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Motto: "Leads the Field" - suggested by its reputation for daylight bombing development.
Badge: A fox's mask - approved by King George VI in February 1937. Based on a suggestion when the squadron was equipped with the Fairey Fox, an aircraft of which they were proud and the sole operators.
 

History

No. 12 Squadron Royal Flying Corps was formed in February 1915 from a flight of 1 Squadron RFC at Netheravon. The squadron moved to France in September 1915 and operated a variety of aircraft on operations over the Western Front.

On the first day of the Second World War the squadron moved to France to begin operations. On 12 May 1940, over the Albert Canal, Belgium, one bridge in particular was being used by the invading German army, with protection from fighter aircraft, anti-aircraft and machine-guns. The RAF was ordered to demolish this vital bridge, and five Fairey Battles from the squadron were dispatched. They met an inferno of anti-aircraft fire, but the mission was accomplished, much of the success being due to the coolness and resource of the pilot Flying Officer Garland of the leading aircraft and the navigation of Sergeant Gray. Unfortunately the leading aircraft and three others did not return. Flying Officer Garland and Sergeant Gray were both posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.

The squadron returned to England in November 1940 and re-equipped with the Vickers Wellington at RAF Binbrook. The squadron moved again in september 1942 to Wickenby to transfer the Avro Lancaster. 12 Squadron would stay at Wickenby till the end of the war. In November 1943 C Flight of 12 Squadron was detached to form 626 Squadron.

RAF Squadron crest © Crown Copyright is reproduced with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office

Relevant Websites

www.rafwmm.flyer.co.uk
www.12sqn.net
www.raf-bombercommand.co.uk
P/O Thomas Forbes - 12 Squadron

Casualties of the squadron, buried in the Netherlands.

Number of known casualties:

(this list was compiled with the help of Geoff's Search Engine is an excellent tool to help you search through the CWGC database)