avia.wikisort.org - Air_Forces

Number 207 Squadron is a historic bomber squadron and, latterly, a communications and flying training squadron of the Royal Air Force. It was announced on 5 July 2017 that No. 207 Squadron will again reform to become the Operational Conversion Unit for the UK F-35B Lightning Force and will return to RAF Marham in Norfolk where it was last based in 1965.[11] No. 207 Squadron arrived at RAF Marham with six F-35Bs on 16 July 2019 before officially standing up on 1 August.[3][12]

No. 207 Squadron RAF
Official squadron badge for No. 207 Squadron RAF
Active	31 December 1916 – 1 April 1918 (RNAS) 1 April 1918 – 20 January 1920 (RAF) 1 February 1920 – 19 April 1940 1 November 1940 – 1 March 1950 4 June 1951 – 27 March 1956 1 April 1956 – 1 May 1965 3 February 1969 – 30 June 1984 12 July 2002 – 13 January 2012[1][2] 1 August 2019 – present[3]
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Air Force
Type	Flying squadron
Role	Operational conversion unit
Part of	No. 1 Group (Air Combat)
Home station	RAF Marham
Nickname(s)	"Black Cat Squadron" (WW1) "City of Leicester" (After 1939)
Motto(s)	Latin: Semper paratus ("Always prepared")[4]
Aircraft	Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning
Battle honours	Western Front, 1916–1918 Ypres, 1917* Somme, 1918* Amiens Hindenburg Line* Biscay Ports, 1941–1945 German Ports, 1941–1945* Berlin, 1941–1945* Ruhr, 1941–1945* Baltic 1941–1945 Fortress Europe 1941–1944 France & Germany, 1944–1945* Normandy, 1944* Honours marked with an asterisk* are those emblazoned on the Squadron Standard
Commanders
Current commander	Commander Tim Flatman RN
Notable commanders	Arthur Tedder Vashon James Wheeler
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldry	A winged lion statant[4] Approved by King Edward VIII in May 1936.[5]
Squadron roundel
Squadron Codes	207 (Apr 1938 – Apr 1939) NJ (Apr 1939 – Sep 1939)[6][7] EM (Nov 1939 – Mar 1950)[8][9] D (1983–1984)[10]

History

Formation and World War I

The main contingent of No. 7 Squadron RNAS was formed from "B" Squadron of No. 4 Wing RNAS on 31 December 1916 at Petite-Synthe, France. However, it is noteworthy that an earlier contingent of the Squadron had previously formed in Kondoa Irangi, Tanganyika, in May 1916, flying Aéroplanes Voisins and Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2cs for seven months on reconnaissance and bombing duties until disbanding there in January 1917, thus leaving the component in France to endure thereafter.[13][14] Formed as a specialist night bomber squadron in France in December 1916, No. 7 RNAS flew its first missions on 3 February 1917, with four Short Bombers setting out against the Brugge (Bruges) docks.[15] In April of that year it re-equipped with Handley Page O/100s, using them for night raids, including attacks against rail targets and ammunition dumps during the Second Battle of Ypres.[15] During May and June 1917 the Squadron received eight Handley Page O/400s.[16] The squadron then split into two in July 1917, with eight O/100s forming the initial equipment of 7A Squadron - later becoming 14 Squadron RNAS - while 7 Squadron continued with 10 O/100s and 8 O/400s.[17][18]

On the formation of the Royal Air Force on 1 April 1918 it became No. 207 Squadron RAF, moving back to Netheravon in England for complete re-equipping with the more advanced version of the O/100, the Handley Page O/400, returning to France in July as part of No. 54 Wing and continuing to fly night raids against railway targets.[15] It moved to Germany as part of the Army of Occupation in January 1919, serving there until August, when it handed its aircraft to No. 100 Squadron and returned to England, where it disbanded on 20 January 1920 at RAF Uxbridge.[19]

