Twice Vertical; The History of No. 1 (Fighter) Squadron Royal Air Force

London: Macdonald, 1971. Hardcover. Good/Fair. David Hodgson (Photographer). 256 pages. Foreword by Wing Commander P. J. H. Halahan. Selected Bibliography. Illustrations. Appendices. Index. Format is approximately 5.75 inches by 8.75 inches. DJ has wear, soiling, edge tears and chips. Flight Lieutenant Michael Shaw was ideally placed to write this book. In 1969 he became one of the first Royal Air Force pilots to fly the revolutionary Hawker Siddeley Harrier, which now equips the famous Squadron that is the subject of this book. He joined the RAF as a Cranwell cadet in 1990 and became a bomber co-pilot. He transferred to fighters in 1966. He was posted to No. 1 (Fighter) Squadron in 1968. In 1878 Royal Engineers were 'going vertical' in balloons. Today they are in the forefront of vertical take-off as the first unit to be equipped with the revolutionary Hawker Siddeley Harrier jump-jet. No 1 (Fighter) Squadron, Royal Air Force, is therefore both the oldest military flying unit in existence and a pioneer in the use of today's most advanced aircraft and techniques. No 1 (Fighter) Squadron, Royal Air Force Cottesmore, can trace its history back to 1878 when it was formed at Woolwich as No 1 Balloon Company of the Royal Engineers. It became No 1 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps on 13 May 1912, still with balloons, but re-equipped with aircraft 2 years later. It's first large operation was the Battle of Arras in 1917, during which the squadron scorecard reached 200 enemy aircraft. By the outbreak of the Second World War the Squadron had worked up sufficiently to deploy to France as part of 67 Wing of the Advanced Air Striking Force. In October it flew over enemy territory for the first time and on the 30th of that month claimed its first victory, a Dornier DO17. In addition to being declared to the Tri-Service Joint Rapid Defence Force, No 1 (Fighter) Squadron is assigned to the NATO Supreme Allied Commander and is at readiness to react quickly if required. The Squadron regularly deploys overseas to conduct exercises.