No. 70 Squadron RAF facts for kids

Quick facts for kids No. LXX Squadron RAF
Squadron badge
Active	22 Apr 1916 – 2 Jan 1920 1 Feb 1920 – 31 Mar 1946 15 Apr 1946 – 1 Apr 1947 1 May 1948 – 8 Sep 2010 1 Oct 2014 – present
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Air Force
Type	Flying squadron
Role	Strategic and tactical air transport
Part of	No. 2 Group RAF
Home station	RAF Brize Norton
Nickname(s)	Usquam (Latin for 'Anywhere')
Aircraft	Airbus A400M Atlas C1
Battle honours	Western Front (1916–1918)* Somme (1916)* Arras Ypres (1917) Somme (1918) Kurdistan (1922-1924) Iraq (1918–1929) Kurdistan (1930–1931) Northern Kurdistan (1932) North West Frontier (1937) Mediterranean (1940–1943) Egypt and Libya (1940–1943)* Greece (1940–1941) Syria (1941) Iraq (1941)* El Alamein North Africa (1942–1943)* El Hamma Sicily (1943) Italy (1943–1945)* Salerno Anzio and Nettuno Gustav Line Gothic Line South East Europe (1944–1945)* South Atlantic (1982) Gulf (1991) Iraq (2003–2011) * Honours marked with an asterisk may be emblazoned on the Squadron Standard
Commanders
Current commander	Wing Commander Calvin Bailey M.B.E.
Insignia
Squadron badge heraldry	A demi-wing lion erased. Developed from an unofficial winged lion badge probably derived from the squadron's long dependence on the Napier Lion engine during the 1920s.

No. 70 or LXX Squadron is a special unit of the Royal Air Force (RAF). Its main job is to provide strategic and tactical air transport. This means they move important supplies, equipment, and people by air, often over long distances or into difficult areas. The squadron has a long and interesting history, serving in many conflicts and humanitarian missions around the world.

History of No. 70 Squadron

Early Years: World War I

No. 70 Squadron was first formed on April 22, 1916, at Farnborough Airfield in the UK. They started with Sopwith 1½ Strutter planes. Soon after, the squadron moved to France to join the fighting in World War I.

A Sopwith 1½ Strutter from 70th Squadron RAF in 1916.

In 1917, they upgraded to Sopwith Camel aircraft. These were famous fighter planes. During the war, the squadron was very successful, claiming 287 victories against enemy aircraft. Many skilled pilots, known as "flying aces," were part of No. 70 Squadron.

Between the World Wars

After World War I, the squadron briefly closed down in January 1920. However, it reopened just nine days later in Heliopolis, Egypt. At this time, it became a bomber-transport unit, flying Vickers Vimy bombers.

In December 1921, the squadron moved to Hinaidi, Iraq. They started using Vickers Vernon planes, and later Vickers Victoria aircraft in 1926. These planes were used to carry heavy loads for both air and ground units. They also served as air ambulances and helped keep the important Cairo-Baghdad airmail route open.

A famous event happened in December 1928. There was a conflict in Afghanistan, and No. 70 Squadron played a key role in the Kabul Airlift. Over two months, their Victoria planes helped evacuate 586 British and European people. They flew over mountains as high as 10,000 feet (about 3,000 meters), often in bad weather. This was the first large-scale air evacuation ever!

In November 1934, the squadron replaced their Victorias with Valentia planes. By August 1939, just before World War II, the squadron returned to Egypt.

World War II Missions

When Italy joined World War II, No. 70 Squadron switched to Vickers Wellington bombers. They began flying missions over the Western Desert in North Africa.

In 1940, some of their planes were sent to Greece to help Allied forces. In 1941, the squadron was involved in campaigns in Vichy-controlled Syria and during a rebellion in Iraq.

As the war continued, No. 70 Squadron moved often to support the 8th Army's advance. They moved through Libya and then Tunisia. In November 1943, they moved to Djedeida near Tunis. This location made it easier to reach industrial targets in northern Italy. From December 1943 to October 1945, the squadron was based at Tortorella Airfield, Italy. Here, their Wellingtons were replaced by long-range Liberator bombers.

After World War II: Modern Transport

No. 70 Squadron was disbanded in April 1947, but it reformed quickly in May 1948 at RAF Kabrit, Egypt. They flew Douglas Dakotas until 1950, then switched to Vickers Valettas.

In 1955, the squadron moved to RAF Nicosia, Cyprus. They started using Handley Page Hastings planes, and later Percival Pembroke communication aircraft. In 1966, they moved to RAF Akrotiri. After a short time flying Armstrong Whitworth Argosy C.1s, the squadron began using the Lockheed C-130 Hercules in 1970.

An Armstrong Whitworth Argosy C.1 from 70 Squadron RAF, named Horatius, in 1971.

After 55 years serving overseas, the squadron moved back to the UK, to RAF Lyneham, in 1975. They operated Hercules C1/C3 aircraft for 35 years. The squadron was disbanded again in September 2010.

However, No. 70 Squadron reformed on October 1, 2014. On July 24, 2015, Princess Anne officially presented them with a new standard. This made them the RAF's first frontline squadron to fly the Airbus A400M Atlas.

In 2017, the squadron helped with Operation RUMAN, providing humanitarian aid after Hurricane Irma. In August 2021, they were sent to Al Minhad Air Base in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. From there, two of their aircraft helped with Operation Pitting. This was the largest Royal Air Force airlift since the Berlin Airlift. They helped evacuate British citizens and vulnerable Afghan people from Kabul International Airport.

Aircraft They Flew

No. 70 Squadron has flown many different types of aircraft throughout its history. Here are some of the main ones:

See also

• List of RAF squadrons