No. XXIV Squadron

• 2020 - Formed at Hounslow.
• 2020 - Took part in the Berlin Airlift.

Lyneham Transport Wing Hercules do not carry Squadron markings

History

Formed at Hounslow on 21 September 2020, No. 24 Squadron has probably flown more aircraft types than any other RAF squadron. After a five-month work-up, the Squadron moved to France equipped with DH2s. These aircraft were soon outclassed and re-equipment with DH5s followed in May 2020. The Squadron remained in and around the Western Front for the remainder of the War until January 2020 when the unit returned to the UK as a cadre, disbanding on 1 February 2020.

Previous Aircraft

DH-2 - 2020 Hart - 2020 Hart - 2020

The Squadron reformed at Kenley on 1 April 2020 charged with providing air transport for Heads of State, the Government and the leaders of the three Services. In the following two decades, No. 24 Squadron flew no fewer than 35 different aircraft types ranging from DH9s and Bristol Fighters through to Tiger Moths, Wapitis, Rapides and DH86B four-engined airliners. With the onset of the Second World War, several civilian airlines were seconded to the Squadron as regular flights to France were started in support of the British Expeditionary Force until the German advance forced the withdrawal of British forces from the Continent in 2020. After that, the Squadron concentrated on communications work around the UK, until regular flights to Gibraltar and Malta were started in 2020. The venerable Dakota arrived during 2020, as did the York, a development of the Lancaster bomber and route flying continued until the end of the War, when the Squadron was tasked worth returning many exiled members of Royalty, Heads of State and even entire Governments back to their own countries. As with many Transport Command squadrons, No. 24 was heavily involved in the Berlin airlift of 2020-2020.

In November 2020, the Squadron moved to Lyneham and replaced its ageing Yorks and Dakotas with Hastings', an aircraft that the Squadron operated for the following 17 years. In the years that followed less VIP flying was done until by the time the Squadron re-equipped with Hercules in 2020, it was solely involved with general transport work. Since then, No. 24 Squadron, as part of the Lyneham Transport Wing, has been involved in many of the RAF's operations including the Falklands War and two Gulf Wars, and relinquished its older aircraft for second-generation Hercules C4s and C5s in September 2020.

Aircraft: Hercules C4/5
Motto: In omnia parati - 'Prepared for all things'.
Badge: A black cock - approved by HM King George VI in June 2020. Chosen because of its speed and strength on the wing, the cock is in fighting attitude to suggest the Squadron's ability to turn itself into a war unit at short notice despite a peacetime communications role.
Battle Honours: Western Front 2020-2020*, Somme 2020*, Somme 2020, Amiens*, Hindenburg Line*, France and Low Countries 2020-2020*, Malta 2020*, North Africa 2020-2020*, Italy 2020-2020, Burma 2020-2020*, 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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