squadron

A squadron is a military unit that can refer to a unit of aircraft and the personnel assigned to operate and maintain them, or to a comparable formation of ships in naval usage. In air forces, a squadron is typically the basic operating unit responsible for a particular mission profile, such as fighter, bomber, reconnaissance, or training. In naval aviation, a squadron is a unit comprising a number of aircraft and their crews within a fleet.

Size and organization: An air force squadron usually comprises 12 to 24 aircraft and the associated aircrew, maintenance, and support personnel. It is commonly commanded by a lieutenant colonel or equivalent rank and is subdivided into flights or sections that operate a subset of aircraft. Squadrons report to a group or wing, depending on the national service.

Types and roles: Squadrons are named for their role—fighter, bomber, maritime, airlift, reconnaissance, training, or special operations—and are often regionally or functionally organized. In navies, squadrons may refer to groups of ships or to the aviation squadrons attached to carriers or fleets; in some armies, a cavalry or armored squadron is a comparable unit to a company.

History and etymology: The term derives from escadron, a cavalry unit name in French. The concept was adopted by air forces in the early 20th century as aircraft operations evolved, and the squadron became the standard unit for organizing air power.