33 Squadron are based at RAF Benson, home to the RAF's Puma force. The Squadron was formed initially as a home defence unit. Aircraft flown include the Avro 504, Hurricane I, Javelin FAW7 and Puma HC1. 33 Squadron returned to the front line supporting Operation Toral in Afghanistan in 2014.
1916 Formed at Filton.
1935 Took part in the Abyssinian crisis.
1970 The RAF's first Puma Squadron.
2014 Took delivery of the upgraded Puma HC2.
1916 - 1918* Home Defence
1936 - 1939 Palestine
1940 - 1943* Egypt and Libya
1941* Greece
1941* El Alamein
1944 - 1945* France and Germany
1944* Normandy
1944* Walcheren
1944* Rhine
1991* Gulf
2003 - 2011* Iraq
*Honours marked with an asterisk may be emblazoned on the Squadron Standard
