Motto(s) For Freedom | ||
Active 30 Sep 1918 – 1 Feb 191925 Aug 1941 – 1 Sep 19501 Jan 1955 – 1 Apr 1962 Role FighterSpecial OperationsBomber Squadron Badge heraldry A sword in bend, the point uppermost, severing a reef knot | ||
No. 138 Squadron RAF was a squadron of the Royal Air Force that served in a variety of roles during its career, last disbanded in 1962. It was the first 'V-bomber' squadron of the RAF, flying the Vickers Valiant between 1955 and 1962.
Contents
Formation in World War I as fighter squadron
No. 138 Squadron RAF was originally to be formed as a fighter unit on 1 May 1918, but formation was suspended until officially formed on 30 September 1918 as a fighter-reconnaissance squadron at Chingford, and was disbanded there on 1 February 1919.
Special Duties in World War II
During World War II, it was reformed in 1941, from No. 1419 Flight, as No. 138 (Special Duties) Squadron. It was based initially at RAF Stradishall, then at RAF Tempsford, and was tasked with dropping agents and equipment of the Special Operations Executive inside occupied territory. Between 1 April 1943 and November 1943 it included Polish Special Duties Flight, as a Flight C. It carried out this role until March 1945 when it was reassigned to Bomber Command, operating under No. 3 Group. It was disbanded on 1 September 1950.
V-Bomber squadron post-war
On 1 January 1955 the squadron was reformed as the first squadron to be equipped with the Vickers Valiant strategic nuclear bomber, based at RAF Gaydon and later moving to RAF Wittering. It flew them from Malta during the Suez Crisis of October 1956, and was finally disbanded on 1 April 1962.