No. 57 Squadron RAF

No. 57 Squadron RAF
Squadron badge
Squadron badge
Active8 June 1916 – 1 April 1918 (RFC)
1 April 1918 – 31 December 1919 (RAF)
20 October 1931 – 25 November 1945
26 November 1945 – 9 December 1957
1 January 1959 – 30 June 1986
1 July 1992 – 14 March 2002
1 October 2008 – present
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
TypeFlying squadron
RoleElementary Flying Training
Part ofNo. 3 Flying Training School
Home stationRAF Cranwell
Motto(s)Corpus non animum muto
(Latin for 'I change my body not my spirit')[1]
AircraftGrob Prefect T1
Battle honours * Honours marked with an asterisk may be emblazoned on the Squadron Standard
Insignia
Squadron badge heraldryIssuant from two logs fesse-wise in saltire a phoenix, commemorating that on one occasion during the First World War the whole of the flying personnel became casualties within a few days, but the squadron remained in action with new personnel. Approved by King George VI in December 1936.
Squadron codesEQ (Nov 1938 – Sep 1939)[2]
DX (Apr 1940 – Apr 1951)[2]
QT (1944 – Nov 1945, 'C' Flt)[2]

Number 57 Squadron, also known as No. LVII Squadron, is a Royal Air Force flying training squadron, operating the Grob Prefect T1 from RAF Cranwell, Lincolnshire.

Formed in 1916 as a fighter-reconnaissance squadron, it also operated early bomber types during WWI. After reforming in 1931 it again operated a variety of bi-plane bombers before seeing action during WWII in France with the Bristol Blenheim. After returning to the UK it was re-equipped with Wellington, and then with Lancaster bombers, flying over 5000 sorties during WWII. Post-war it continued flying the Lancaster, then the Lincoln, the Boeing Washington, until in 1953 it received Canberra jet bombers. In 1959 it became part of the V-bomber force flying Victors, initially in the bomber role, and later as air-refuelling tankers. Since 1992 it has taken on a training role.

  1. ^ Pine, L.G. (1983). A dictionary of mottoes (1 ed.). London: Routledge & Kegan Paul. p. 40. ISBN 0-7100-9339-X.
  2. ^ a b c "No 57 Squadron History". Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 16 August 2015.