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No. 57 (Reserve) Squadron RAF is a Royal Air Force flying training squadron. ==First World War== 57 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps was formed from on 8 June 1916 at Copmanthorpe, Yorkshire when it was split off from 33 Squadron, taking on its parent unit's part-time training role to allow 33 Squadron to concentrate on its main duties as a night fighter unit.〔Halley 1980, pp. 64, 93.〕 No. 57 Squadron continued in its training role, equipped with a mixture of Avro 504s and Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2s until October that year, when it began to prepare for its planned role as a fighter-reconnaissance squadron, receiving Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2d two-seat pusher biplanes in November.〔Halley 1980, pp. 93–94.〕 On 16 December 1916 the squadron arrived at St. André-aux-Bois in France, moving to Fienvillers on 22 January 1917.〔Jones 1931, p. 285.〕〔Halley 1980, p. 94.〕 By April 1917 the F.E.2d was obsolete,〔Bruce 1982, p. 423.〕 and the squadron suffered heavy losses supporting the British offensive at Arras.〔Jones 1931, p. 335.〕 Examples included the loss of five F.E.2s in combat with a formation of German two-seaters on 6 April and the shooting down of three F.E.2s from a formation of seven by a group of 20 German fighters.〔Jones 1931, p. 369.〕 The squadron re-equipped with more modern Airco DH4s in May 1917, changing role to that of long-range bomber-reconnaissance. After training on the new type, the squadron commenced operations near Ypres in June of that year, moving to Droglandt on 12 June and Boisdinghem on 27 June.〔〔Moyes 1964, p. 85.〕 The squadron joined the 27th Wing, part of the Fifth RFC Brigade to support the British Army at the Ypres Offensive.〔Jones 1934, p. 140.〕 The squadron's activities included bombing railway junctions and German airfields during the Battle of Langemarck in August 1917 and reconnaissance duties during the Battle of the Menin Road Ridge in September.〔Jones 1934, pp. 177–178, 182.〕 The squadron was deployed against the German Spring Offensive of 1918, attacking railway targets,〔Jones 1934, pp. 311–312.〕 taking part in both low- and high-level attacks to try to stem the German advance.〔Jones 1934, pp. 323–325, 343–344.〕 From August 1918, the squadron carried out operations in support of the series of Allied offensives against the Germans that became known as the Hundred Days Offensive.〔Jones 1937, pp. 449, 459, 470, 491, 518, 523, 529.〕 It was one of the few bomber units to produce flying aces, having five on strength. William Edward Green scored nine wins,〔Franks, et al, p. 66.〕 James Grant and Forde Leathley eight,〔Franks, et al, p. 89.〕 E. Graham Joy seven (plus one later in 205 Squadron),〔Franks, et al, p. 69.〕 and Arthur Thomas Drinkwater scored six, all in Airco DH.4s.〔Franks, et al, p. 63.〕 In total, the squadron claimed 166 German aircraft during the war, dropping 285 tons of bombs and taking 22,030 photos.〔 Following the Armistice the squadron was assigned to mail carrying duties before returning to the UK in August 1919.〔Moyes 1964, p. 86.〕 It was based at RAF South Carlton from 4 August 1919 as a cadre before being disbanded on 31 December 1919.〔Jefford 1988, p. 43〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「No. 57 Squadron RAF」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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