1918 to 1962


united kingdom 118 Squadron

Royal Air Force






Formed 1 Jan 1918 as a heavy bomber unit, it never saw service in WWI and was disbanded again on 7 Sep 1918. After service as a fighter squadron in WWII between Feb 1941 and Mar 1946, it reformed in May 1951 with Vampires, then Venoms, then Hunter F.4s until disbanding again in Jul 1957.

Its brief association with rotary wing operations started on 1 Sep 1959 when it reformed with 2x Sycamore HR.14s from Sycamore Flight of 228 Squadron, at RAF Aldergrove; a 3rd joined on 4 Sep, with a 4th joining later.

There was a good deal of administrative indecision about the role of support helicopters in Northern Ireland within the UK Government and the unit was threatened with disbandment several times from 1960. Indeed it acted as a detached Flight of 225 Squadron between May and Aug 1961, until it was retrospectively restored to full Squadron status. It finally disbanded on 31 Aug 1962.



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  Locations


YearsLocationICAO/FAA
1959/62AldergroveEGAA




helicopter   Models


Years Models
1959/62 Type 171 Sycamore Sycamore 4






118 Squadron List of helicopters


C/N VersionBuiltIn this Org In other Org
13198 Sycamore 4 1952 XE317 : 118 Sq by Sep 1959
: ferried GOC NI District around units under his command at Eglinton , Omagh+
: role demonstration for Governor General of Northern Ireland, flying in an +
: reverted to 118 Sq, when the unit was re-formed.
- G-AMWO
- XE317
13247 Sycamore 4 1955 XG502 : 118 Sq in Nov 1961.
: flew relief (food and clothes) to residents of isolated islands in Lough E+
: flying display in Lurgan Park
British Army XG502
13203 Sycamore 4 1955 XG506 : Joined 118 Sq at Aldergrove on 4 Sep 1959.
: role demonstration for Governor General of Northern Ireland, flying in 3 f+
: 6 Dec 1960, landed due to poor weather, while with 118 Sq
: reverted to 118 Sq, when the unit was re-formed.
13375 w/o 1961 Sycamore 4 1955 XG521 : 118 Sq by Sep 1959
: took part in flying display at RAF Aldergrove Battle of Britain Air Show.
: role demonstration for Governor General of Northern Ireland, flying in an +
: medical evacuation of farm labourer from Enniskillen to the old Belfast RV+
: recce flight with 2 RUC observers
: reverted to 118 Sq, when the unit was re-formed.
: w/o 13 Oct 1961, crashed at RAF Aldergrove, while serving with 118 Squadro+
13384 Sycamore 4 1956 XG544 : to 118 Sq to replace damaged XG521.
: Temporarily withdrawn from 118 Sq in Northern Ireland via Odiham during No+
- XG544




  118 Squadron Operations


Dates Operation
1961-aug-011962-feb-28 The Border Campaign
1959-sep-011961-apr-14 The Border Campaign






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