No. 70 Squadron RAF
No. LXX Squadron RAF | |
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Active |
|
Country | Latin for 'Anywhere')[1] |
Aircraft | Airbus A400M Atlas C1 |
Battle honours |
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Commanders | |
Current commander | erased. Developed from an unofficial winged lion badge probably derived from the squadron's long dependence on the Napier Lion engine during the 1920s. |
No. 70 or LXX Squadron RAF operates the Airbus A400M Atlas C.1 to provide strategic air transport worldwide and is based at RAF Brize Norton.[2]
History
First World War
The squadron was formed on 22 April 1916 at
During the First World War, the squadron claimed 287 victories, and had as members nineteen
Inter-war years
The squadron briefly disbanded in January 1920, reforming nine days later at Heliopolis, Egypt, via the renumbering of No. 58 Squadron. The squadron was now a bomber-transport unit operating the Vickers Vimy bomber. After transferring to Hinaidi, Iraq in December 1921, the squadron was re-equipped with Vickers Vernons and subsequently by Vickers Victoria in 1926. In addition to providing heavy transport facilities to both air and ground units they were used as air ambulances and were responsible for maintaining the Cairo-Baghdad airmail route.[5] The squadron was commanded by Group Captain Eric Murray DSO MC. In 1929, he flew the first route to the Cape on behalf of Imperial Airways who were seeking routes for the civil flights.[6]
In December 1928, a coup against the Amir of Afghanistan by
The Valentia replaced the Victorias in November 1934. 70 squadron is recorded as being based at RAF Habbaniya from 1937–9 and in August 1939, it returned to Egypt.[8]
Second World War
After Italy entered the war the squadron converted to Vickers Wellingtons, and began operations over the Western Desert.[8]
In 1940 A detachment was sent to Tatoi, in support of Allied forces defending Greece and in 1941 the squadron was involved in the campaign to conquer
70 Squadron relocated frequently in support of the 8th Army's westward advance, first into Libya then Tunisia. In November 1943 it relocated to Djedeida 20 miles west of Tunis putting industrial targets in the North of Italy, within easy reach. Between December 1943 and October 1945 the squadron relocated to Tortorella Airfield, Italy where the Wellington's were replaced by the long range Liberators.[9]
Post Second World War
The squadron disbanded in April 1947 and was reformed in May 1948, at
The squadron reformed on 1 October 2014 and was officially "stood up" on 24 July 2015 by presentation with a new standard by Princess Anne[11] becoming the Royal Air Force's first frontline A400M squadron.[12]
In 2017 the squadron was part of Op Ruman, the humanitarian aid relief after Hurricane Irma.[13]
In August 2021, the squadron was deployed forward
Aircraft operated
Dates | Aircraft | Variant | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1916–1917 | Sopwith 1½ Strutter | Single-engined biplane fighter | |
1917–1919 | Sopwith Camel | Single-engined biplane fighter | |
1919 | Sopwith Snipe | Single-engined biplane fighter | |
1920 | Handley Page 0/400
|
Twin-engined biplane bomber | |
1920–1922 | Vickers Vimy | Twin-engined biplane bomber | |
1922–1926 | Vickers Vernon | Twin-engined biplane transport | |
1924–1926 1926–1934 1928–1934 1930–1935 1931–1935 |
Vickers Victoria | I III IV V V |
Twin-engined biplane transport |
1935–1940 | Vickers Valentia | Twin-engined biplane transport | |
1940–1943 1943–1945 |
Vickers Wellington | Ic III X |
Twin-engined medium bomber |
1945–1946 | Consolidated Liberator | VI | Four-engined bomber |
1946–1947 | Avro Lancaster | B1(FE) | Four-engined bomber |
1948–1950 | Douglas Dakota | Twin-engined transport | |
1950–1956 | Vickers Valetta | C1 | Twin-engined transport |
1956–1968 | Handley Page Hastings | C1 and C2 | Four-engined transport |
1967–1975 | Armstrong Whitworth Argosy | C1 | Four-engined transport |
1970–1980 | Lockheed Hercules | C1 | Four-engined transport |
1980–2010 | Lockheed Hercules | C1 and C3 | Four-engined transport |
2014–present | Airbus A400M Atlas | C1 | Four-engined transport |
See also
- List of RAF squadrons
References
- Notes
- ISBN 0-7100-9339-X.
- ^ "LXX Squadron | Royal Air Force".
- ^ Bruce 1965, p. 6
- ^ Shores, Franks & Guest 1990, p. 38
- ^ Keith, Claude Hilton (1937). The Flying Years. Page John Hamilton Limited.
- ^ Sprigg, T. Stanhope; Sedorski, M. Glen (1933). "1933 Who's Who in British Aviation". London: Airways Publications.
- ^ 80th anniversary of RAF`s evacuation of Kabul Archived 26 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b "No. 70 Squadron". RAF Museum. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
- ^ a b "No. 70 Squadron (RAF) during the Second World War". historyofwar.org. 2015. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
- ^ "LXX Squadron Stand Down". Royal Air Force. 10 September 2010. Archived from the original on 10 June 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
- ^ "LXX Squadron Stand-Up". Royal Air Force. 24 July 2015. Archived from the original on 10 June 2016. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
- ISSN 1463-6298.
- ^ "Hurricane Irma: UK military provides relief to the Caribbean". GOV.UK. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
- ^ "Chief of the Air Staff - Defence and Security Equipment International speech". GOV.UK. 15 September 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
- ^ "Afghanistan: 'We didn't think you were going to make it' - RAF pilot reveals near miss on the runway at Kabul airport". Sky News. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
- ^ Ministry of Defence (23 August 2021). "In Pictures: the UK Armed Forces at Hamid Karzai International Airport". Medium. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
- ^ "Ending evacuation from Afghanistan is 'heartbreaking', UK armed forces chief says". the Guardian. 28 August 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
- ^ Jefford (1988), p.46
- Bibliography
- Bruce, J.M. (1965). Aircraft Profile No. 31. The Sopwith Camel F.1. Profile Publications.
- Jefford, C.G. (1988). RAF Squadrons. Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
- Moyes, Philip (1964). Bomber Squadrons of the R.A.F. and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald & Co. (Publishers) Ltd.
- Rawlings, John D.R. (1982). Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Jane's Publishing Company. ISBN 0-7106-0187-5.
- Shores, Christopher; Franks, Norman; Guest, Russell (1990). Above The Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915–1920. London: Grub Street. ISBN 0-948817-19-4.
- Shores, Christopher; Massimello, Giovanni; Guest, Russell (2012). A History of the Mediterranean Air War 1940–1945: Volume One: North Africa: June 1940 – January 1942. London: Grub Street. ISBN 978-1-908117-07-6.
- Shores, Christopher; Massimello, Giovanni; Guest, Russell; Olynyk, Frank; Bock, Winfried (2012). A History of the Mediterranean Air War 1940–1945: Volume Two: North African Desert February 1942 – March 1943. London: Grub Street. ISBN 978-1-909166-12-7..
External links
- "70 Squadron". Royal Air Force.
- Barrass, M. B. "No. 66–70 Squadron Histories". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation.