Aircraft Time Line
1912
32 types included: BE2, Longhorn 226, Boxkite 408, Camel
1919
October reduced to cadre at Uxbridge
1920
Reformed at Bangalore India
Snipe
1921
Disbanded at Ambala
Reformed at Leuchars
DH9A, Avro 504K and Walrus
1923
Disbanded
1924
Reformed at Manston
504N, Snipe, Gamecock, Bulldog, Gladiator
1938
OP
Gladiator, Hurricane I
1939
QO
Hurricane I. IIb, Iic, Typhoon Ib, Tempest V
1944
JF
Tempest V
1946
J5
Tempest V, Vampire F1, FB5
1951
A
Vampire FB5
Sabre F2, F4
1956
June Hunter F4 at Geilenkirchen
1957
15 June Disbanded
1959
Reformed by renumbering 96  Squadron with Javelin FAW4
1961
Disbanded and reformed by renumbering 59 Squadron with Canberra B(I)8
1971
Disbanded at Laarbruck
1972
Reformed at Wildenrath with Harrier GR1A
1986
A
Harrier GR1A
Brief History as a Hunter Squadron
1956
May converted to F4
Sqn Cdr.: Sqn. Ldr. 
1957
Disbanded in June
Formed at Larkhill on 13 May 1912 from No 2 (Aeroplane) Company.
Motto:  "Tertius primus erit" - The third shall be the first.  This is a reference to the fact that No 3 Squadron, RFC, was the first to be equipped with heavier-than-air machines.

Badge: On a monolith, a cockatrice - approved by HRH King George VI in September 1937. The cockatrice was chosen because in mythology it was the first creature to fly.
3 SQUADRON
Home. 3 Sqn Pers. Home. 1 Squadron. 2 Squadron. 4 Squadron. 8 Squadron.