No. 77 Squadron RAF

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No. 77 Squadron RAF
Active	October 1, 1916 - June 13, 1919 June 14, 1937 - June 1, 1949 September 1, 1958 - July 10, 1963
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Air Force
Motto	Esse potius quarm videri Latin: "To be, rather than seem"

No. 77 Squadron RAF was formed on October 1, 1916 at Edinburgh, and was equipped with B.E.2 and B.E.12 aircraft. The squadron disbanded at Turnhouse on June 13, 1919.

The squadron was reformed on June 14, 1937, at Finningley from 'B' Flight of No. 102 Squadron. It operated the Hawker Audax until November 1937, then re-equipped with the Vickers Wellesley. In 1938 the squadron moved to Driffield, to form part of No. 4 Group, and re-equipped with Armstrong Whitworth Whitleys. The squadron joined Coastal Command in May 1942 and was engaged in anti-submarine patrols, based at Chivenor.

In October 1942, the squadron converted to Halifaxes at Elvington, moving to Full Sutton in May 1944. On May 8, 1945 the squadron joined Transport Command, and in July 1945 re-equipped with Douglas Dakotas. The squadron moved to Broadwell in August 1945 followed by a posting to India in October 1945. The squadron was disbanded by being renumbered No. 31 Squadron on November 1, 1945.

It was reformed at Broadwell in December 1945, via the renumbering of No. 271 Squadron. The squadron operated Dakotas during the Berlin Airlift, and then disbanded on June 1, 1949 at Waterbeach.

From September 1, 1958; until July 10, 1963, the squadron operated as a Thor missile unit at Feltwell.