No. 12 (Bomber) Squadron, often affectionately known as "Shiny Twelve," currently holds a unique position in the British military as a joint squadron operated by the Royal Air Force and the Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF). Based at RAF Coningsby, the unit flies the Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4, providing critical training for Qatari pilots and ground crew while retaining a frontline RAF combat role. The squadron's identity is deeply rooted in the inter-war period when it was the sole operator of the high-speed Fairey Fox bomber, an exclusivity that led to its badge featuring a fox's mask and the motto "Leads the Field." Its combat history is legendary; most notably, during the Battle of France in 1940, two of its aircrew (Flying Officer Garland and Sergeant Gray) were posthumously awarded the first RAF Victoria Crosses of the war for a desperate low-level raid on the Maastricht bridges.
