27 Squadron History

Since its formation in 1915 Number 27 Squadron can truly claim to have had one of the most exciting histories of any squadron in the Royal Air Force. It has operated in almost every major conflict since the Service was formed and has been active in a great variety of roles. In March 1916 the Squadron took its "Elephants" to France, at first to operate in the fighter role but eventually switching to long range bombing and reconnaissance. It operated in support of the war's major battles including the Somme, Ypres and Amiens, as well as carrying out successful raids on the Zeppelin sheds.

The Squadron was disbanded in England in January 1920 but reformed in April of the same year in India. For many years it was engaged in operations against the notorious tribes of the North West Frontier and was rarely inactive until 1939 when it became a flying training unit at Risalpur. In February 1941 the Squadron moved to Singapore then Malaya. It was wiped out when the Japanese overran the peninsula and island but many of its personnel managed to escape to India by devious routes. There the Squadron reformed in December 1942 and returned to action becoming the first Squadron to operate the Beaufighter in the Far Eastern theatre. The many attacks carried out on enemy tactical targets included the destruction of half a million gallons of fuel in a raid involving only two aircraft.

After the war the Squadron was disbanded before re-forming again in 1947 as a transport squadron with Dakotas, based in the UK. It rendered valuable service in the Berlin Airlift in 1948 before being disbanded again.

In June 1953, 27 Squadron re-formed at RAF Scampton, this time equipped with the Canberra bomber. Whilst based in Cyprus in 1956 the Squadron was engaged in bombing sorties against Egyptian targets during the Suez Crisis. In January 1957 the Squadron returned to UK and was again disbanded.

Reformed again in April 1961, it was equipped with Vulcan Mk2 Blue Steel bombers at RAF Scampton. It was disbanded in 1972 for a short time before re-forming in November 1973 in the Maritime Radar Reconnaisance (MRR) role. Surveillance sorties were flown in an area stretching from the North Cape down to the Mediterranean, locating, shadowing and photographing Soviet shipping. The Squadron disbanded once more in March 1982.

The Squadron's next reincarnation was at RAF Marham in May 1983 equipped with the Tornado GR1. In September 1991 the Squadron detached six crews to the Middle East to take part in the build-up to, and then ultimately join in the Gulf War in January 1992. In all, the crews flew 18 missions apiece - the first three at low level and the remainder at medium level, using laser guided bombs for the first time. The Squadron again disbanded in September 1993.

The decision had already been taken that the 27 Squadron Numberplate should be allocated to RAF Odiham's long established helicopter training unit. So on 1 October 1993, No 240 Operational Conversion Unit became No 27(Reserve) Squadron equipped with Puma HC1 and Chinook HC1 helicopters. During the next two years the Chinook HC2 replaced the MK1s and as a result of the re-organisation of the Support Helicopter Force, the last Pumas left Odiham in early 1998. On 1 January 1998, 27(R) Squadron lost its (R), when full operational squadron status was granted.