Inter-war period

The squadron re-formed on 1 February 1920 at RAF Bircham Newton.[2] Its Airco DH.9As saw service in Turkey in 1922, when it was deployed to Constantinople under the command of Arthur Tedder as part of the British intervention in the Greco-Turkish War (1919–1922); the Squadron returned to England in September 1923.[15][19] It re-equipped with Fairey IIIFs in December 1927, and with the radial engined development of the IIIF, the Fairey Gordon in August 1932. In 1935, as a response to the Italian invasion of Ethiopia, it was sent to Sudan. The Gordon's Armstrong Siddeley Panther engine proved unreliable in desert conditions, however, and they were replaced with Vickers Vincents. The following year, the squadron, again re-equipped with Gordons, returned home to RAF Worthy Down, joining RAF Bomber Command. It re-equipped with Vickers Wellesleys in 1937, only for them to be replaced with Fairey Battles early the following year. Based at RAF Cottesmore, the squadron took the role of an Operational Training Unit.[20]

Second World War

On 19 April 1940, the squadron's training role was assumed by No. 12 Operational Training Unit (OTU), allowing No. 207 Squadron to re-form on 1 November of that year as part of Bomber Command's No. 5 Group. At RAF Waddington, the squadron's crews were assigned the task of introducing the ill-fated Avro Manchester into service. Later moving to RAF Bottesford, the Manchesters were replaced by the much improved Avro Lancaster in March 1942. The squadron relocated to RAF Langar on 21 September, owing to the Bottesford runway surface breaking up and needing urgent repairs. In October 1943, No. 207 Squadron became the first occupant of the newly opened RAF Spilsby bomber station.[21]

The squadron was scheduled to form part of the Tiger Force against Imperial Japan. With the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki the Tiger Force plans were dropped and in November 1945, No. 207 Squadron relocated to RAF Methwold in Norfolk.[21]

Cold War (1946–1984)

Bombing role (1946–1965)

After moving to RAF Mildenhall in 1949 and briefly replacing the Lancaster with the Avro Lincoln, the Squadron was disbanded on 1 March 1950. Re-formed on 4 June 1951 at RAF Marham, No. 207 Squadron flew the Boeing Washington B.1 until March 1954, when it was replaced by the English Electric Canberra, which remained in service with the squadron until it disbanded on 27 March 1956.[21]

On 1 April 1956, the squadron re-formed again at RAF Marham and was now equipped with the Vickers Valiant B.1. In October the same year, No. 207 Squadron deployed to RAF Luqa, Malta, to take part in the Suez Campaign,[22] flying 11 sorties over Egypt between October and November.[23] On 1 May 1965, the squadron disbanded with the grounding of the Valiant fleet.[21]

Communications role (1969–1984)

No. 207 Squadron was re-formed on 3 February 1969 at RAF Northolt by redesignating the Strike Command Communications Squadron, which had been until 1 January 1969 the Southern Communications Squadron based at RAF Bovingdon.[24] It was equipped with Devon C.2s, Basset CC.1s and Pembroke C.1s, with the squadron first retiring the Bassets in 1974, and its last Pembroke being transferred to No. 60 Squadron in Germany in November 1975, leaving No. 207 Squadron with 14 Devons.[25] Detachments of the squadron were located at RAF Wyton and RAF Turnhouse. No. 207 Squadron was once more disbanded on retirement of the remaining Devons on 30 June 1984,[25] VP952 ending up at the RAF Museum St Athan.[26] In its last years it was part of No. 1 Group.[27]

Tucano (2002–2012)

On 12 July 2002, one of the Flying Training Squadrons operating Short Tucano T.1s at No. 1 Flying Training School, RAF Linton-on-Ouse, was renumbered as No. 207 (Reserve) Squadron.[28] Tasked with Basic Fast Jet Training, the squadron provided training for both RAF and Royal Navy students – including Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, who was part of the squadron in 2008.[29]

The squadron was later disbanded on 13 January 2012 as a result of the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review.[30] The squadron's Standard was laid up at Lincoln Cathedral on 3 October 2013.[31]

F-35B Lightning (2019–present)

On 5 July 2017, it was announced by the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Stephen Hillier at RAF Marham that No. 207 Squadron would be the Operational Conversion Unit for the Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning, being chosen due to its heritage as both a RNAS and RAF unit.[32]

No. 207 Squadron arrived at RAF Marham from MCAS Beaufort on 16 July 2019 with six Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightnings (ZM137, ZM139, ZM149, ZM150, ZM151 and ZM152) shortly before its reformation date of 1 August.[3] No. 207 Squadron made their first sortie from Marham on 29 July.[33] Wing Commander Scott Williams is the new squadron's first Officer Commanding who raised the squadron pennant when it stood up on 1 August.[12] On 28 January 2020, No. 207 Squadron became the first UK unit in a decade to operate jets in home waters from a British carrier – flying from HMS Queen Elizabeth.[34]

