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united kingdom royal air force

   

Organisation History:

As a result of the Smuts reports of Jun and Oct 1917 which reviewed the future of air fighting arrangments, the Air Force (Constitution) Act of Nov 1917 created the Royal Air Force by amalgamating the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service on 1 Apr 1918. It was an unpopular decision, but driven through against almost overwhelming opposition, largely by Sir Hugh Trenchard and a small group of ex-Army officers. A period of contraction occurred after World War I, followed by an expansion programme from 1934. Then in May 1939, the units of the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Air Force were returned to Royal Navy control.
The RAF was active in many types of flying but the first steps with rotary wing machines, in the form of a few Cierva autogyros began to be introduced late in the 1930s, largely as a means of calibrating the radar equipment used in the various Chain Home family of systems. These were followed by the first true helicopter in the Hoverfly R-4 in 1945 and the introduction to service of the Sycamore and Dragonfly by the end of 1953. On 1 Sep 1957, the RAF relinquished its Air Observation Post (AOP) Squadrons and Light Liaison Flights to the newly formed Army Air Corps.
Since 1 Oct 1999, when Joint Helicopter Command was formed, the RAF has committed 7, 18, 27, 33 & 230 Squadrons with their Chinook, Puma and (from 2002), 28(AC) Squadron with its Merlin helicopters to this tri-service organisation.
With effect from Nov 2007 78 Sqn was re formed at RAF Benson to fly the Merlin HC3A.  The RAF brought these six Merlins from the Danish Air Force to boster the Support Helicopter Force.


Units in this Organisation:

Rotary Wing Aircraft UnitCreatedDisband
    2 fts 1976 1997
    7 squadron 1914 --
    18 squadron 1915 --
    22 squadron 1916 --
    26 squadron 1915 1976
    27 squadron 1915 --
    28 (ac) squadron - 28 squadron
1915 --
    32 (the royal) squadron - 32 squadron
1916 --
    33 squadron 1916 --
    60(r) squadron - 60 squadron
1916 --
    66 squadron 1916 1969
    72 squadron 1917 --
    78 squadron 1916 --
    84 squadron 1917 --
    103 squadron 1917 1975
    110 squadron 1917 1971
    118 squadron 1918 1962
    155 squadron 1918 1959
    194 squadron 1942 1959
    202 squadron 1914 --
    203(r) squadron - 203 squadron
1914 --
    217 squadron 1918 1959
    225 squadron 1918 1965
    228 squadron 1918 1964
    230 squadron 1918 --
    275 squadron 1941 1959
    284 squadron 1943 1959
    529 squadron 1943 1945
    606 (chiltern) squadron, royal auxiliary air force - 606 squadron rauxaf
1996 --
    1310 (tactical support) flight - 1310 flight
1944 --
    1360 (helicopter) flight - 1360 flight
1957 1958
    1419 flight 1941 --
    1563 (tactical support) flight - 1563 flight
1942 --
    1564 (tactical support) flight - 1564 flight
1943 1986
    1901 (air observation post) flight 1947 1957
    1906 (helicopter) flight - 1906 flight
1947 1957
    air training squadron - ats
1971 1972
    belvedere conversion unit 1964 1966
    belvedere trials unit 1960 1961
    central flying school - cfs
1912 --
    far east casualty evacuation flight 1950 1953
    helicopter operational conversion flight - hocf
1967 1971
    240 operational conversion unit - 240 ocu
1948 1993
    queens flight 1953 1995
    sar training unit (sartu) - sartu
1962 --
    sea king training unit 1977 1996
    short range conversion unit - srcu
1964 1967
    wessex intensive flying trials unit - wessex iftu
1963 1964
    wessex (sar) flight 1967 1971
    wessex training flight - wessex tf
1980 1982
    joint experimental helicopter unit - jehu
1955 1959


Bases/Heliports of this Organisation:

