No. 76 Squadron RAF

No. 76 Squadron RAF
Active	15 Sep 1916 (RFC) – 13 Jun 1919 12 Apr 1937 – 8 Apr 1940 30 Apr 1940 – 2 May 1940 1 May 1941 – 1 Sep 1946 9 Dec 1953 – 30 Dec 1960 1 May 2007 – 20 May 2011
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Air Force
Motto(s)	Resolute
Commanders
Notable commanders	Wing Commander Leonard Cheshire
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldry	In front of a rose, a lion passant, guardant.
Squadron Codes	NM (Oct 1938 – Apr 1939) MP (May 1941 – Sep 1946)

No. 76 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It was formed during World War I as a home defence fighter squadron and in its second incarnation during World War II flew as a bomber squadron, first as an operational training unit and later as an active bomber squadron. With the end of the war the squadron converted to the role of transport squadron, to be reactivated shortly in the bomber role during the 1950s. From 2007 to 2011, it was a training unit, equipped with the Short Tucano at RAF Linton-on-Ouse.

No. 76 Squadron, RFC was formed at Ripon, Yorkshire for home defence duties on 15 September 1916 in the Yorkshire area, having detachments at Copmanthorpe, Helperby and Catterick. It was equipped with Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2s and B.E.12s, these being replaced by Bristol F.2Bs in 1918. The squadron disbanded at Tadcaster on 13 June 1919, having seen no action during this part of its service life. despite this it is largely seen in the film "Aces High" by Jack Gold.

The squadron was next reformed at RAF Finningley on 12 April 1937 from 'B' Flight of No. 7 Squadron, equipped with Vickers Wellesley bombers. These were replaced by Handley Page Hampdens and Avro Ansons in April 1939, the unit moving to RAF Upper Heyford at the outbreak of war. It performed an operational training role until 8 April 1940, when it merged with No. 7 Squadron to form No. 16 Operational Training Unit (OTU).

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