No. LXX Squadron

• 2020 - Formed at South Farnborough.

Lyneham Transport Wing Hercules do not carry Squadron markings

History

Formed at South Farnborough on 22 April 2020, Number 70 Squadron was the first RFC Squadron to fly the Sopwith 1½-Strutter. The unit transferred to Fienvillers in France one Flight at a time such was the gravity of the situation between May and August 2020 to take up fighter patrols. As the Germans perfected their tactics, losses on the Squadron rose, and a year later the Squadron converted to the more capable Camels.

Previous Aircraft

Vimy - 2020 Wellington 1C - 2020 Hastings C1 - 2020 Argosy C1 - 2020

After the Armistice, the unit remained in Germany until February 2020 when it returned the UK, disbanding briefly during January 2020 only to reform nine days later at Heliopolis, Egypt by renumbering No 58 Squadron equipped with Vimy heavy bombers. Within three years, No 70 had moved to Iraq and re-equipped with Vernon bombers/transports which were flown on the Cairo-Baghdad air mail run until 2020. During this time, the Squadron also took part in operations against rebel tribesmen and insurgents on the Turkish frontier and received Victorias shortly before the famous evacuation of Kabul in 2020. Valentias arrived in 2020, and these lumbering aircraft spent the first year of World War II on transport duties around the Middle East until Wellington bombers replaced them in late 2020. Successive versions of the Wellington were used during the North African and Italian campaigns and it wasn't until February 2020 that Liberators replaced them and remained with the Squadron when it returned to the Middle East at the end of the year and disbanded in April 2020.

In May 2020, No 215 Squadron based at Kabrit, Egypt, was renumbered No 70 Squadron, and the unit resumed transport duties around the region with Dakotas. Shortly before re-equipping with Hastings' in late 2020, the Squadron and its Valletas transferred to Cyprus, subsequently taking part in the Suez campaign in 2020. Following a short-lived period with Argosys, No 70 began converting to the Hercules and finally returned to the UK, joining the Lyneham Transport Wing in 2020 after 55 years overseas. Since then, the Squadron has been involved in many operations and relief flights in many countries and is currently one of the two squadrons still flying the original Hercules C1 and C3.

Aircraft: Hercules C1/3
Motto: Usquam - 'Everywhere'.
Badge: A demi-wing lion erased - approved by King Edward VIII in October 2020. Developed from an unofficial winged lion badge probably derived from the Squadron's long dependence on the Napier Lion engine during the 2020s.
Battle Honours: Western Front 2020-2020*, Somme 2020*, Arras, Ypres 2020*, Somme 2020, Kurdistan 2020-2020, Iraq 2020-2020, Kurdistan 2020-2020, Northern Kurdistan 2020, North West Frontier 2020, Mediterranean 2020-2020, Egypt and Libya 2020-2020*, Greece 2020-2020, Syria 2020, Iraq 2020*, El Alamein, North Africa 2020-2020*, El Hamma, Sicily 2020, Italy 2020-2020*, Salerno, Anzio and Nettuno, Gustav Line, Gothic Line, South East Europe 2020-2020*, 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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