1918 to 1959


united kingdom 217 Squadron

Royal Air Force






Originally formed as 17 Squadron, RNAS at Dunkerque in France as a bomber unit, it was renumbered when the RAF was formed in Apr 1918. It disbanded shortly after WWI to be reformed in 1937 as a reconnaisance unit. It moved around southern and central England until it became based at St. Eval in Cornwall as an anti-submarine and maritime strike specialist.
The Squadron was planned for Malaya via the Mediterranean and Ceylon over the next few years retaining its maritime role until it disbanded in Sep 1945 in Ceylon, not having reached Malaya. From 1949 to 1957 it was based in the UK as a maritime reconnaisance squadron. Its life as a rotary wing was short but dramatic. It reformed at RAF St. Mawgan on 1 Feb 1958 with the Whirlwinds from 1360 Flight and then sent a detatchment to Christmas Island in the Pacific in support of Operation Grapple - the British Hydrogen Bomb test. It disbanded in Nov 1959.



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  Locations


YearsLocationICAO/FAA
1958/59Newquay / St Mawgan EGHQ




helicopter   Models


Years Models
1958/59 Whirlwind






217 Squadron List of helicopters


C/N VersionBuiltIn this Org In other Org
wa103 w/o 1966 har.2 1956 XJ757 : HAR.2 22 Sq; 1360 Flt; 217 Sq
wa104 har.2 1956 XJ758 : HAR.2 22 Sq; 1360 Flt; 217 Sq
: asg CFS detachment (from Turnhill) at RAF Valley. Found info 217 Squadron +
wa149 w/o 1973 har.2 1956 XL110 : HAR.2 217 Sq; 228 Sq




  217 Squadron Operations


Dates Operation
AU Operation Grapple







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