadrons
359 - 399  
400 - 445 Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF)
446 - 449  
450 - 467 Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) sqns
468 - 484  
485 - 490 Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) sqns
491 - 499  
500 - 504 RAF Reserve squadrons
505 - 509  
510 - 539 RAF Special Duties sqns
540 - 544 RAF PR squadrons
545 - 599  
600 - 616 RAF Auxiliary sqns
617 - 650  
651 - 673 AOP (663 Polish Sqn, 664 - 666 RCAF Sqns)
674 - 679 Royal Air Force sqns
680 - 684 RAF PR sqns
685 - 699 Royal Air Force sqns
700 - 799 Naval squadrons
800 - 899 Fleet Air Arm sqns
900 - 999 Barrage Balloon squadrons
1000 - 1299  
1300 - 1399 Specialised flights and conversion units
1400 - 1499  
1500 - 1699 Specialised flights and conversion units

Squadron names

Squadrons whose personnel were drawn from a particular country, region or city sometimes assumed the placename in addition to the sqn number. In some instances sqns were adopted or financed by localities and bore their names.

In Lincolnshire the named squadrons were

35 (Madras Presidency) Sqn RAF
43 (China-British) Sqn RAF
44 (Rhodesian) Sqn RAF
65 (East India) Sqn RAF
71 (Eagle) Sqn RAF
75 (New Zealand) Sqn RAF
88 (United Provinces) Sqn RAF
97 (Straits Settlement) Sqn RAF
110 (Hyderabad) Sqn RAF
121 (Eagle) Sqn RAF
133 (Eagle) Sqn RAF
154 (Motor Industries) Sqn RAF
253 (Hyderabad State) Sqn RAF
264 (Madras Presidency) Sqn RAF
266 (Rhodesia) Sqn RAF

300 (Masovian) Sqn RAF
301 (Pomeranian) Sqn RAF
305 (Wielkopolska) Sqn RAF
307 (Lwow) Sqn RAF
402 (Winnipeg Bears) Sqn RCAF
409 (Nighthawk) Sqn RCAF
412 (Falcon) Sqn RCAF
415 (Swordfish) Sqn RCAF
420 (Snowy Owl) Sqn RCAF
442 (Caribou) Sqn RCAF
503 (County of Lincoln) Sqn RAF
613 (City of Manchester) Sqn RAF

Squadron codes

In the squadron coding system, two letters were separated from a third by the roundel. For example, CG - A, where "CG" is sqn the code and "A" is the aircraft identifying letter and usually the radio call sign. This system was introduced in 1938 but many sqns adopted a second code following the outbreak of war. Both codes are listed on each sqn page where identified. A comprehensive overview for the RAF may be found on The Air War website :: click here.

RAF Regiment

On 1 February 1942 all RAF Regiment Squadrons had 2000 added to their numbers.

Overview of nationality-based sqns in Lincolnshire

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