No. 228 Squadron RAF
| No. 228 Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
| Active | 20 Aug 1918 - 30 Jun 1919 15 Dec 1936 – 4 Jun 1945 1 Jun 1946 - 30 Sep 1946 1 Jul 1954 - 6 Mar 1959 1 Sep 1959 – 28 Aug 1964 |
| Country |
 United Kingdom
|
| Branch |
 Royal Air Force
|
| Role | anti-submarine, reconnaissance and air-sea rescue |
| Motto(s) |
Latin: Auxilium a caelo (Translation: "Help from the sky") |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge heraldry | A winged helmet |
| Squadron Codes |
TO (Apr 1939 - May 1939) BH (May 1939 - Sep 1939) DQ (Sep 1939 - Aug 1943) UE (Jul 1944 - Jun 1945) L (Jul 1954 - 1956) 228 (1956 - May 1959) |
No. 228 Squadron RAF was a unit that during the greatest part of its existence flew over water, doing so in World War I, World War II and beyond, performing anti-submarine, reconnaissance and air-sea rescue tasks.
The squadron formed on 20 August 1918 at Great Yarmouth during the re-organisation of the former RNAS stations of Nos. 324, 325 and 326 Flights. The squadron was initially equipped with both Felixstowe F.2A and Curtiss H.16 aircraft and was involved in anti-submarine patrols. The last patrol was flown on 24 October 1918 and the squadron disbanded on 30 June 1919 at RNAS Killingholme.
The squadron reformed on 15 December 1936 at RAF Pembroke Dock, and was initially equipped with a variety of aircraft including Short Singapores, a Supermarine Scapa, a Saro London and a Supermarine Stranraer. However, by September 1938 the squadron was just operating Stranraers. In November 1938 the squadron received its first Short Sunderland, and by April 1939 the squadron was completely re-equipped with Sunderlands.
When World War II began the squadron was at Alexandria in Egypt. The squadron immediately returned to Pembroke Dock and sent detachments to Invergordon and Sullom Voe. In June 1940 the squadron returned to Egypt following Italy's declaration of war on Britain. In June 1941 the squadron moved to Gambia, West Africa, returning in August 1941 to Pembroke Dock and then Stranraer to be re-equipped. In March 1942 at Oban, the squadron became operational again, moving to Lough Erne in December 1942 and then back to Pembroke Dock in May 1943, where it remained until disbanding on 4 June 1945.
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