No. 19 Squadron RAF
| No. XIX Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
| Active |
|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Air Force |
| Type | Non-flying squadron |
| Role | Control and Reporting Centre |
| Part of | Air Command and Control Force |
| Station | RAF Boulmer |
| Nicknames |
|
| Motto | Possunt quia posse videntur (Latin for 'They can because they think they can') |
| Equipment | UK Air Surveillance Command and Control System |
| Insignia | |
| Roundel | |
| Tail codes | WZ (Oct 1938 – Sep 1939) QV (Sep 1939 – Sep 1945) A (1989–1991) |
No. 19 Squadron, also known as No. XIX Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It operates the UK's Control and Reporting Centre at RAF Boulmer, Northumberland. The squadron provides surveillance of UK airspace, and tactical command and control of RAF and NATO aircraft, including the UK's contribution to NATO's Quick Reaction Alert mission.
Formed on 1 September 1915 as a Royal Flying Corps squadron, it served during the First World War. It was the first squadron to operate the Supermarine Spitfire, which it flew for the majority of the Second World War. As No. 19 (Fighter) Squadron, it operated several aircraft types during the Cold War, including the Gloster Meteor F.4 and the McDonnell Douglas Phantom FGR.2. In 1992, it began flying the BAe Hawk from RAF Valley in Anglesey and was designated as No. 19 (Reserve) Squadron, before disbanding on 24 November 2011. It reformed to take on responsibility for the Control and Reporting Centre in 1 April 2021.