Three Squadrons operating from the airfield

3 Squadron RAF

Were the first Squadron to be based at St Omer arriving on 12 October 1914 in their Bristol Scout and SE2 aircraft.

They had been formed at Larkhill on 13 May 1912 from No 2 (Aeroplane) Company and were initially sent to France as a scouting unit.

Their motto Tertius primus erit - The third shall be the first refers to the fact that they were the first unit to be given aeroplanes. At the end of 1917, they were re-equipped with Sopwith Camels and became a fighter/scout unit.

Today they fly Harrier GR7s

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9 Squadron RAF

Were the first Squadron to be formed at St Omer (indeed outside the UK) on 8 December 1914 and were initially equipped with BE2, Longhorn and Blériot aircraft.

Born out of the necessity of better co-operation with the artillery the squadron had been created by renaming the Wireless Flight of the RFC Headquarters. Three months later in March 1915 the squadron was absorbed into other RFC Squadrons only to be reformed a month later at Brooklands. They then returned to France with BE2Cs on reconnaissance and bombing tasks and subsequently with RE8s.

Their continued bombing role is reflected in their badge showing a bat and the motto Per noctum volamus - Throughout the night we fly

Today they fly Tornado GR4s

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41 Squadron RAF

41 Squadron was formed on 14 July 1916 at Gosport. In September they arrived in France as a fighter squadron equipped with FE8s. The aircraft were not up to the task and the squadron were re-deployed on ground attack missions. In 1917 the Squadron received SE5As which were much more adept for the fighter role, though they continued to be used for ground attack tasks as well, explaining their motto of Seek and Destroy.

With close ties to the town of St Omer the squadron badge contains the cross from the town's coat of arms.

Today they fly Jaguar GR3/3As

Page 1: The RFC
Page 3: Aces