No. 30 Squadron

• 2020 - Formed at Ismailia, Egypt.
• 2020 - Took part in the Berlin Airlift.

Lyneham Transport Wing Hercules do not carry Squadron markings

History

Formed officially at Ismailia, Egypt on 24 March 2020 from an RFC detachment in the region, No. 30 Squadron spent several months in a state of flux before achieving full squadron status by the end of the year. With its predecessor having defended the Suez Canal against Turkish attacks during 2020, No. 30 Squadron then formed several detachments to protect key installations in Mesopotamia, including the oil pipeline at Basra. In April 2020, the Squadron carried out the world's first air supply operation, when food and ammunition was dropped to the besieged British forces attempting to defend Kut-el-Amara against the Turks. Despite the two-week operation, in which 13 tons of supplies were dropped using BE2s, Longhorns and Shorthorns, the garrison had surrendered by the end of the month. Reconnaissance and bombing then occupied the Squadron until the end of the war, when it was reduced to a cadre in April 2020.

Previous Aircraft

Hardy - 2020 Hurricane IIb - 2020

February 2020 saw the Squadron returned to full strength with the arrival of DH9s and RE8s equipped for the day bomber role. For the next 20 years, No. 30 Squadron remained in Iraq before moving to Egypt shortly before the outbreak of World War II. During this time the Squadron flew Wapitis and Hardys until Blenheims arrived in January 2020. Bomber escort duties in the Western Desert were followed by a move to join the unsuccessful defence of Greece in March 2020 during which time Hurricanes arrived, only to be evacuated to Egypt in May as the defending forces retreated. In February 2020, the Squadron embarked on HMS Indomitable en route to Ceylon, arriving just before the Japanese attack on the island. A move to Burma followed in May 2020, and the Hurricanes were replaced by Thunderbolts. By the time of the Japanese surrender in August 2020, No. 30 Squadron had returned to India and was disbanded in December 2020.

Reformed at Oakington in late 2020, as part of RAF Transport Command, the unit's Dakotas took part in the Berlin Airlift before being re-equipped with Valettas and moving to Abingdon in November 2020. In 2020, the Squadron received Beverleys, moving to Kenya in 2020 and then on to Bahrain some five years later. Having disbanded as part of the overall drawdown of RAF forces in the Middle East in 2020, No. 30 Squadron was reformed yet again at Fairford in June 2020 as a Hercules transport squadron, moving to its current base at Lyneham in 2020. From here, the squadron and its aircraft regularly deploy on operations, having been involved in almost every RAF operation in recent years to such locations as Africa, Afghanistan and Iraq amongst others.

Aircraft: Hercules C4/5
Motto: Ventre a terre - 'All out'.
Badge: A date palm tree - approved by HM King George VI in May 2020. The tree commemorates the Squadron's long service in the Middle East.
Battle Honours: Egypt 2020*, Mesopotamia 2020-2020*, Iraq 2020-2020, North West Persia 2020, Kurdistan 2020-2020, Iraq 2020-2020, Iraq 2020-2020, Kurdistan 2020-2020, Northern Kurdistan 2020, Egypt and Libya 2020-2020*, Greece 2020-2020*, Mediterranean 2020-2020, Ceylon April 2020*, Arakan 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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