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RAF Squadrons (Numbers 201-617)

201 Squadron No. 201 Squadron was one of the first squadrons to be formed as it was No. 1 Squadron of the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS), being renumbered 201 on the formation of the RAF in 1918. It was formed in 1914 at Fort Grange in Hampshire. It is currently a Maritime Patrol and Search and Rescue Squadron flying Nimrod MR2’s at RAF Kinloss in Moray.

202 Squadron No. 202 Squadron was one of the first squadrons to be formed as it was No. 2 Squadron of the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS), being renumbered 202 on the formation of the RAF in 1918. It was formed in 1914 at Eastchurch in Kent. It is currently a Maritime Patrol and Search and Rescue Squadron flying SeaKings at RAF Lossiemouth in Moray, Scotland.

207 Squadron No. 207 Squadron was the first British squadron with the sole mission of long-range night bombing. It was formed in 1915 at Eastchurch in Kent from the “B” Squadron of No 4 Wing of the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS). It is currently a Flying Training Squadron flying Tucano T1’s at RAF Linton-On-Ouse.

208 Squadron No. 208 Squadron was formed in 1916 at Dunkirk as Number 8 (Naval) Squadron. It is currently a Flying Training Squadron flying Hawk T1/T1A’s at RAF Valley in Anglesey.

216 Squadron No. 216 Squadron started out as ‘A’ Squadron, RNAS, which formed in 1917 at Manston in Kent. It was redesignated No. 16 Squadron in early 1918, and later in the year was renumbered as No. 216 Squadron. It is an Air Transport and Air-to-Air refueling squadron flying Tristars and is based at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.

230 Squadron No. 230 Squadron was formed in 1918 at Felixstowe in Kent from three local seaplane Flights. It is currently a Support Helicopter Squadron flying Puma HC1’s at RAF Aldergrove in Belfast. 617 Squadron No. 617 Squadron was formed in 1943 at Scampton in Lincolnshire specifically for Operation Chastise, the mission known to most of the UK as the Dam Busters. It is currently an Offensive Support squadron flying Tornado GR4’s and is based at RAF Lossiemouth in Moray, Scotland.

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