"Dawn Patrol", a painting of No 56 Sqn in 1917, is displayed here with the kind permission of the artist, Simon Smith. View his artwork at www.sasmithart.co.uk .
Founded in 2016, we are a virtual squadron of hobbyists, currently flying in the simulator, IL-2 Sturmovik: Flying Circus . We simulate the operations of the historical No 56 Sqn of the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force during the First World War. Our virtual squadron flies for fun and has no affiliation to any current military, political, or historical organization.
We are a casual bunch that enjoys historical immersion. There are no ranks, scoreboards, or awards in the squadron, only leadership roles (CO, XO, and Flight Leaders). When operating as a squadron in IL-2 Sturmovik: Flying Circus , we fly exclusively the historical mount of No 56 Sqn, the S.E.5a (or another Entente fighter aircraft, if the S.E.5a is not available). We all lead busy lives, and No 56 (V) Sqn is a small way for us to have fun and blow off some steam. We keep our group small and close-knit, cap