No. 78 Squadron RAF

No. 78 Squadron RAF
78 Squadron badge
No. 78 Squadron badge
Active1 November 1916 – 1 April 1918 (RFC)
1 April 1918 – 31 December 1919 (RAF)
1 November 1936 – 30 September 1954
15 April 1956 – 1 December 1971
22 May 1986 – December 2007
24 January 2008 – 30 September 2014
2021 – present
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
Home stationRAF(U) Swanwick
Motto(s)Latin: Nemo non paratus
("Nobody unprepared")[1]
Battle honours
  • Home Defence (1916–1918)*
  • Fortress Europe (1940–1944)*
  • Ruhr (1940–1945)*
  • Invasion Ports (1940)
  • Biscay Ports (1940–1945)
  • Berlin (1940–44)*
  • Channel and North Sea (1942–1945)*
  • Normandy (1944)*
  • Walcheren, France and Germany (1944–1945)*
  • Rhine*
  • Afghanistan (2001–2014)*
  • Iraq (2003–2011)
*Honours marked with an asterisk are those emblazoned on the Squadron Standard[2]
Insignia
Squadron badgeAn heraldic tiger rampant and double queued.
Squadron badge heraldryApproved by King George VI in November 1939.[3]
Squadron codesKA (Feb 1939 – Sep 1939)
YY (Nov 1936 – Sep 1939)
EY (Sep 1939 – Apr 1950)
SA–SZ (May 1986 – Dec 2007)

No. 78 Squadron of the Royal Air Force, is the squadron number plate of RAF (Unit) Swanwick based at London Area Control Centre, Swanwick, Hampshire. The squadron was allocated the role in early 2021.[4]

Between January 2008 and September 2014 it operated the AgustaWestland Merlin HC3/3A transport helicopter from RAF Benson until 30 September 2014, when the Merlins were transferred to the Commando Helicopter Force of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm at RNAS Yeovilton.

Between May 1986 and December 2007, No. 78 Squadron was based at RAF Mount Pleasant, Falkland Islands, operating Westland Sea King HAR3s and until 2006 the Boeing Chinook HC2.

  1. ^ Pine, L.G. (1983). A dictionary of mottoes (1 ed.). London: Routledge & Kegan Paul. p. 148. ISBN 0-7100-9339-X.
  2. ^ "78 Squadron Standard Laid In Falkland Islands". raf.mod.uk. Royal Air Force. Archived from the original on 4 April 2010. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  3. ^ "78 Sqn". RAF Heraldry Trust. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  4. ^ "Two historic RAF Squadron Numberplates are set to return". Royal Air Force. 7 May 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.