A Short History
All images courtesy of No. 1 (Fighter) Squadron Association - www.1fsa.org - Crown Copyright. Unless otherwise stated.
No. 1(F) Squadron is one of the RAF's oldest squadrons. The squadron's origins go back as far as 1878 when its predecessor No. 1 Balloon Company was formed at the Royal Arsenal Woolwich as part of the balloon section. On 13th May 1912 with the establishment of the Royal Flying Corps (the then predecessor of the balloon company) No. 1 Company of the Air Battalion was redesignated No. 1 Squadron Royal Flying Corps. No. 1 Squadron continued to operate airships and balloons for some time, but in August 1914 reformed as an aircraft squadron with Avro 504s and Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.8s. Other aircraft operated by No. 1 Squadron included Morane Parasols, Nieuport 17s and S.E.5as.