27 Squadron

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.