No. 49 Squadron RAF
Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Air Force / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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No. 49 Squadron was a bomber squadron of the Royal Air Force from 1938 to 1965. They were the first squadron to receive the Hampden in September 1938.
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (February 2012) |
Quick Facts Active, Country ...
No. 49 Squadron RAF | |
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Active | 15 Apr 1916 – 18 July 1919, 10 Feb 1936 - 1 Aug 1955 1 May 1956 – 1 May 1965 |
Country | United Kingdom |
Branch | Royal Air Force |
Motto(s) | Latin: Cave canem ("Beware of the Dog")[1] |
Battle honours | Western Front, 1917-18*: Cambrai, 1917*: Somme, 1918*: Channel & North Sea, 1939-40: France & Low Countries, 1940: Invasion Ports, 1940: German Ports 1940 -45*: Ruhr, 1940 - 45*: Fortress Europe, 1940 -44*: Berlin, 1943-44*: Italy, 1943-44: Biscay Ports, 1943: Normandy, 1944: France & Germany, 1944-45*: Walcheren: Rhine: Honours marked with an asterisk are those emblazoned on the Squadron Standard |
Insignia | |
Squadron badge heraldry | A greyhound courant.[2] The greyhound is indicative of speed. |
Squadron codes | XU Apr 1939 - Sep 1939 EA Sep 1939 - Apr 1951 |
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The unit achieved fame through the Victoria Cross awarded to Rod Learoyd in 1940[3] and for its role in the British atomic and hydrogen bomb programmes. During Operation Buffalo in 1956, a Vickers Valiant from the squadron became the first British aircraft to drop a live atomic bomb.[4][5] A year later, the squadron was entrusted with the task of dropping hydrogen bombs in Operation Grapple.[6]