No. 24 Squadron RAF

No. XXIV Squadron RAF
Crest: Squadron crest
Active	21 September 1915
Role	Air Transport
Garrison/HQ	RAF Brize Norton
Motto(s)	In omnia parati Latin: "Prepared for all things"
Equipment	C130J Hercules
Battle honours	Western Front 1916–1918, Somme 1916, Somme 1918, Amiens, Hindenburg Line, France and Low Countries 1939–1940, Malta 1942, North Africa 1942–1943, Italy 1943–1944, Burma 1944–1945, Gulf 1991
Commanders
Commanding Officer	Wing Commander D Rawlins
Notable commanders	Major L G Hawker
Insignia
Squadron badge heraldry	A Blackcock

No. 24 Squadron (also known as No. XXIV Squadron) of the Royal Air Force operates the C-130J Hercules C.4 and C.5 from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.

The squadron was founded as No. 24 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps on 1 September 1915 at Hounslow Heath Aerodrome. It arrived in France equipped with D.H.2 fighters in February 1916 – making it the world's first single-seat fighter squadron. The DH.2 came with a reputation for spinning because it had a rotary engine "pushing" it, but after Officer Commanding Major Lanoe Hawker demonstrated the recently discovered procedures for pulling out of a spin, the squadron's pilots came to appreciate the type's maneuverability.

By early 1917 the DH.2 was outclassed and they were replaced by the Airco DH.5. The DH.5 did not prove suitable as a fighter but the squadron used it in a ground-attack role. One of the first actions was during the Battle of Messines and later in the Battle of Cambrai. The DH.5 was phased out of operations and the squadron were given the SE.5a in December 1917. After a few months in the ground-attack role the squadron returned to air combat operations. By October 1918 the squadron had destroyed 200 enemy aircraft. With the armistice the squadron returned to England and was disbanded in February 1919. During the course of its wartime existence, it had 33 flying aces among its ranks, including

On 1 February 1920 the squadron was re-formed at RAF Kenley with an unusual task. It had to provide aircraft to transport VIPs and government officials and senior members of the three services. During the General Strike of 1926, because of the lack of a postal services, the squadron was used to deliver government dispatches around the country. It was soon in demand to provide air travel to royalty, when the Prince of Wales acquired his own aircraft they were looked after by the squadron.