First World War (1915–1919) No. 24 Squadron was formed as a squadron of the
Royal Flying Corps on at
Hounslow Heath Aerodrome in Greater London. It arrived in France equipped with the
Airco D.H.2 biplane fighter in February 1916. By early 1917 the DH.2 was outclassed and they were replaced by the
Airco DH.5. The DH.5 did not prove suitable as a fighter but the squadron used it in a ground-attack role. The squadron was involved in the
Battle of Messines in Belgium, and later the
Battle of Cambrai in France. The DH.5 was phased out of operations and the squadron were given the
Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a in December 1917. After a few months in the ground-attack role the squadron returned to air combat operations. By October 1918 the squadron had destroyed two-hundred enemy aircraft. Following the
armistice the squadron returned to England and was disbanded in February 1919. In June 1943 a second squadron,
No. 512 Squadron, equipped with the
Douglas Dakota was split off from No. 24 Squadron. In January 2011, No. 24 Squadron started its transition from a front-line Hercules squadron to become the
Air Mobility Operational Conversion Unit. As a
Central Flying School accredited training establishment, No. 24 Squadron is the professional training body for the Air Mobility Force, delivering flying and engineering training. The squadron also oversees Aircrew Instructor Development delivering initial aircrew instructor courses. ==Aircraft operated==