    Viewing: Current Bases/Heliports | Historical

Base / HeliportUnits of this Base/Heliport
   AAC Wattisham22 squadron 1994/now
   MY Kota Belud Butterworth66 squadron
   MY Kuching66 squadron
   CY Nicosia (Lefkosia)84 squadron
   CY RAF Akrotiri84 squadron 1972/now
   RAF Aldergrove230 squadron 1992/now
   RAF Benson28 (ac) squadron 2001/now
33 squadron 1997/now
78 squadron 2007/now
606 (chiltern) squadron, royal auxiliary air force 1996/now
   RAF Boulmer202 squadron 1975/now
   RAF Leconfield202 squadron 1988/now
   RAF Lossiemouth202 squadron 1972/now
    RAF Mount Pleasant1564 (tactical support) flight 2007/now
   RAF Northolt32 (the royal) squadron 1969/now
   RAF Odiham7 squadron 1982/now
18 squadron 1997/now
27 squadron 1993/now
   RAF Shawbury60(r) squadron 1997/now
   RAF St. Mawgan203(r) squadron 1996/now
   RAF Valley22 squadron 1955/now
sar training unit (sartu) 1962/now
   RMB Chivenor22 squadron 1958/now
   Thorney Island202 squadron

Models in this Organisation:

ModelQtyFrom YearTo Year
    agustawestland merlin hc.3a62007present
    agusta a10932006present
    agustawestland merlin hc.3222001present
    bell 412111996present
    eurocopter as355 twin squirrel31993present
    boeing-vertol CH-47 Chinook671980present
    westland sea king251978present
    aerospatiale sa342d gazelle ht.3301973present
    aerospatiale sa330 puma561971present
    westland wessex hcc.4219691998
    westland wessex7419632003
    westland wessex hc.27219632003
    bristol belvedere hc.12619601969
    westland whirlwind13519551981
    bristol sycamore9319531972
    westland dragonfly1619531958
    westland dragonfly hc.41219521958
    westland dragonfly hc.2419501954


Fleet of this Organisation:

