78 Squadron History

78 Squadron was formed as a Home Defence unit on 1st November 1916, initially with its Headquarters in Hove and equipped with BE 2c, BE 2e, BE12 and BE12a aircraft.  78 Squadron operated during the First World War, flying a mixture of 1 1/2 Strutters, Camels and Bristol Fighters from Sutton's Farm, until their disbandment in December 1919.

The Squadron reformed at Boscombe Down in 1936, and in 1939 was labelled a Tiger Squadron by King George VI; being described as "An heraldic tiger, rampant, and double queued", with the motto 'Nemo Non Paratus' which translates as 'Nobody Unprepared'.  Fully equipped with Whitley MkVs, 78 Squadron became known as the 'poor man's' OCU at the start of World War II as crews were farmed off as soon as they were trained, with the Squadron joining the war later that same year.  During the war in Europe, 78 Squadron carried out 6337 operational sorties: 6017 bombing and 320 mine-laying sorties during which 17,000 tonnes of bombs and mines were dropped.

Following the war the Squadron moved to Kabrit where it remained until 1951, transferring then to Fayid until 1954 when they were disbanded.  Reforming again in 1956, 78 Squadron moved to Kormaksar, Aden where they faced numerous engine problems with the Pioneers.  The Squadron was split into two flights after acquiring 4 Pembrokes: one with Pembrokes, the other with Pioneers. 

In June 1962, 78 Squadron was awarded The Standard by Her Majesty the Queen, which was presented in 1965.  Shortly after being awarded its Standard, 78 Squadron was re-equipped with the 9 Wessex Mk2 helicopters.  In 1967 the Wessex's accompanied 78 Squadron in their move to Sharjah, Yemen, where they flew many mercy missions.  The Squadron disbanded at Sharjah in 1971 and reformed for the third time at RAF Mount Pleasant in the Falklands in 1986; amalgamating 1310 Flight operating the Chinook HC1 and 1564 Flight operating the Sea King HAR3.  From 1988 to 2007, 78 Squadron were the only RAF squadron permanently based in the Falkland Islands, until they return to the UK to RAF Benson in 2008.

78 Squadron was formally stood up at Benson at a ceremony held on 24 January 2008.  The Squadron was re-formed at Joint Helicopter Command at RAF Benson to accommodate the additional personnel that were required when Benson acquired 6 new Merlin Mk3a from the Danish Government under a Memorandum Understanding.