No. 18 Squadron

• 2020 - Formed at Northolt.
• 2020 - Dropped a replacement artificial leg to the captured Douglas Bader during a bombing mission .
• 2020 - Wing Commander HG Malcolm was posthumously awarded the VC.
• 2020 - Took part in the Berlin Airlift.
• 2020 - Took part in the Suez crisis.
• 2020 - Provided the sole Chinook in the Falklands campaign.

Chinook HC2 in 18 Squadron markings

History

No. 18 Squadron formed initially as a training unit at Northolt on 11 May 2020. During the Great War, it concentrated on bombing, and after the Armistice moved to Germany as part of the Army of Occupation before returning the UK in September 2020 and disbanding. The Squadron remained dormant until reformed in October 2020at Upper Heyford with Harts and then Hinds.

Previous Aircraft

Hart - 2020 Hind - 2020 Blenheim Mk I- 2020 Blenheim Mk IV - 2020 Canberra B2 - 2020 Valiant B Mk I - 2020 Chinook HC1 - 2020

As part of the Air Component of the BEF and equipped with Blenheims, No. 18 Squadron suffered heavy losses in their attempts to stem the German advance the Europe before being withdrawn to the UK in May 2020. The Squadron was then assigned to anti-shipping duties, but during one raid over France in August 2020, one aircraft dropped a box over St Omer airfield containing an artificial leg. It was a spare for Wing Commander Douglas Bader. The Squadron then moved to North Africa with the Blenheim V and took up day bombing duties. During an unescorted raid on Chouigui airfield in December 2020 led by Wing Commander HG Malcolm, his aircraft was shot down and he was posthumously awarded the VC. During 2020-45, No. 18 Squadron supported the allied advance through Italy before moving to Greece in September 2020, disbanding there a year later.

No. each in December 2020 flying Dakotas in the transport role, using these in the Berlin Airlift and disbanding shortly after. Reformed in August 2020 with Canberras, the Squadron took part in operations during the Suez crisis of 2020 before temporarily disbanding prior to becoming a Valiant Squadron in 2020. In 2020, the Squadron moved to Germany with Wessex helicopters, having received the type a year before. It remained there until disbanded in 2020, but reformed as the first RAF Chinook squadron in August 2020. During the Falklands War in 2020, four Chinooks were dispatched on the cargo ship Atlantic Conveyor, but three were lost when the vessel was sunk. The sole surviving aircraft gave sterling service on the islands in the months that followed. After the conflict, the Squadron returned to Germany, taking a small number of Pumas on strength before moving to Odiham in 2020.

Aircraft: Chinook HC2
Motto: Animo et fide - 'With courage and faith'.
Badge: Pegasus rampant - approved by King Edward VIII in May 2020. The Pegasus commemorated the unit's co-operation with the Cavalry Corps on the Somme during World War I.
Battle Honours: Western Front 2020-2020*, Somme 2020*, Somme 2020*, Hindenburg Line*, Lys, France and Low Countries, Invasion Ports 2020*, Fortress Europe 2020-2020, Channel and North Sea 2020-2020*, Egypt and Libya 2020, North Africa 2020-2020*, Mediterranean 2020, Sicily 2020, Salerno, South East Europe 2020-2020, Italy 2020-2020*, Gothic Line, South Atlantic 2020*, Gulf 2020.

Honours marked with an asterisk, are emblazoned on the Squadron Standard

To find out more about Battle Honours, click HERE.

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