JS(AC)15b RAF Museum cover produced to mark the 70th Anniversary of No 201 Squadron RAF formed on 16th October 1914. The cover artwork by Tony Theobald shows a Nimrod MR2 of No 201 Squadron with a Short Sunderland ladning off the coast of Guernsey below. The cover also shows the Battle of Honours of No 210 Squadron along with the Guernsey shield, RAF Kinloss badge and No 201 Squadron.

The cover has been flown in Nimrod MR2 XV228 from RAF Stanley in the Falkland Islands to RAF Kinloss setting two National Records in the process. The cover bears Royal Aero Club cachet and is signed by David Hamilton the Royal Aero Club member who verified the record. The cover is also signed by the navigator of XV228 during the record flight Flight Lieutenant C Davis RAF.

Cover bears 31p Guernsey Commonwealth stamp showing the Union Flag flying over Guernsey cancelled with Guernsey Post Office postmark dated 16.10.84 for the 70th Anniversary of No 201 Squadron.

No 201 Squadron RAF (formerly No 1 Squadron RNAS)
201 Squadron can claim to be one of the oldest British military flying units as it can trace its origins back to the formation of No 1 Squadron, RNAS at Fort Grange on 16 October 1914. Almost immediately the unit was retitled No 1 (Naval) Squadron, and the unit finally crossed the Channel, after period on coastal patrol duties, during 1915. Its duties were as varied as its aircraft with Avro 504s, Gunbuses, Tabloids and Bristol Scouts being used on reconnaissance, photography, bombing and artillery spotting flights mainly around the Ostend/Zeebruge area.

During the night of 6/7 June 1915, Flight Sub-Lieutenant RAJ Warneford sighted the German airship LZ37 and set about catching up with the craft. He managed to do so near Bruges, and, after climbing above the ship, dropped 6 20lb (9.09kg) bombs onto its frame. There was a violent explosion that turned his Morane on its back, but after fighting to regain control, Warneford saw the airship in flames on the ground. His joy was short-lived, as the engine on his aircraft failed and he was forced to crash-land in enemy territory. Some running repairs were made to the engine, but on his next attempt to return home, Warneford was forced down by thick fog near Cap Gris Nez. For this fearless solo attack he was immediately awarded the Victoria Cross.

In December 1917, the unit standardised on Camels and was soon involved in the mass air-combats of the German offensive of spring 1918. With the amalgamation of the RFC and RNAS into the RAF on 1 April 1918, the unit became No 201 Squadron, RAF and began to concentrate on ground-attack sorties.

A second member of the Squadron was awarded the VC when, in October 1918, Major WG Barker DSO MC attacked and downed two enemy aircraft whilst undertaking a solo patrol in his Snipe. He was immediately attacked by a Fokker biplane, which he disposed of, but by this time Major Barker was in the middle of a formation of enemy aircraft and their attacks seriously wounded him. As he lapsed in and out of consciousness, Barker managed to shoot down a further two aircraft before crossing over the lines and crashing, breaking his left arm and badly wounded by gunfire in both legs.

Like many other units, the Squadron was disbanded on the last day of 1919. A decade later, No 201 reformed with Southampton flying boats and based at Calshot. These had been replaced by Londons by the time of World War II, and the unit found itself patrolling the Shetland-Norway gap. The following year, No 201 received Sunderlands and commenced anti-submarine patrols over the Atlantic until the U-boat menace had been defeated. The Squadron also joined the successful Channel blockade prior to the D-Day it also had the distinction of carrying the final Coastal Command patrol of the War on 3 June 1945.

The Sunderlands soldiered on, even taking part in the Berlin Airlift, until 1957 when the Squadron was disbanded. No 201 reformed at St Mawgan on 1 October 1958 with the new Shackleton Mk3s and moving to Kinloss in 1965. The 'Shacks' remained until 1970 when the unit received its first Nimrods, and these have seen action in both the South Atlantic, Gulf (twice) and Balkans conflictsWe usually have lots of other items up for sale so why not have a look