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The aim of the squadron is to promote esprit de corps and assistance to one another in learning the roles and technical aspects of these exceptional DCS WW2 aircraft ... all in an enjoyable and friendly hobby environment.
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Number 19 Squadron (often written as No. XIX Squadron) was a flying squadron of the Royal Air Force. Formed on 1 September 1915 as a Royal Flying Corps squadron, the unit served during the First World War.
In 1938, No. 19 Squadron became the first squadron in the RAF to operate the Supermarine Spitfire Mk.I, when K9789 was delivered on 4 August. The squadron lost its first Spitfire when K9792 crashed on landing at RAF Duxford on 20 September 1938, having only been delivered on 16 August
No. 19 Squadron was stationed at RAF Duxford after the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939, and was part of No. 12 Group, RAF Fighter Command.[20] Douglas Bader was posted to the squadron in February 1940. In May and June 1940, the squadron helped provide air cover over the Dunkirk beaches. In June 1940, No. 19 Squadron began the receive Spitfire Mk.Ibs, which were armed with the Hispano cannon, however due to reliability issues the unit soon reverted to the Spitfire Mk.Ia. No. 19 Squadron formed part of the Duxford Wing, No. 12 Group's 'Big Wing' formation during the Battle of Britain.
Later versions of Spitfires were flown until the arrival of North American Mustang Mk.IIIs for close-support duties in early 1944. After D-Day, No. 19 Squadron briefly went across the English Channel before starting long-range escort duties from RAF Peterhead, Scotland, for Coastal Command off the coast of Norway. The Squadron converted to the Mustang Mk.IV in April 1945 while based at RAF Peterhead.
Relocating south to RAF Acklington on 13 May 1945, No. XIX (Fighter) Squadron exchanged their Mustangs for Spitfire Mk.XVIs. While at RAF Wittering in October 1946, No. 19 (F) Squadron converted to the de Havilland Hornet Mk.I which were operated until January 1951 when the Squadron received their first jet aircraft the Gloster Meteor F.4. These were soon exchanged for the Meteor F.8 in April 1951 which were flown until October 1956 when No. 19 (F) Squadron received the Hawker Hunter F.6. The Squadron moved to RAF Leconfield, Yorkshire in 1959 where they converted to the English Electric Lightning F.2 in November 1962.
The Squadron and her sister unit, No. 92 (F) Squadron, were deployed forwards in September 1965 to RAF Gütersloh, close to the inner German border, as part of Second Allied Tactical Air Force (2ATAF).Subsequently, the squadron re-equipped with the longer-range Lightning F.2A version.
On 31 December 1976, No. 19 (F) Squadron disbanded with the Lightning and reformed the next day at RAF Wildenrath further back west of the Rhine, with the McDonnell Douglas Phantom FGR.2 still in the air defence role. The Squadron operated for the first time out of newly introduced dispersed and Hardened Aircraft Shelters, including associated Nuclear, Biological and Chemical filtered operations rooms.
On 17 August 1990, No. XIX (F) Squadron was sent to RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus, in order to provide air defence for the island after Tornado F.3s from No. V (AC) Squadron and No. 29 (F) Squadron deployed from Akrotiri to Dhahran Airfield due to the Iraqi Invasion of Kuwait (ahead of Operation Granby) No. 19 (F) Squadron operated their Phantoms from here until 28 February 1991 when a ceasefire was called between the coalition forces and Iraq.
On 9 January 1992, the squadron disbanded as part of agreed post-Cold War force reductions and their aircraft were scrapped.
