What is "flying squadron"

Squadron \Squad"ron\ (skw[o^]d"r[u^]n), n. [F. escadron, formerly also esquadron, Sp. escuadron, or It. squadrone. See Squad.]

1. Primarily, a square; hence, a square body of troops; a body of troops drawn up in a square. [R.]

   Those half-rounding quards Just met, and, closing, stood in squadron joined.
   --Milton.

2. (Mil.) A body of cavalry comprising two companies or troops, and averaging from one hundred and twenty to two hundred men.

3. (Naut.) A detachment of vessels employed on any particular service or station, under the command of the senior officer; as, the North Atlantic Squadron.
   --Totten.

   Flying squadron, a squadron of observation or practice, that cruises rapidly about from place to place.
   --Ham. Nav. Encyc.

The Flying Squadron was a United States Navy force that operated in the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico and the West Indies during the first half of the Spanish–American War. The squadron included many of America's most modern warships which engaged the Spanish in the Blockade of Cuba.

Flying Squadron may refer to:

• The Flying Squadron (1869) a Royal Navy squadron of consisting at various times of some ten ships
• The Flying Squadron (1870), another Royal Navy squadron of consisting of several ships, including HMS Volage
• The Flying Squadron (1896), previously called the Particular Service Squadron, a British Royal Navy squadron that operated during a war scare in 1896
• The Flying Squadron of America, a temperance organization
• The Flying Squadron (United States Navy), a U.S. Navy squadron that fought in the Spanish–American War.

The Flying Squadron was a special British Royal Navy squadron that operated during 1896.

Following the Jameson Raid in South Africa, the German Emperor Wilhelm II sent a telegram of support to President Kruger. This led to a war scare in Europe. To ready itself for the possibility of a war with the German Empire, the Royal Navy formed the Particular Service Squadron at England, on 14 January 1896. It was soon renamed the Flying Squadron. Its flagship was the battleship , while the other ships in the squadron were the battleship , the and , and the s and . The squadron was commanded by Rear Admiral Alfred Taylor Dale.

The Flying Squadron was held in readiness for ten months, and briefly was attached to the Mediterranean Fleet in mid-1896. No war broke out, and the Flying Squadron was disbanded in November 1896.

Flying Squadron (Italian: Rondini in volo) is a 1949 Italian adventure film directed by Luigi Capuano and starring Massimo Serato, Dina Sassoli and Umberto Spadaro.

The film's sets were designed by Alfredo Montori.

The Flying Squadron was a Royal Navy squadron made up, at various times, of ten wooden ships with auxiliary steam power. The squadron sailed from Plymouth on 19 June 1869. They called at Madeira, South America, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Canada and Hawaii, before returning to England on 15 November 1870.

B(1871) p015 FLYING SQUADRON, PLYMOUTH SOUND, JUNE, 1869.jpg|Plymouth Sound
(June, 1869) B(1871) p177 TASMANIA, RIVER DERWENT. - H.E. CHARLES DUCANE VISITING THE SQUADRON.jpg|Hobart, Tasmania
(January, 1870) B(1871) p227 AUCKLAND HARBOUR, N.Z.jpg|Auckland, New Zealand
(February, 1870) B(1871) p269 FLYING SQUADRON, ESQUIMALT HARBOR.jpg|Esquimalt Bay, Canada,
(May, 1870) B(1871) p283 FLYING SQUADRON, OFF HONOLULU, JUNE 1870.jpg|Honolulu, Hawaii
(June, 1870) B(1871) p307 ROUNDING CAPE HORN.jpg|Rounding Cape Horn
(September 13, 1870)

The Flying Squadron of 1870 was a Royal Navy squadron made up mostly of wooden ships, but including the very new corvette HMS Volage, which circumnavigated the world to "show the flag". The squadron sailed from England on 3 December 1870 and called at Madeira, Brazil, the Cape of Good Hope, and the East Indies, before crossing the Pacific Ocean and returning to England at the end of 1872.