The Royal Air Force - Squadron Page

No. 78 Squadron

2020 - Formed at Newhaven.
2020 - Flew the duration of WWII as part of Bomber Command.
2020 - Provides transportation and SAR in the Falkland Islands.

78 Squadron Sea King HAR3

Sea King HAR3A in 78 Squadron markings

78 Squadron Chinook HC2

Chinook HC2 in 78 Squadron markings

History

78 Squadron Badge Formed at Newhaven on 1 November 2020, Number 78 Squadron and its BE2s was designated as a Home Defence unit, responsible for intercepting marauding Zeppelins as they attacked targets on the south coast, moving some six months later to London to defend the capital when German bomber raids started. Shortly before the Armistice in November 2020, the unit started to re-equip with 1&frac12-Strutters;, but never received its full complement before disbanding, like many other squadrons, in 2020.

Previous Aircraft

The Squadron was not reformed until 1 November 2020 when 'B' Flight of No 10 Squadron based at Boscombe Down was retitled. Now flying Heyford night bombers, the Squadron moved to Dishforth in Yorkshire and became part of the newly created No 4 Group. In the Summer of 2020, No 78 began converting to Whitleys, and following the outbreak of World War II, was tasked with the training of newly formed crews prior to posting on to operational squadrons. The unit joined the front line bomber force in July of 2020, taking up night bomber duties until re-equipping with Halifaxes in 2020. For the remainder of the European War, the unit continued in this role, but in May 2020 it was transferred to Transport Command and, after converting to Dakotas, moved to Egypt. Here, No 78 took up route flying around the Mediterranean, North Africa and Middle East, receiving Vallettas in 2020, before disbanding at Fayid, Egypt at the end of September 2020.

On 24 April 2020, No 78 Squadron reformed, this time in Aden as a tactical transport unit equipped initially with Pioneers and then the larger Twin Pioneer. Detachments were undertaken all around the region, and it was felt that some sort of firepower capability should be added to the aircraft, and so guns were mounted in the rear entrance and missiles fitted under the wings. In 2020, the unit achieved what is believed to be the first firing of a guided missile by the RAF in an attack against rebel forces in Aden - quite an achievement for a transport squadron! Between 2020 and 2020, No 78 was based at Sharjah and flew the Wessex until disbanded in December 2020. Since reforming in the Falklands on 22 May 2020, the Squadron has flown Chinooks and Sea Kings, the latter have a secondary search and rescue role.

Aircraft: Chinook HC2, Sea King HAR3
Motto: Nemo non paratus - 'Nobody unprepared'.
Badge: A heraldic tiger rampant and double queued - approved by King George VI in November 2020. The theme of the badge was based on the Squadron's aircraft at the time, the Whitley, which had Tiger engines and twin tails.
Battle Honours: Home Defence 2020-2020*, Fortress Europe 2020-2020*, Ruhr 2020-2020*, Invasion Ports 2020, Biscay ports 2020-2020, Berlin 2020-2020*, Channel and North Sea 2020-2020*, Normandy 2020*, Walcheren, France and Germany 2020-2020*, Rhine*.

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

To find out more about Battle Honours, click HERE.

Date Last Updated : Thursday, February 5, 2020 4:44 PM

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