THE SQUADRON

202 Squadron is based at RAF Valley on Anglesey, supporting 1 Flying Training School. Operated as a search and rescue squadron for more than 50 years.

Aircraft flown include the Short Sunderland, Consolidated Catalina, Handley Page Hastings, Westland Whirlwind and Sea King. 202 Squadron provides mountain, maritime and SAR training to helicopter aircrew with the Airbus Helicopters Jupiter.

Be always vigilant

BASED AT

History

1914   Formed at Eastchurch, as 2 Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service.

1918   Became 202 Squadron on the formation of the Royal Air Force.

1939   Began wartime anti-submarine flying-boat patrols from Gibraltar and Ireland.

1946   Re-equipped with the Handley Page Halifax as a weather reconnaissance squadron. Re-equipped with the Hastings in 1950.

1964   Disbanded and re-formed as a search and rescue unit, flying Westland Whirlwind helicopters. Re-equipped with the Sea King in 1978.

2016   Disbanded, but stood up again as 202 (Reserve) Squadron, a SAR training unit equipped with the Bell Griffin HT1.

2018   Re-equipped with the Jupiter.

BATTLE HONOURS

1916 - 1918*   Western Front

1939 - 1945*   Atlantic

1940 - 1943*   Mediterranean

1942 - 1943   North Africa

1942 - 1943*   Biscay

*Honours marked with an asterisk, may be emblazoned on the Squadron Standard