ModelC/NBuiltID     /     History
    belvedere hc.113342 1958XG447:
XG447: Single prototype airframe ff 5 Jul 1958 at Bristol's Weston-super-Mare plant, dd 31 Mar 1959 to Royal Air Force, soc ...
    belvedere hc.1133431960XG448:
    belvedere hc.1133441960XG449:
    belvedere hc.113345 1960XG450:
    belvedere hc.113346 1960XG451:
    belvedere hc.1133471960XG452:
    belvedere hc.1133481960XG453:
    belvedere hc.1133491960XG453:
XG454: 7th pre-production airframe dd 17 Oct 1960. Belvedere Trials Unit Oct 1960, crashed 22 Nov 1960 then repaired. Belv ...
    wessex hc.2wa1221963XR497: dd 28 feb 1963. SAR duty at RAF Valley with 202 Sq by 1977. 22 Sq by Aug 1979 still by Sep 1986, 72 Sq/F by Mar 1998 sti ...
    wessex hc.2wa1301963XR505: First flew 1 Oct 1963, delivered 18 Oct 1963 . SRCU/N by 1964, 18 Sq/BS by 1976, 2FTS/WA and named Aries by Dec 1983 s ...
    wessex hc.2wa1311963XR506: ff 30 Oct 1963, dd 23 Dec 1963. 18 Sq/H by Jun 1968 still by Feb 1970, 72 Sq/AV by Sep 1974, 72 Sq/V by May 1984 still F ...
    wessex hc.2wa134 1963XR509: ff 13 Dec 1963, dd 6 Jan 1964 . 18 Sq/N by Apr 1965 still Jun 1968. w/o 16 Oct 1981, to 8752M, scrapped Dec 1992.
    wessex hc.2wa135 1963XR510: ff 19 Dec 1963, dd 6 Jan 1964. HOCF/BZ by Sep 1970, w/o 12 Nov 1970 with HOCF as /BZ, in mid air collision with XT679/BU ...
    wessex hc.2wa1391964XR517: ff 22 Jan 1964, dd 3 Feb 1964. /G by Jun 1968. 72 Sq/AN by Sep 1972 still Sep 1978, 72 Sq/N by May 1984 still 1987, to D ...
    wessex hc.2wa1431963XR521: First flew 16 Apr 1964 as HC.2, delivered 30 Apr 1964. Eventually to 2 FTS, wfu and stored at RAF Shawbury.
    wessex hc.2wa1441964XR522: ff 22 Apr 1964, dd 1 May 1964 . 78 Sq/O by 1965, HOCF/BW by Sep 1970, 84 Sq A Flt/Spades by May 1984, 28Sq/I by 1987, 28 ...
    wessex hc.2wa1481964XR526: ff 24 Aug 1964, dd 23 Sep 1964. w/o 27 May 1970 with 72 Sq, to RAF Odiham as 8147M, RAE Farnborough, G.I. Sherborne, Yeo ...
    wessex hc.2wa195 1965XS676: First flew 15 Feb 1965 as HC.2, delivered 24 Mar 1965. Eventually to 2 FTS, wfu and stored at RAF Shawbury.
    wessex hc.2wa1981965XS679: First flew 28 Apr 1965 as HC.2, delivered 5 May 1965. Eventually to 2 FTS/WG, wfu and stored at RAF Shawbury.
    wessex hc.2wa5281966XT601:
XT601: ff 13 Mar 1966, dd 18 Jun 1966, Wessex SAR Flt. Muharraq by Dec 1967, ...
    wessex hc.2wa5301966XT603: First flew 10 Jun 1966 as HC.2, delivered 29 Jun 1966. Eventually to 2 FTS, wfu and stored at RAF Shawbury.
    wessex hc.2wa5311966XT604: ff 7 Jul 1966, dd 2 Aug 1966 to RAF. Wessex HAR.2  78Sq, Muharraq SA ...
    wessex hc.2wa547 1967XT679: ff 8 Mar 1967, dd 31 Mar 1967. w/o 12 Nov 1970 with HOCF as /BU, mid air collision with XR510 HOCF/BZ at Odiham.
    wessex hc.2wa6231968XV728: f/f 25 Apr 1968, d/d 10 May 1968 to RAF. To 18 Sq, to CFS, to 2FTS by 1981, to 72 Sq/A by 1983 still 1987 (named Ar ...
    wessex hcc.4wa6271969XV732: First flew 17 Mar 1969, delivered 25 Jun 1969 to RAF for the Queens Flight. To 32 (The Royal) Sqdn 31 Mar 1995, DARA Sha ...
    wessex hcc.4wa6281969XV733: First flew 13 May 1969, delivered 30 Jun 1969 to RAF for the Queens Flight. To 32 (The Royal) Sqdn 31 Mar 1995 ...
sa330e puma w/o Mod.in Org1068 1971XW203: Also allocated Fairey series c/n F.9750.  ff 23 Mar 1971, dd 5 Apr 1971. Lost control and crashed nr N. Whitchurch ...
sa330e puma w/o Mod.in Org1080 1971XW205: Also allocated a Fairey series c/n F.9752. ff 22 Apr 1971, dd 5 May 1971. w/o 30 Jan 1978 with ...
sa330e puma w/o Mod.in Org10911971XW207: ff 18 May 1971, dd 2 Jun 1971 to RAF, to 33 Sq/CD by Aug 1972 to Jul 1983, 1563 Flt/CD Belize by Sep 1983, 33 Sq/CD by O ...
