No. 228 Squadron RAF

A Curtiss H.12 used by the RNAS

The squadron formed on 20 August 1918 at Great Yarmouth during the re-organisation of the former RNAS stations of Nos. 324, 325 and 326 Flights.[1] The squadron was initially equipped with both Felixstowe F.2A and Curtiss H.16 aircraft and was involved in anti-submarine patrols. The last patrol was flown on 24 October 1918 and the squadron disbanded on 30 June 1919 at RNAS Killingholme.[1][2]

A Supermarine Stranraer as flown by 228 Squadron

The squadron reformed on 15 December 1936 at RAF Pembroke Dock, and was initially equipped with a variety of aircraft including Short Singapores, a Supermarine Scapa, a Saro London and a Supermarine Stranraer.[2] However, by September 1938 the squadron was just operating Stranraers.[3][4] In November 1938 the squadron received its first Short Sunderland, and by April 1939 the squadron was completely re-equipped with Sunderlands.[3][4]

A Short Sunderland

When the Second World War began the squadron was at Alexandria in Egypt. The squadron immediately returned to Pembroke Dock and sent detachments to RAF Invergordon, in Ross and Cromarty, Scotland and RAF Sullom Voe in the Shetland Isles of Scotland. In June 1940 the squadron returned to Egypt following Italy's declaration of war on Britain. In June 1941 the squadron moved to Gambia, West Africa, returning in August 1941 to Pembroke Dock and then RAF Stranraer, in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, to be re-equipped. In March 1942 at RAF Oban in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, the squadron became operational again, moving to RAF Lough Erne, in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, in December 1942 and then back to Pembroke Dock in May 1943, where it remained until disbanding on 4 June 1945.[3][4]

A Liberator at the Royal Air Force Museum London at the Hendon Aerodrome.

On 1 June 1946 the squadron reformed at RAF St Eval when No. 224Y Squadron was renumbered. The squadron was equipped with Consolidated Liberators GR.6 and GR.8s and performed passenger and freight services with the Liberators to Ireland, Gibraltar, the Azores and Morocco, but also had reconnaissance, air-sea rescue and meteorological tasks. It disbanded on 30 September 1946 at RAF St Eval.[1][4]

Avro Shackleton with Saunders-Roe airborne lifeboat

The squadron reformed again on 1 July 1954 at St Eval, equipped with the Avro Shackleton as a maritime reconnaissance unit, moving in November 1956 to RAF St Mawgan and in January 1958 back to St Eval, where is disbanded on 1 April 1959.[1][4]

In September 1959 the squadron reformed again via the renumbering of No. 275 Squadron at RAF Leconfield. The squadron was now a helicopter search and rescue unit, flying Bristol Sycamores -passing them on to 118 sqn- and Westland Whirlwinds.

On 28 August 1964 the squadron was disbanded at Leconfield, when it was renumbered to No. 202 Squadron.[1][4]