No. 37 Squadron RAF

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No. 37 Squadron RAF
Active	15 April 1916
Role	Inactive
Garrison/HQ	Inactive
Equipment	Inactive
Motto	"Wise without eyes"
Insignia
Identification symbol	A hawk hooded, belled and fessed, wings elevated and addorsed

No. 37 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps was formed at Orfordness, Suffolk, on 15 April 1916 but ceased to exist a month later. In September of that year, it was re-formed, with headquarters at Woodham Mortimer, in Essex. It responsibilities included defending London against aerial attack. In March 1919, by which time it was part of the Royal Air Force, the squadron moved to Biggin Hill and in July 1919 it was renumbered as 39 Squadron.

In April 1937, the squadron was re-formed as No. 37 (Bomber) Squadron from a nucleus provided by 214 Squadron. By the outbreak of World War II its equipment consisted of Wellington bombers.

In November 1940, the squadron moved to the Middle East where it stayed for the remainder of the war. On 2 October 1945 the Squadron moved to Palestine but returned to Egypt in December where it was disbanded on 31 March 1946. On 15 April 1946, No. 214 Squadron at Fayid was renumbered No. 37 which flew Lancaster bombers until it was disbanded again on 1 April 1947. It reformed again in Palestine on 14 September 1947, once again flying Lancasters. In May 1948, at the time of the British withdrawal from Palestine, the squadron moved to Malta. In August 1953 the squadron converted to Shackleton bombers and in August 1957 it moved to Aden where it remained until it disbanded on 7 September 1967.