No. 70 Squadron RAF

No. LXX Squadron RAF
Active	1916-1920 1920-1947 1948 - 2010
Role	Air Transport
Garrison/HQ	RAF Lyneham
Motto	"Usquam" (Everywhere)
Equipment	C-130 Hercules
Insignia
Identification symbol	A demi-wing lion erased

No. 70 Squadron (also known as No. LXX Squadron) of the Royal Air Force most recently operated the Lockheed Hercules from RAF Lyneham, Wiltshire until September 2010.^[1]

History

World War I

The squadron was formed on April 22, 1916 at Farnborough, and was equipped with the Sopwith 1½ Strutter. The squadron was posted to France, and in 1917 re-equipped with Sopwith Camels. The squadron briefly disbanded in January 1920, reforming nine days later at Heliopolis, Egypt via the renumbering of No. 58 Squadron. The squadron was equipped with the Vickers Vimy bomber.

A Sopwith 1½ Strutter #A1924 of 70th Squadron RAF. Wrecked 20 October 1916

During World War I, the squadron claimed 287 victories, and had as members nineteen aces, including Frank Granger Quigley, John Todd, Frank Hobson, Oscar Heron, Frank Gorringe, Walter M. Carlaw, George Robert Howsam, Clive Franklyn Collett, Alfred Michael Koch, Kenneth Bowman Watson, Noel Webb, Edward Gribben, and Frederic Laurence.^[2]

Reformed for World War II

During the inter-war years the squadron operated various types of aircraft including; the Vernon, the Victoria and from 1935 the Valentia. With the outbreak of the Second World War the Valentias were replaced by Wellingtons during 1940. The squadron operated Wellingtons until February 1945 when it converted to Liberators. The squadron disbanded in April 1947.

Post World War II

The squadron reformed in May 1948, at Kabrit, Egypt when No. 215 Squadron was renumbered No. 70 Squadron. The squadron was equipped with Dakotas until 1950, when it re-equipped with Valettas. In 1955, the squadron moved to Cyprus and re-equipped with the Hastings. After a brief period operating Argosys, the squadron began conversion to the Hercules in 1970, and moved to RAF Lyneham in 1975, after 55 years overseas. After 35 years of operating the Hercules C1/C3 from Lyneham, the squadron disbanded in September 2010. It is expected to reform in 2014 as the first RAF Airbus A400M squadron.^[1]

Aircraft operated

^[3]

Dates	Aircraft	Variant	Notes
1916–1917	Sopwith 1½ Strutter		Single-engined biplane fighter
1917–1919	Sopwith Camel		Single-engined biplane fighter
1919	Sopwith Snipe		Single-engined biplane fighter
1920	Handley Page 0/400		Twin-engined biplane bomber
1920–1922	Vickers Vimy		Twin-engined biplane bomber
1922–1926	Vickers Vernon		Twin-engined biplane transport
1924-1926 1926-1934 1928-1934 1930-1935 1931-1935	Vickers Victoria	I III IV V V	Twin-engined biplane transport
1935–1940	Vickers Valentia		Twin-engined biplane transport
1940-1943 1943-1945	Vickers Wellington	III X	Twin-engined medium bomber
1945–1946	Consolidated Liberator	VI	Four-engined bomber
1946–1947	Avro Lancaster	B1(FE)	Four-engined bomber
1948–1950	Douglas Dakota		Twin-engined transport
1950–1956	Vickers Valetta	C1	Twin-engined transport
1956–1968	Handley Page Hastings	C1 and C2	Four-engined transport
1967–1975	Armstrong Whitworth Argosy	C1	Four-engined transport
1970–1980	Lockheed Hercules	C1	Four-engined transport
1980–2010	Lockeed Hercules	C3	Four-engined transport

See also

• List of RAF squadrons

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "LXX Squadron Stand Down". www.raf.mod.uk. Royal Air Force. 10 September 2010. http://www.raf.mod.uk/raflyneham/newsweather/index.cfm?storyid=FABEEAE3-5056-A318-A86C009AF03E11F9. Retrieved 4 October 2010. 
2. ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/services/gbritain/rfc/70.php Retrieved 17 February 2010.
3. ^ Jefford 1988, page 46

• Jefford, C.G. (1988). RAF Squadrons. Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1 85310 053 6. 

External links

• "70 Squadron". Royal Air Force.
• http://www.rafweb.org/Sqn066-70.htm