18 Squadron

Providing rapid air mobility worldwide in support of the RAF on operations.

With courage and faith

About

18 Squadron is based at RAF Odiham, home of the UK Chinook Force. They have claimed 200 air-to-air victories by the end of WWI. Former aircraft flown have included the Blenheim I and IV, Valiant and the Wessex. 18 Squadron provided tactical air transport to front-line troops in Iraq (Operation TELIC) and Afghanistan (Operation HERRICK).

History

1915   Formed at RAF Northolt.

1941   Dropped a replacement artificial leg to the captured Douglas Bader during a bombing mission.

1955   Took part in the Suez crisis.

1982   Provided the sole Chinook in the Falklands campaign.

2017   Supported the UK relief effort in the Caribbean after hurricane Irma.

Battle honours

1915-1918*   Western Front

1916*   Somme 

1918*   Somme

Hindenburg Line*

Lys

France and Low Countries

1940*   Invasion Ports

1940-1942   Fortress Europe

1940-1941*   Channel and North Sea

1942   Egypt and Libya 

1942-1943*   North Africa 

1943   Mediterranean 

1943   Sicily 

Salerno

1943-1944   South East Europe

1943-1945*   Italy

Gothic Line

1982*   South Atlantic

1991   Gulf

2003-2011   Iraq 

Honours marked with an asterisk, are emblazoned on the Squadron Standard.

Contact

Please contact the home station Media Communications team for more information or to contact the Squadron

Media enquiries details for RAF Odiham