On 17 November 2021 a Royal Air Force F-35B, identified as ZM152, crashed during routine operations from HMS Queen Elizabeth.[35] Early reports suggested some of "the covers and engine blanks" had not been removed before takeoff.[36][37] The wreckage, which had broken into multiple pieces, including all security sensitive equipment, was largely recovered with the assistance of U.S. and Italian forces.[38][39]

Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated include:[1][40]

Squadron bases

Bases and airfields used by No. 7 Squadron RNAS and No. 207 Squadron RAF, data from[1][41]

From	To	Base	Remark
June 1916	12 January 1917	Kondoa Irangi, Tanganyika	1st no. 7 RNAS
31 December 1916	4 April 1917	Petite-Synthe, France	2nd no 7 RNAS
4 April 1918	22 April 1918	Coudekerque, France	1 April 1918 as No. 207 Squadron RAF
22 April 1918	13 May 1918	RAF Netheravon, Wiltshire
13 May 1918	7 June 1918	RAF Andover, Hampshire
7 June 1918	26 October 1918	Ligescourt, France
26 October 1918	1 December 1918	Estrées-en-Chaussée, France
1 December 1918	1 January 1919	Carvin, France
1 January 1919	10 May 1919	Merheim, Germany
10 May 1919	23 August 1919	Hangelar, Germany	Present Bonn-Hangelar airfield
23 August 1919	8 October 1919	RAF Tangmere, West Sussex
8 October 1919	16 January 1920	RAF Croydon, Surrey
16 January 1920	20 January 1920	RAF Uxbridge, Middlesex
1 February 1920	29 September 1922	RAF Bircham Newton, Norfolk
29 September 1922	11 October 1922		en route to Turkey
11 October 1922	22 September 1923	San Stephano, Turkey
22 September 1923	3 October 1923		en route to UK
3 October 1923	7 November 1929	RAF Eastchurch, Kent
7 November 1929	4 October 1935	RAF Bircham Newton, Norfolk
4 October 1935	20 October 1935		en route to Sudan
20 October 1935	28 October 1935	Port Sudan, Sudan
28 October 1935	6 April 1936	Ed Damer, Sudan
6 April 1936	14 August 1936	Gebeit, Sudan
14 August 1936	29 August 1936		en route to UK
29 August 1936	20 April 1938	RAF Worthy Down, Hampshire
20 April 1938	24 August 1939	RAF Cottesmore, Rutland
24 August 1939	9 December 1939	RAF Cranfield, Bedfordshire
9 December 1939	5 April 1940	RAF Cottesmore, Rutland
5 April 1940	19 April 1940	RAF Cranfield, Bedfordshire	Merged here into no. 12 OTU
1 November 1940	17 November 1941	RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire
17 November 1941	20 September 1942	RAF Bottesford, Leicestershire	Det. at RAF Syerston, Nottinghamshire 24 August 1942
20 September 1942	12 October 1943	RAF Langar, Nottinghamshire
12 October 1943	30 October 1945	RAF Spilsby, Lincolnshire
30 October 1945	29 April 1946	RAF Methwold, Norfolk
29 April 1946	8 November 1946	RAF Tuddenham, Suffolk
8 November 1946	28 February 1949	RAF Stradishall, Suffolk
28 February 1949	1 March 1950	RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk
4 June 1951	27 March 1956	RAF Marham, Norfolk	Washington-Canberra period
1 April 1956	1 May 1965	RAF Marham, Norfolk	Vickers Vailant period
3 February 1969	30 June 1984	RAF Northolt, Middlesex	Dets. at RAF Wyton, Cambridgeshire and RAF Turnhouse, Edinburgh
12 July 2002	13 January 2012[42]	RAF Linton-on-Ouse, Yorkshire
16 July 2019	Present	RAF Marham, Norfolk	Squadron personnel return from MCAS Beaufort, SC USA

See also

• List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons

References

Notes

Bibliography

External links

• RAF Spilsby history
• 207 Squadron RAF Association website
• Squadron history on RAF website
• Histories -and more- of nos. 206–210 sqn on RAFweb
• Lancaster ED627, EM-N of 207 Squadron RAF

---