    CH-47 Chinookb-868 1984ZD576: Also known by manufacturers ids M/A036 and M7010. Ex N37079, ff 1984, arr UK Dec 1984, dd to RAF 22 Dec 1984. To 240 OCU ...
ZD576: Re-delivered as a Chinook HC.2 on 21 Apr 1994 and became the most infamous Chinook to serve with the RAF. On arrival at ...
sa330l puma w/o Mod.in Org15911978ZE449: ex argentine coast guard PA-12 was converted to Puma HC.1 in 2001 and participate on operation Iraq Freedom in 2003 with ...
    as355 twin squirrel53271985ZH141: AS355-F1. ex G-BMCY (Jul 1983) to G-RMGN (May 1986) to G-OILX (Jan 1993). To 32(The Royal) Squadron, May 1998 but owners ...
    CH-47 Chinookcg.1011979ZH257: Also assigned c/n B-797. ZH257 recovered from Falkland Islands 1982. to 9217M at DARA Fleetlands.
    merlin hc.3500331998ZJ117:
    merlin hc.3500491999ZJ118:
    merlin hc.3500751999ZJ119:
    merlin hc.3500832000ZJ120:
    merlin hc.3500992000ZJ121:
    merlin hc.3501132000ZJ122:
    merlin hc.3501292000ZJ123:
    merlin hc.3501332000ZJ124:
    merlin hc.3501372000ZJ125:
    merlin hc.3501412000ZJ126:
    merlin hc.3501492001ZJ127:
    merlin hc.3501532001ZJ128:
    merlin hc.3501672001ZJ129:
    merlin hc.3501692001ZJ130:
    merlin hc.3501732001ZJ131:
    merlin hc.3501772001ZJ132:
    merlin hc.3501812001ZJ133:
    merlin hc.3501832001ZJ134:
    merlin hc.3501872001ZJ135:
    merlin hc.3501912001ZJ136:
    merlin hc.3501952002ZJ137:
    merlin hc.3501992002ZJ138:
    as355 twin squirrel53251985ZJ139: AS355-F1. ex G-BLRI (Aug 1985) to G-NUTZ (Oct 1985). Became Twin Squirrel HCC.1 ZJ139 Mar 1996 but ownership retained by ...
    as355 twin squirrel53031983ZJ140: AS355-F1. ex G-BKUL (Jul 1983) to G-BWHH (Jan 1984) to G-FFHI (Jan 1994). Became Twin Squirrel HCC.1 ZJ140 Mar 1996 but ...
    412361441996ZJ234: ex C-FZLM, ex G-BWZR de-reg Aug 1997. Griffin HT.1 dd Apr 1997. DHFS-60 Sq/S by 1997, still 2004
    412361251996ZJ239: ex G-BXFH Bristow Helicopters, to RAF 20 Jan 1997 as Griffin HT.1. SARTU/R by Oc ...
    412361631997ZJ240: ex G-BXIR Bristow Helicopters, to RAF 5 Oct 1997 as Griffin HT.1 SARTU/U by Oct 1999.
    412361641997ZJ241: ex G-BXIS Bristow Helicopters, to RAF 3 Nov 1997 as Griffin HT.1. SARTU/L by Oct 1999.
    412362962002ZJ703: ex G-CBST. Griffin HAR.2 supplied under COMAR at RAF Akrotiri by FB Heliservices. 84 Sq/3 (Spades) by Apr 2003.
    412363042002ZJ704: ex G-CBWT. Supplied under COMAR at RAF Akrotiri by FB Heliservices. 84 Sq/4 (Clubs) by Apr 2003.
    412363062002ZJ705: ex G-CBXL. Griffin HAR.2 supplied under COMAR at RAF Akrotiri by FB Heliservices. 84 Sq/5 (Hearts) by Apr 2003.
    412363082002ZJ706: ex G-CBYR. Griffin HAR.2 supplied under COMAR at RAF Akrotiri by FB Heliservices. 84 Sq/6 (Diamonds) by Apr 2003.
    merlin hc.3a500892003ZJ990: First delivered to the Royal Danish air force as M 501 in Oct 2006. Purchased by the RAF in 2007.
    merlin hc.3a501062005ZJ992: Delivered to RDAF as M-503 in 2006, arrived in UK for conversion 12 Jul 2007.
    merlin hc.3a501212005ZJ994: Delivered to RDAF as M-505 on 2 Feb 2006. Returned to UK for Conversion on 12 Jul 2007.
    merlin hc.3a501232005ZJ995: Delivered to RDAF as M-506 on 29 Apr 2006. Returned to UK on 27 Jul 2007 for conversion.
    merlin hc.3a501482005ZJ998: Delivered to RDAF as M-509.  Returned to UK on 29 Jun 2007 for conversion.
    merlin hc.3a501602005ZK001: Delivered to RDAF as M-511.  Returned to the UK on 29 Jun 2007 for conversion.

        71 Construction Numbers in this organisation found




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