No. 220 Squadron RAF

No. 220 Squadron RAF
A Hudson of 220 Sqn over the Dunkirk beaches during the British evacuation, 1940.
Active	14 Sep 1918 - 21 May 1919 17 Aug 1936 - 25 May 1946 24 Sept 1951 - 1 Oct 1958 22 July 1959 – 10 July 1963
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Air Force
Motto(s)	We Observe Unseen
Insignia
Squadron badge heraldry	On a pellet between two eight-pointed stars, a torch inflamed
Squadron codes	220 Aug 1936 - Apr 1939 HU Apr 1939 - Jun 1939 PK Jun 1939 - Sep 1939 NR Sep 1939 - Aug 1943 MB Feb 1942 - Mar 1942 (Middle East detachment) 2 Aug 1943 - Jul 1944 ZZ Dec 1944 - Jun 1945 8D Jun 1945 - May 1946 T Sep 1951 - 1956 220 1956 - Oct 1958

No. 220 Squadron of the Royal Air Force (RAF) was founded in 1918 and disbanded in 1963 after four separate periods of service. The squadron saw service in both the First and Second World Wars, as a maritime patrol unit, and finally as part of Britain's strategic nuclear deterrent.

The squadron predated the foundation of the RAF and was founded as a unit of the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) . From 1915, the RNAS formed numbered wings, which controlled their own lettered squadrons. No. 2 Wing RNAS, with its subordinate squadrons, was assigned to the Aegean area. One of the squadrons was 'C' Squadron, comprising Nos. 475, 476 and 477 Flights. DH.4s were, in time, joined by DH.9s and Sopwith Camels. On the formation of the RAF, on 1 April 1918, the Wing was integrated as No. 62 Wing RAF. The flights kept their numbers, rather than the customary letters, as each Flight operated a different aircraft type and the squadron formed a self-contained bomber, or reconnaissance, force with its own integral fighter cover. No. 475 Flight flew DH.4 day-bombers, No. 476 Flight flew DH.9 day-bombers and the fighter-flight, No. 477 Flight, flew Sopwith Camels. Most of the Wing was based at Mudros, but this squadron was based on the nearby island of Imbros. It was not given the 'number-plate' of No. 220 Sqn., RAF until 14 September 1918. In February 1919 the squadron moved as a cadre to Mudros on the nearby island of Lemnos, where it was disbanded on 21 May 1919.

In the buildup to the Second World War, No. 220 Squadron was reformed, as part of the new Coastal Command at RAF Bircham Newton in 1936. It was designated a general reconnaissance (GR) squadron, on maritime patrol duties, flying Ansons. On the outbreak of war it flew patrols from RAF Thornaby, as part of No. 18 Group.