No. 99 Squadron RAF
Flying squadron of the Royal Air Force / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about No. 99 Squadron RAF?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
Number 99 Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Air Force which operates the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III strategic/tactical transport aircraft from RAF Brize Norton.
No. 99 Squadron RAF | |
---|---|
Active | 15 August 1917 – 1 April 1918 (RFC) 1 April 1918 – 1 April 1920 (RAF) 1 April 1924 – 15 November 1945 17 November 1945 – 6 January 1976 November 2000 – present |
Country | United Kingdom |
Branch | Royal Air Force |
Type | Flying squadron |
Role | Strategic and tactical air transport, aeromedical evacuation |
Part of | No. 2 Group |
Home station | RAF Brize Norton |
Nickname(s) | 'Madras Presidency' |
Motto(s) | Quisque tenax (Latin for 'Each tenacious')[1][2] |
Aircraft | Boeing C-17 Globemaster III |
Battle honours |
|
Insignia | |
Squadron badge heraldry | A puma salient.[1][2] Selected because the squadrons first aircraft had Puma engines, the cat chosen for independence and tenacity while the black colour signifies the night-bombing role.[3] |
Squadron codes | VF (Apr 1939 – Sep 1939)[4][5] LN (Sep 1939 – Feb 1942)[6][7] |
The squadron conducts global deployments on behalf of the British Armed Forces and the UK Government, notably delivering emergency aid during natural disasters and supporting military operations overseas.
No. 99 was a bomber squadron in both World War I and World War II. The squadron was the first RAF unit to receive the Avro Aldershot, Handley Page Hyderabad, Handley Page Hinaidi, Vickers Wellington, Bristol Britannia and Boeing Globemaster III. In the case of the Avro Aldershot, the squadron was its only operator, as it is now for the Globemaster III.