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1914 - The official notification of the formation of No 6 Squadron appeared in the Royal Flying Corps (Military Wing) Orders for January 30th, 1914 in the following terms: "Captain J.H.W. Becke will carry out the formation of No 6 Squadron, commencing tomorrow. No 6 Squadron will be stationed at South Farnborough." Since its formation, unlike any of the remainder of the original seven squadrons, No 6 Squadron has never been disbanded or reduced to a cadre and thus has the distinction of having been on operational service longer than any other Royal Air Force Squadron.
A continuous thread throughout the life of No 6 Squadron is co-operation with the Army. The earliest recorded act of co operation by the Squadron occurred on the 20th October 1914 near Lille when the pilot of a No 6 Squadron aircraft, having observed shells fall on a German battery, dropped a message to gunners of the 87th Royal Field Artillery. The message, believed to have been dropped in a bottle, read
"YOU HIT THEM. WE MUST GO HOME. NO PETROL."
1915 - Maj G S Shephard became the second Commanding Officer
1919 - During the period in which the Squadron was engaged in the Arab-Jewish conflict, Squadron members collected what must approach a record number of awards for "peace time" operations, three DSO's, four DFC's, nine DFM's and two OBE's.
1934 - S/Lrd H M Massey DSO, MC took over command.
1937 - In November 1937, the Squadron Badge was registered and confirmed the continuing links with the Army. The badge represents a falcon with spread wings clutching a snake in the shape of a figure "6". The motto "Oculi Excercitus" translates as "The eyes of the Army." Up to this time the badge consisted of a black falcon perched inside the loop of a numeral six. The Inspector of RAF Badges refused to allow the use of a numeral so a snakes head and tail were added to the figure "6" as a compromise.
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