No. 220 Squadron RAF
A Hudson of 220 Sqn over the Dunkirk beaches during the British evacuation, 1940.
Active	14 September 1918 - 21 May 1919 17 August 1936 - 25 May 1946 24 September 1951 - 1 October 1958 22 July 1959 – 10 July 1963
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Air Force
Type	Royal Air Force squadron
Role	Maritime Patrol
Motto	ΚΑΘΟΡΩΜΕΝ ΑΙΣΤΟΙ (Greek:We Observe Unseen[1]
Insignia
Squadron badge heraldry	On a pellet between two eight-pointed stars, a torch inflamed
Squadron codes	220 Aug 1936 - Apr 1939 HU Apr 1939 - Jun 1939 PK Jun 1939 - Sep 1939 NR Sep 1939 - Aug 1943 MB Feb 1942 - Mar 1942 (Middle East detachment) 2 Aug 1943 - Jul 1944 ZZ Dec 1944 - Jun 1945 8D Jun 1945 - May 1946 T Sep 1951 - 1956 220 1956 - Oct 1958

No. 220 Squadron of theRoyal Air Force (RAF) was founded in 1918 and disbanded in 1963 after four separate periods of service. The squadron saw service in both the First and Second World Wars, as a maritime patrol unit, and finally as part of Britain's strategic nuclear deterrent.

The squadron predated the foundation of the RAF and was founded as a unit of theRoyal Naval Air Service (RNAS) . From 1915, the RNAS formed numbered wings, which controlled their own lettered squadrons. No. 2 Wing RNAS, with its subordinate squadrons, was assigned to theAegean area. One of the squadrons was 'C' Squadron, comprising Nos. 475, 476 and 477 Flights.DH.4s were, in time, joined byDH.9s andSopwith Camels. On the formation of the RAF, on 1 April 1918, the Wing was integrated as No. 62 Wing RAF. The flights kept their numbers, rather than the customary letters, as each Flight operated a different aircraft type and the squadron formed a self-contained bomber, or reconnaissance, force with its own integral fighter cover. No. 475 Flight flewDH.4 day-bombers, No. 476 Flight flewDH.9 day-bombers and the fighter-flight, No. 477 Flight, flewSopwith Camels. Most of the Wing was based atMudros, but this squadron was based on the nearby island ofImbros. It was not given the 'number-plate' of No. 220 Sqn., RAF until 14 September 1918. In February 1919 the squadron moved as a cadre toMudros on the nearby island ofLemnos, where it was disbanded on 21 May 1919.

In the buildup to theSecond World War, No. 220 Squadron was reformed, as part of the newCoastal Command, atRAF Bircham Newton in Norfolk, during 1936. It was designated a general reconnaissance (GR) squadron, onmaritime patrol duties, flyingAvro Anson multi-role aircraft. On the outbreak of war it flew patrols fromRAF Thornaby in Yorkshire, as part ofNo. 18 Group.

In November 1939, it converted toLockheed Hudson an Americanlight bomber andmaritime patrolaircraft and began a new role, flyingstrike − or anti-shipping − missions. The squadron became operational in this role, in theNorth Sea, from May 1940 onwards. In April 1941, still in the anti-shipping role, it moved toRAF Wick in Scotland, to flystrikes against Norwegian coastal traffic.

In February 1942 the squadron began to operate theBoeing Fortress, an American four-engined heavy bomber, having moved toRAF Nutts Corner in Northern Ireland that month, as part ofNo. 15 Group. In June 1942 it moved toRAF Ballykelly, situated in County Londonderry, Northern Irelan, and then, in March 1943, toRAF Benbecula in the Outer Hebrides. Detachments also operated fromRAF Bircham Newton,RAF St Eval in Cornwall andRAF Detling in Kent, during 1940, and even fromRAF Shallufa inEgypt, from early November 1941.

In October 1943 the squadron transferred toRAF Lagens, in theAzores, as a unit ofNo. 247 Group. In December 1944, it was re-equipped withConsolidators Liberators, an American four-engines heavy bomber. From 1943 until the end of the war the squadron's role wasanti-submarine (ASW) patrols over the southernNorth Atlantic.

In June 1945, with the end of the war in Europe, the squadron was brought home. It was transferred toTransport Command and Flew trooping flights, bringing men home fromIndia, from October 1945 to April 1946. With this duty done, the squadron was disbanded in May 1946.

In September 1951 the squadron was reformed, back as part ofCoastal Command and again operating in the maritime reconnaissance (MR) role. It was based atRAF St Mawgan in Cornwall and was equipped withAvro Shackleton, a long range maritime patrol aircraft. In 1953, the Squadron aircraft flew in formation in aflypast, on the occasion of the Coronation ofQueen Elizabeth II. At the time, the Avro Shackleton was fitted with a mid-upper gun-turret, the Bristol turret mounting twin20 mm Hispano cannon, though this was later removed. No. 220 Squadron was the last RAF operational aircraft so equipped.

In October 1958, the squadron was redesignated asNo. 201 Squadron.

The following year, in July 1959,No. 220 (SM) Squadron RAF was reformed. The designation "SM'" stood for Strategic Missile, and the squadron was now equipped with threeThor ballistic missiles, carrying a 1.4 megatonW-49 nuclear warhead, as part of the UK-US strategic deterrent,Project Emily. It was based atRAF North Pickenham inNorfolk until it was disbanded for the last time, along with the other Thor squadrons, in 1963.^[2]

• List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons
• List of UK Thor missile bases

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• Aircraft squadrons of the Royal Air Force in World War II
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• Ballistic missile squadrons of the Royal Air Force
• Military units and formations disestablished in 1963

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