Formed on 5 Nov 1915 from a core of 24 Squadron at Hounslow, 27 Squadron saw service in both World Wars. It was a V-Bomber unit throughout the 1960s and 70s and operated Tornados during the 1980s. On 1 Oct 1993, 27(R) Squadron took over the role of 240 Operational Conversion Unit and with it, its Chinook HC.1a and Puma HC.1s at RAF Odiham (EGVO). On 1 Jan 1998 27(R) Squadron lost its reserve status and shortly afterwards, its Pumas departed for RAF Benson.
For c 12 days during early May 2015, a flight of 3 Chinooks was deployed in stages to assist in humanitarian disaster efforts, following the Nepal earthquakes, but were held on the ground in India at Chandigarh AFS, while the Nepalese Government decided that they were not required. They returned to RAF Odiham via RAF Brize Norton in May 2015 without taking any part in the relief effort.
On 28 Dec 2015, in response to flooding in York, the unit delivered critical parts to repair machinery at the Citys River Foss Barrier.
The squadron is affiliated with HMS Prince of Wales.
News
Locations
| 1993- | EGVO ODH | RAF Odiham |
| 2015 | VICG IXC |  Chandigarh AFS |
Models
| 1993- | Chinook HC2 / HC2A / HC3 |
| 1993-1998 | SA330 Puma |
Operations
| -- |  Exercise Trident Juncture 2015 |
|
| -- |  Operation Musketeer |
|
| 08 Feb 20032003 | 28 Oct 20032003 |  Operation Telic |
| 22 Oct 20052005 | 05 Dec 20052005 |  Operation Maturin |
| 15 Jul 20062006 | 22 Jul 20062006 |  Operation Highbrow |
| 20 Sep 20162016 | 24 Mar 20172017 | Joint Expeditionary Force (Maritime) 2016 |
| Sep 20172017 | Oct 20172017 |  Hurricanes Irma, Jose and Maria Relief Operations |
| Oct 20182018 | 03 Nov 20182018 |  Exercise Saif Sareea 3 |
| 05 Oct 20192019 | 17 Oct 20192019 | Exercise Joint Warrior 19-2 |
Airframes (26)
| Reg | Model | C/N | Built | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XW200 | sa330e | 1048 | 1971 | NC |
| XW206 | sa330e | 1086 | 1971 | NG |
| XW231 | sa330e | 1195 | 1972 | |
| ZA670 | ch-47d | M.7032 | 1980 | NX |
| ZA671 | ch-47d | M.7007 | 1980 | |
| ZA673 | ch-47d | M.7017 | ||
| ZA681 | ch-47d | M.7002 | 1993 | |
| ZA683 | ch-47d | M.7031 | ||
| ZA707 | ch-47d | M.7025 | ||
| ZA708 | ch-47d | M.7018 | ||
| ZA710 | ch-47d | M.7003 | ||
| ZA712 | ch-47d | M.7016 | E | |
| ZA713 | ch-47d | M.7013 | 1981 | |
| ZA714 | ch-47d | M.7005 | ||
| ZA718 | ch-47d | M.7001 | 1993 | |
| ZA934 | sa330e | 1622 | 1979 | BZ |
| ZD575 | ch-47d | M.7023 | NZ | |
| ZD984 | ch-47d | M.7015 | ||
| ZH777 | ch-47d | M.4453 | NY | |
| ZH891 | ch-47d | M.4454 | 1997 | |
| ZH892 | ch-47d | M.4455 | ||
| ZH893 | ch-47d | M.4456 | 1998 | |
| ZH894 | ch-47d | M.4457 | 1998 | |
| ZH896 | ch-47d | M.4459 | ||
| ZH901 | mh-47e | M.4480 | ||
| ZH904 | mh-47e | M.4483 |