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| No. 97 (Straits Settlements) Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1 December 1917 to 1 April 1920 September 1935 to 20 May 1940 25 February 1941 1 January 1956 1 Dec 1959 to 2 January 1967 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Air Force |
| Nickname | Straits Settlements |
| Motto | "Achieve your aim"[1] |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge heraldry | Anogress pierced by an arrow, point downwards.The badge is indicative of accurate aim. |
No. 97 (Straits Settlements) Squadron, was aRoyal Air Force squadron formed on 1 December 1917 atWaddington,Lincolnshire, serving in France as a heavy bomber unit until the end of theFirst World War.
The squadron reformed and served again flying heavy bombers during theSecond World War, becoming aPathfinder Force unit in 1943. In peacetime, the squadron continued in a variety of roles until final disbandment in 1967.
The squadron formed on 1 December 1917 atRAF Waddington, and was initially a training unit.[2] The squadron re-equipped with theHandley Page O/400 heavy bomber before moving to France in August 1917. In total, it flew 91 bombing sorties and dropped 64 tons of bombs before the end of the First World War.[2][3]
From 17 November 1918, 97 Squadron was based atRAF Saint Inglevert, departing on 4 March 1919,[4] and re-equipping with theAirco DH.10 Amiens. The squadron was later posted toIndia, where it remained until disbanding on 1 April 1920, after being re-numberedNo. 60 squadron.
The squadron reformed on 16 September 1935 atRAF Catfoss, and was equipped with theHandley Page Heyford.
The squadron was disbanded again in April 1940.
The squadron reformed again on 25 February 1941 at Waddington, and was equipped with theAvro Manchester bomber. Later the squadron was re-equipped with theAvro Lancaster, and in April 1943 became aPathfinder Force squadron.
The squadron also trained several pilots who were later transferred to617 Squadron to participate inOperation Chastise.
In July 1946, the squadron re-equipped with theAvro Lincoln, and remained operational until disbanding atHemswell on 1 January 1956.
The squadron was reformed – as 97(SM) Sqn. – on 1 December 1959 as one of 20 Strategic Missile (SM) squadrons associated withProject Emily. The squadron was equipped with threeThorIntermediate range ballistic missiles. and based atRAF Hemswell.
In October 1962, during theCuban Missile Crisis, the squadron was kept at full readiness, with the missiles aimed at strategic targets in theUSSR.The squadron was disbanded on 24 May 1963 when the Thor Program in Britain was terminated.
The squadron was then reformed again, via the re-numbering ofNo. 151 Squadron. The reformation took place atRAF Watton on 25 May 1963, the squadron flying theVickers Varsity T.1, Canberra Mk B.2 and the Hastings C.2. On 2 January 1967 the squadron was disbanded for the final time, still at Watton.[5]
