First World War The squadron predated the foundation of the RAF and was founded as a unit of the
Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) . From 1915, the RNAS formed numbered wings, which controlled their own lettered squadrons. No. 2 Wing RNAS, with its subordinate squadrons, was assigned to the
Aegean area. One of the squadrons was 'C' Squadron, comprising Nos. 475, 476 and 477 Flights.
DH.4s were, in time, joined by
DH.9s and
Sopwith Camels. On the formation of the RAF, on 1 April 1918, the Wing was integrated as No. 62 Wing RAF. The flights kept their numbers, rather than the customary letters, as each Flight operated a different aircraft type and the squadron formed a self-contained bomber, or reconnaissance, force with its own integral fighter cover. No. 475 Flight flew
DH.4 day-bombers, No. 476 Flight flew
DH.9 day-bombers and the fighter-flight, No. 477 Flight, flew
Sopwith Camels. Most of the Wing was based at
Mudros, but this squadron was based on the nearby island of
Imbros. It was not given the 'number-plate' of No. 220 Sqn., RAF until 14 September 1918. In February 1919 the squadron moved as a cadre to
Mudros on the nearby island of
Lemnos, where it was disbanded on 21 May 1919.
Second World War In the buildup to the
Second World War, No. 220 Squadron was reformed, as part of the new
Coastal Command, at
RAF Bircham Newton in Norfolk, during 1936. It was designated a general reconnaissance (GR) squadron, on
maritime patrol duties, flying
Avro Anson multi-role aircraft. On the outbreak of war it flew patrols from
RAF Thornaby in Yorkshire, as part of
No. 18 Group. In November 1939, it converted to
Lockheed Hudson an American
light bomber and
maritime patrol aircraft and began a new role, flying
strike − or anti-shipping − missions. The squadron became operational in this role, in the
North Sea, from May 1940 onwards. In April 1941, still in the anti-shipping role, it moved to
RAF Wick in Scotland, to fly
strikes against Norwegian coastal traffic. In February 1942 the squadron began to operate the
Boeing Fortress, an American four-engined heavy bomber, having moved to
RAF Nutts Corner in Northern Ireland that month, as part of
No. 15 Group. In June 1942 it moved to
RAF Ballykelly, situated in County Londonderry, Northern Irelan, and then, in March 1943, to
RAF Benbecula in the Outer Hebrides. Detachments also operated from
RAF Bircham Newton,
RAF St Eval in Cornwall and
RAF Detling in Kent, during 1940, and even from
RAF Shallufa in
Egypt, from early November 1941. In October 1943 the squadron transferred to
RAF Lagens, in the
Azores, as a unit of
No. 247 Group. In December 1944, it was re-equipped with
Consolidators Liberators, an American four-engines heavy bomber. From 1943 until the end of the war the squadron's role was
anti-submarine (ASW) patrols over the southern
North Atlantic. In June 1945, with the end of the war in Europe, the squadron was brought home. It was transferred to
Transport Command and Flew trooping flights, bringing men home from
India, from October 1945 to April 1946. With this duty done, the squadron was disbanded in May 1946.
Cold War In September 1951 the squadron was reformed, back as part of
Coastal Command and again operating in the maritime reconnaissance (MR) role. It was based at
RAF St Mawgan in Cornwall and was equipped with
Avro Shackleton, a long range maritime patrol aircraft. In 1953, the Squadron aircraft flew in formation in a
flypast, on the occasion of the Coronation of
Queen Elizabeth II. At the time, the Avro Shackleton was fitted with a mid-upper gun-turret, the Bristol turret mounting twin
20 mm Hispano cannon, though this was later removed. No. 220 Squadron was the last RAF operational aircraft so equipped. In October 1958, the squadron was redesignated as
No. 201 Squadron. The following year, in July 1959,
No. 220 (SM) Squadron RAF was reformed. The designation "SM'" stood for Strategic Missile, and the squadron was now equipped with three
Thor ballistic missiles, carrying a 1.4 megaton
W-49 nuclear warhead, as part of the UK-US strategic deterrent,
Project Emily. It was based at
RAF North Pickenham in
Norfolk until it was disbanded for the last time, along with the other Thor squadrons, in 1963. ==See also==