No. 78 Squadron RAF

No. 78 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates 2 Westland Sea King HAR.3s and 1 CH-47 Chinook HC.2 from RAF Mount Pleasant, Falkland Islands. 78 Sqn is one of only two frontline RAF squadrons to operate a mixed fleet, the only other being the Royal Squadron.

History

The Squadron reformed on May 22 1986 and has operated in the same role since then. Originally operating the Chinook HC.1, these were replaced with HC.2s. The Chinook HC.2, equivalent to the US Army CH-47D standard, began to enter RAF service in 1993.

78 Squadron is the only one permanently based in the Falkland Islands. The four Tornado F3s which provide air defence are operated by No. 1435 Flight. No. 1312 Flight operates a single Vickers VC10 and one C-130K Hercules

While the squadron does operate the helicopter pictured, the HAR.3, it does not wear the yellow livery shown whilst operating in the Falklands. This high-visibility scheme is used for the SAR mission in the British Isles.

Chinook squadrons

• 7 Squadron – RAF Odiham – 5 Chinook HC2
• 18 Squadron – RAF Odiham – 18 Chinook HC2
• 27 Squadron – RAF Odiham – 10 Chinook HC2
• 78 Squadron – RAF Mount Pleasant – 1 Chinook HC2

See also

• List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons
• Military of the Falkland Islands