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Shadow squadrons are additional squadron numbers allocated to Royal Air Force training, Operational conversion, and Operational and Weapons evaluation units. Normally in peacetime these units are not tasked with combat roles, however, since 1955, UK planning for a major confrontation during the Cold War would have seen the tasking of the aircraft and pilots of these units in combat roles with the activation of the shadow designations.
Shadow squadron activation would have seen for example the RAF's BAE Systems Hawk trainers flown by flight instructors and pilots from the Red Arrows in the point air defence role with guns and AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles.
With defence cuts and the disbanding of historic squadrons the "double number plating" of squadrons was a means of preserving the histories and lineages of such squadrons against the day that they could be revived.
Examples
| Unit | Squadron Shadow | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 226 Operational Conversion Unit | No. 145 Squadron | In the early 1960s, it was based at RAF Coltishall to train pilots on the Lightning | |
| No. 228 Operational Conversion Unit | No. 64 Squadron | Based at RAF Leeming until 1961, reformed at Leuchars, then reformed again at RAF Coningsby to train crews on the Phantom aircraft | |
| No. 236 Operational Conversion Unit | No. 38 (Reserve) Squadron | Based at RAF St Mawgan for converting aircrew to Nimrod aircraft |
- OCUs disbanded and reformed at different locations on different airframes. Squadron Shadow numbers also changed oftentimes, those numbers given are representative and this list is not exhaustive.
See also
- Operation Banquet for the Second World War equivalent plan
References
- Delve, Ken (1994). Source book of the RAF. Shrewsbury: Airlife Publications. p. 138. ISBN 1853104515.
- Armitage, M. J. (1998). "12: Uneasy Peace". The Royal Air Force : an illustrated history. London: Brockhampton Press. p. 257. ISBN 1860198511.
- Proctor, Ian (2014). The Royal Air Force in the Cold War, 1950-1970. Barnsley: Pen & Sword. p. 146. ISBN 9781473844551.
- Halpenny, Bruce Barrymore (1982) . Action Stations2: Military Airfields of Lincolnshire and the East Midlands. Cambridge: Patrick Stephens. p. 67. ISBN 0-85059-484-7.
- Eden, Paul E. (2020). The official illustrated history of RAF Search and Rescue. London: Adlard Coles. p. 28. ISBN 978-1-4729-6090-0.
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