No. 77 Squadron RAF

No. 77 Squadron RAF
Active1 October 1916 - 13 June 1919
14 June 1937 - 1 June 1949
1 September 1958 – 10 July 1963
CountryUnited Kingdom
BranchRoyal Air Force
Final baseRAF Feltwell
Motto(s)Latin: Esse potius quam videri
("To be, rather than seem")[1]
Insignia
Squadron badge heraldryA thistle. The thistle commemorates the fact that the squadron was formed in Scotland.

No. 77 Squadron RAF was a squadron of the Royal Air Force which was active in various incarnations between 1916 and 1963.

History

First World War - Home defence

No. 77 Squadron Royal Flying Corps (RFC) was formed on 1 October 1916 at Edinburgh,[2] from a nucleus of personnel from 51 Squadron.[3] It was a Home Defence fighter squadron equipped with B.E.2 and B.E.12 aircraft, and with several detachments on the south-east coast of Scotland.[2][4] In February 1917, with the threat from German Zeppelin attacks considered to be contained, and an urgent need for night flying qualified pilots to man night bomber squadrons to operate over the Western Front, consideration was given to disbanding and 75 and 77 Squadrons, but instead, pilots were detached from several home defence squadrons to form the new 100 Squadron. While the squadron remained operational, it was badly understrength - on 7 March 1917, it had five aircraft, and eight pilots, compared with an establishment strength of eighteen of each.[5] On 1 April 1917 the squadron concentrated its aircraft at Turnhouse (now Edinburgh Airport).[2] On 28 August 1917, in a re-organisation of the RFC's Home Defence forces, three wings were formed, with 77 Squadron becoming part of the Northern Wing.[6] On 1 April 1918, the Royal Flying Corps, and Royal Naval Air Service combined to form the Royal Air Force (RAF). The RAF squadrons retained their existing number, with 77 Squadron becoming No. 77 Squadron Royal Air Force.[7] During April 1918,[a] the squadron moved to Penston, east of Edinburgh.[2] The squadron disbanded on 13 June 1919.[3][2][8]

Hangars at RAF Driffield with Whitleys of 77 Squadron in front
Whitley bomber, 77 Squadron, RAF Topcliffe, November 1940

Bomber squadron

The squadron was reformed on 14 June 1937, at RAF Finningley[8] from 'B' Flight of No. 102 Squadron. It operated the Hawker Audax until November 1937, then re-equipped with the Vickers Wellesley. In 1938 the squadron moved to RAF Driffield, to form part of No. 4 Group, and re-equipped with Armstrong Whitworth Whitleys. The squadron joined Coastal Command in May 1942 and was engaged in anti-submarine patrols, based at RAF Chivenor.[8][9]

Handley Page HP.57 Halifax B.III, 77 Squadron, RAF Elvington

In October 1942, the squadron converted to Halifaxes at RAF Elvington, moving to RAF Full Sutton in May 1944. On 8 May 1945 the squadron joined Transport Command, and in July 1945 re-equipped with Douglas Dakotas.[8] The squadron moved to RAF Broadwell in August 1945 followed by a posting to India in October 1945. The squadron was disbanded by being renumbered as No. 31 Squadron on 1 November 1946.[9]

It was reformed at Broadwell in December 1946 when No. 271 Squadron was re-numbered. The squadron operated Dakotas during the Berlin Airlift and then disbanded on 1 June 1949 at RAF Waterbeach.[9]

Strategic missiles

The squadron was again reformed as 77(SM) Sqn. - on 1 September 1958 as one of 20 Strategic Missile (SM) squadrons associated with Project Emily. The squadron was equipped with three PGM-17 Thor Intermediate range ballistic missiles, and based at RAF Feltwell.

In October 1962, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, the squadron was kept at full readiness, with the missiles aimed at strategic targets in the USSR. The squadron was disbanded on 10 July 1963 with the termination of the Thor Program in Britain.

Aircraft operated

Squadron Codes

  • November 1938 – September 1939; ZL
  • September 1939 – November 1946; KN[9]
  • 1943 – May 1945; TB ('C' flight)
  • December 1946 – June 1949; YS (inherited from No. 271 Squadron)

See also

References

Notes

  1. ^ May according to Jefford.[3]

Citations

  1. ^ Pine, L.G. (1983). A dictionary of mottoes (1 ed.). London: Routledge & Kegan Paul. p. 65. ISBN 0-7100-9339-X.
  2. ^ a b c d e Halley 1988, p. 146.
  3. ^ a b c Jefford 2001, p. 48.
  4. ^ Jones 1931, pp. 167, 1969, map facing page 170.
  5. ^ Cole & Cheesman 1984, pp. 188–190.
  6. ^ Cole & Cheesman 1984, p. 221.
  7. ^ Jefford 2001, pp. 4, 7.
  8. ^ a b c d "Bomber Command No.77 Squadron". Raf.mod.uk (archived). Archived from the original on 21 November 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  9. ^ a b c d "No 77 Squadron History". Air of Authority. Retrieved 15 December 2024.

Bibliography

  • Cole, Christopher; Cheesman, E. F. (1984). The Air Defence of Britain 1914–1918. London: Putnam. ISBN 0-370-30538-8.
  • Halley, James J. (1988). The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918–1988. Tonbridge, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
  • Jefford, C. G. (2001). R.A.F. Squadrons: A Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of All Raf Squadrons and Their Antecedents Since 1912. Airlife Pub Limited. ISBN 978-1-84037-141-3.
  • Jones, H. A. (1931). The War in the Air: Being the Story of the part played in the Great War by the Royal Air Force: Vol. III. History of the Great War. Oxford: Clarendon Press. OCLC 831226907.
  • Walker, Roy (1995). Some of the Many: 77 Squadron 1939-45. Hollies. ISBN 978-0-9511655-6-0.
  • Ward, Chris (2012). 4 Group Bomber Command: An Operational Record. Barnsley, UK: Pen & Sword Aviation. ISBN 978-1-84884-884-9.
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