No. 44 Squadron RAF

No. 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron RAF
No. 44 Sqn Avro Lancaster B.I in flight, 29 September 1942
Active	24 July 1917 – 1919 March 1937 - 21 December 1982
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Air Force
Motto(s)	Latin: Fulmina regis iusta ("The King's thunderbolts are righteous")
Battle honours	Home Defence, 1917–18*; Channel & North Sea, 1939–45*; Invasion Ports, 1940*; German Ports, Baltic, 1940–45; France & Low Countries, 1940; Biscay Ports, 1940–44; Ruhr, 1940–43 & 1945*; Berlin 1940–44*; Atlantic, 1942; Normandy, 1944*; Rhine, 1940–44*; Fortress Europe, 1940–44*; France & Germany, 1944–45; Walcheren. Honours marked with an asterix* are those emblazoned on the Squadron Standard
Commanders
Notable commanders	Arthur "Bomber" Harris
Insignia
Squadron Badge	On a mount, an Elephant
Squadron Codes	JW (Oct 1938 – Sep 1939) KM (Sep 1939 – Jan 1951)

No. 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron was an aviation unit of the Royal Air Force. It was active between 1917 and 1982. For most of its history it served as a heavy bomber squadron.

44 Squadron was formed on 24 July 1917 as a Home Defence unit forming part of the London Air Defence Area. The squadron, based at Hainault Farm, Essex, pioneered the use of the Sopwith Camel in night fighter operations. By the end of the First World War it was commanded by Arthur Harris, later known as Bomber Harris.

Disbanded in 1919, the squadron was reformed as a bomber squadron in March 1937 and equipped with Hawker Hinds. Moving to RAF Waddington later that year, it was equipped with Bristol Blenheims before changing to Handley Page Hampdens. During the war the squadron was subsequently based at RAF Dunholme Lodge, near Dunholme, then RAF Spilsby at Great Steeping in Lincolnshire.

At the outbreak of the Second World War, as part of Bomber Harris' No. 5 Group, the squadron was commanded by John Boothman, winner of the Schneider Trophy in September 1931. It was one of only two squadrons to operate continuously throughout the war. There were two squadron commanders who held the Victoria Cross – Wing Commanders Roderick Learoyd and John Nettleton.

In 1941 the squadron was renamed No. 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron in honour of that colony's contribution to Britain's war effort, and also to recognise that up to 25% of the ground and air crew were from Southern Rhodesia. The badge is based upon the seal of Lo Bengula ,the chief of the Matabele on conquest. The seal shows an elephant which, in the case of this unit, is intended to indicate heavy attacks.