vRAF Organisation

vRAF Info

Number 45(R) Squadron

No. 1 Group

virtual Acting Officer Commanding: vACM Mark Williams

45(R) Squadron is the RAF Basic Flight Training and Advanced Mulitengine Squadron Flying the C172 and the Beech King Air 200 both operated under contract from Serco Ltd. Based at RAF Cranwell in Linconshire, 45(R) Squadron is responsible for King AirElementary Flight Training of all fixed wing pilots and Advanced Flight Training for those pilots wishing to fly Multi-Engine Aircraft.

Formed during WWI at Gosport on March 1, 1916 as No. 45 Squadron, the unit was first equipped with Sopwith 1½ Strutters which it was to fly in the Scout role. In Mid 1917 the Squadron transistioned to the Sopwith Camel, condcucting long range Bomber Escorts. In 1919 the Squadron returned to England from France and disbanded. In April 1921 it reformed at Helwan, Egypt. Assigned Vickers Vernon bomber-transports, the unit provided troop transportation and ground support and mail services throughout the Middle East, notably in support of anti-rebel operations in Iraq and the Palestine. During the mid-war years the unit transitioned to DH9As (1927) and Fairey IIIs (1929) and then a combination of Hawker Harts, Vickers Vincents and Fairey Gordons (1935).At some point the unit adopted the nickname "The Flying Camels". The Squadron Badge is a winged camel, approved by King Edward VIII in October 1936. The badge and nickname derive from the Sopwith used by the unit in WWI and it's long service in the Middle East.

At the start of World War II, 45 Squadron was assigned Bristol Blenheims and was assigned to the Western Desert where it operated against the Italians and then the Germans until 1942. At that time the unit was deployed to the Burma and India. During its service against the Japanese, 45 Squadron transitioned to Vultee Vengeance dive-bombers and the de Havilland Mosquito.

After World War II, 45 Squadron served in the Malayan Emergency, flying out of RAF Station Tengah on the island of Singapore. There the unit engaged in ground attack operations against Communist Terrorists (CTs) engaged in a Chinese backed insurgency. Dubbed Operation Firedog, these operations lasted for 12 years until the successful conclusion of the war. The unit also engaged in operations to quell unrest on the Sarawak coast in British North Borneo during this time period. While operating in Malaya the unit initially flew Bristol Beaufighters but then transitioned to the Bristol Brigand (1949/1950) and then the de Havilland Hornet, de Havilland Venom, de Havilland Vampire and English Electric Canberra.

After re-equipping with Canberra B.15s in 1962, the squadron became involved in the Brunei Revolution and the subsequent Confrontation with Indonesia until its resolution in 1966. The squadron disbanded in February 1970 after the UK’s withdrawal from East of Suez.

On 1 August 1972, the squadron was reformed at RAF West Raynham, equipped with Hawker Hunters, as a ground-attack training unit. The squadron disbanded in July 1976 after this role was taken over by the Tactical Weapons Unit.

In January 1984, the squadron number, as No. 45 (Reserve) Squadron, was assigned to the Tornado Weapons Conversion Unit TWCU) at RAF Honington. In July 1992, the No. 45(R) Squadron identity was transferred to the Multi-Engined Training Squadron (METS) at No. 6 FTS, RAF Finningley while the TWCU was renumbered No. 15(R) Squadron. The new 45(R) Squadron moved to RAF Cranwell in October 1995, and in 2003, replaced its BAe Jetstream T.1s with Beechcraft B200 King Airs operated by Serco Ltd.

vRAF's No. 45(R) Squadron is dedicated to providing some of the best flight training on VATSIM, utilising experience from a team of Qualified Flight Instructors who specialise in Fixed Wing Flight Training.

Pilot Roster...

 
  Pilot ID Rank Name Hours   Status
Germany RFR022 virtual Officer Cadet Michael Reincken 0:0   Vatsim Account ID 1144373  active
French.Guiana RFR023 virtual Officer Cadet Yann Saint-Martin 0:0   Vatsim Account ID 1211280  active
Jamaica RFR025 virtual Officer Cadet Romario Raffington 0:0   Vatsim Account ID 1121711  active
Australia RFR026 virtual Officer Cadet Nathan Noble 0:0   Vatsim Account ID 1170228  active
U.S.A. RFR028 virtual Officer Cadet Tyler Bell 0:0   Vatsim Account ID 1175022  active
Afghanistan RFR036 virtual Officer Cadet Tautvydas Matulis 0:0   Vatsim Account ID 1195858  active
U.S.A. RFR038 virtual Officer Cadet Camille Georges camillo 0:0   Vatsim Account ID 1093839  active
Netherlands RFR045 virtual Officer Cadet Kevin de Leeuw 0:0   Vatsim Account ID 1179566  active
United.Kingdom RFR046 virtual Officer Cadet Kevin Paterson 0:0   Vatsim Account ID 863411  active
United.Kingdom RFR047 virtual Officer Cadet Lewis Cummings 0:0   Vatsim Account ID 1147211  active
United.Kingdom RFR053 virtual Officer Cadet Kieran McAlea 0:0   Vatsim Account ID 1140671  active
United.Kingdom RFR054 virtual Officer Cadet Tom Allen 0:0   Vatsim Account ID 1215723  active
Canada RFR055 virtual Officer Cadet Jay Ryder 0:0   Vatsim Account ID 1020563  active
United.Kingdom RFR056 virtual Officer Cadet Ryan Rafferty 2:0   Vatsim Account ID 1208308  active
Belgium RFR057 virtual Officer Cadet CHRISTIAN HANNOSET 0:0   Vatsim Account ID 1075829  active
United.Kingdom RFR058 virtual Officer Cadet Barry Smith 258:33   Vatsim Account ID 1162012  active
United.Kingdom RFR059 virtual Officer Cadet Josh Newman 0:0   Vatsim Account ID 1113446  active
United.Kingdom RFR060 virtual Officer Cadet Edward Blatchford 0:0   Vatsim Account ID 977684  active
United.Kingdom RFR063 virtual Officer Cadet Dale Munro 1:32   Vatsim Account ID 1095547  active
Brazil RFR064 virtual Officer Cadet Thiago Silva 0:0   Vatsim Account ID 1012611  active
United.Kingdom RFR065 virtual Officer Cadet Alex Lloyd 0:0   Vatsim Account ID 1198765  active
United.Kingdom RFR068 virtual Officer Cadet Dewi Madden 0:0   Vatsim Account ID 1145287  active
Gibraltar RFR070 virtual Officer Cadet Anthony Rajkumar 0:0   Vatsim Account ID 1209291  active
United.Kingdom RFR071 virtual Officer Cadet Robert Eves 0:40   Vatsim Account ID 1095957  active
United.Kingdom RFR073 virtual Officer Cadet Mark Collins 5:0   Vatsim Account ID 1216752  active
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