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Merlin Force Structure

On 3rd December 2007 the growing Merlin Force was split into 78 Squadron, 28 (AC) Squadron and Merlin Force Engineering Squadron (MFES). By the end of 2008, 78 Squadron will consist of 3 operational flights, and 28 (AC) Squadron of 2 operational flights and the Operational Conversion Flight (OCF). The OCF, will output Limited Combat Ready (LCR) aircrew to the operational flights. Both squadrons' aircrew will eventually be trained on the HC3 and HC3A, and even though there are differences there will be no separate currency for the new aircraft. 78 Squadron also includes the Training, Development and Standards Flight (TDSF) which is responsible for all environmental training, Combat Ready (CR) work-up and Merlin HC3A differences training. It will eventually be returning to 28 (AC) Squadron at the end of 2008 when the third 78 Squadron flight is formed. Each flight now consists of 6 crews with the aspiration to deploy on operations under the‘ fight-by- flight’ regime.

28 (AC) Squadron

Number 28 Squadron formed at Gosport on 7 November 1915 from a nucleus provided by No 22 Squadron. For 18 months it was a training unit before moving to Yatesbury in July 1917 and was re-equipped with Sopwith Camels before moving to France in October. The Squadron had barely settled on the continent when it was moved to Italy, along with the British Expeditionary Force, to bolster the forces in that country. No 28 Squadron remained in Italy until February 1919 flying offensive patrols before returning home for the inevitable disbandment of the unit on 20 January 1920.

Four months later, the Squadron reformed by renumbering No 114 Squadron based at Ambala in India, equipped with the trusty Bristol Fighter and operating on the North-West Frontier as an Army Co-operation (AC) unit. The 'Brisfits' soldiered on until September 1931 when Wapitis arrived, these in turn being replaced by Audaxes in 1936. It wasn't until September 1941 that "modern" equipment, in the form of Lysanders, arrived. These were used to support British Forces in Burma fighting the Japanese advance until the country was over-run. The Squadron re-grouped at Lahore and co-operated in a series of exercises until the end of the year when it traded the Lysanders for Hurricane fighter-bombers. The 'Hurri-bombers' as they were known commenced operations over Burma in January 1943 and continued through to the Japanese surrender by which time No 28 (AC) had started to re-equip with Spitfires. The Squadron then returned to Burma as part of the permanent defence force before transferring to Hong Kong in May 1949 in light of the situation in China.

February 1951 saw Vampires arrive and the Squadron on the move again, this time to Sek Kong where it remained for three years before returning to Kai Tak and receiving Venoms. The multi-role Hunter was taken on strength in 1962 before the unit was disbanded in December 1966. On 1 April 1968, No 28 (AC) Squadron reformed at Kai Tak, this time with Whirlwind helicopters. These were replaced by the Wessex in early 1972. No 28 (AC) was the last unit to leave the colony of Hong Kong before it was returned to Chinese control in June 1997 during which time it provided support not only to British Forces, but local authorities on the colony.

The Squadron reformed at RAF Benson on 17 July 2001 with the Merlin HC Mk 3. It currently has 2 Operational Flights and an embedded Operational Conversion and Training Flight. Since entering service, the Squadron has deployed the Merlin on training exercises from the Arctic Circle to the Middle East and Africa. In addition 28 (AC) Squadron was involved in the demonstration of the Merlin’s capability in the USA that resulted in its selection as the replacement Presidential helicopter. Operationally the Squadron has spent time in Bosnia and is currently deployed at Basrah Air Station, along with their neighbours from 78 Squadron, under the guise of 1419 Flight in support of the Multi-National Coalition Forces in Iraq.

Motto: Quicquid agas age - 'Whatsoever you may do, do'.

Badge: In front of a demi-Pegasus, a fasces, approved by HM King Edward VIII in October 1936. The demi-Pegasus represents the chalk white horse on the downs near Yatesbury, Wiltshire- the Squadron's first operational base - while the Roman fasces commemorate service in Italy during the First World War.

Battle Honours: Italian Front and Adriatic 1917-1918, Piave, Vittoria Venito, Waziristan 1921-1925, North-West Frontier 1939, Burma 1942, Arakan 1943-1944, Manipur 1944, Burma 1944-1945.

78 Squadron

Formed at Newhaven on 1 November 1916, Number 78 Squadron and its BE2s was designated as a Home Defence unit, responsible for intercepting marauding Zeppelins as they attacked targets on the south coast, moving some six months later to London to defend the capital when German bomber raids started. Shortly before the Armistice in November 1918, the unit started to re-equip with 1½-Strutters, but never received its full complement before disbanding, like many other squadrons in 1919.

The Squadron was not reformed until 1 November 1936 when 'B' Flight of No 10 Squadron based at Boscombe Down was retitled. Now flying Heyford night bombers, the Squadron moved to Dishforth in Yorkshire and became part of the newly created No 4 Group. In the summer of 1937, No 78 began converting to Whitleys, and following the outbreak of World War II, was tasked with the training of newly formed crews prior to posting on to operational squadrons. The unit joined the front line bomber force in July of 1940, taking up night bomber duties until re-equipping with Halifaxes in 1942. For the remainder of the European War, the unit continued in this role, but in May 1945 it was transferred to Transport Command and, after converting to Dakotas, moved to Egypt. Here, No 78 took up route flying around the Mediterranean, North Africa and Middle East, receiving Vallettas in 1950, before disbanding at Fayid, Egypt at the end of September 1954.

On 24 April 1956, No 78 Squadron reformed, this time in Aden as a tactical transport unit equipped initially with Pioneers and then the larger Twin Pioneer. Detachments were undertaken all around the region, and it was felt that some sort of firepower capability should be added to the aircraft, and so guns were mounted in the rear entrance and missiles fitted under the wings. In 1962, the unit achieved what is believed to be the first firing of a guided missile by the RAF in an attack against rebel forces in Aden - quite an achievement for a transport squadron! No 78 Squadron was disbanded in December 1971. Since reforming in the Falkland Islands on 22 May 1986, the Squadron has flown Chinooks and Sea Kings, the latter having a secondary Search and Rescue role.

On 3 Dec 2007, No 78 Sqn relocated to RAF Benson and was re-equipped with Merlin HC Mk3/3a helicopters as a dedicated Support Helicopter squadron.  Having ‘inherited’ an existing operational flight from its sister Merlin squadron, No 78 Squadron personnel and aircraft were immediately deployed on operations in Iraq to work under the guise of 1419 Flight.

Currently there are two Operational Flights, A & B, with plans for a further one to be formed by the end of 2008. There is also a Training, Developments and Standards (TDSF) Flight on the Squadron.

Motto: Nemo non paratus- 'Nobody unprepared'

Badge: A heraldic tiger rampant and double queued - approved by King George VI in November 1939. The theme of the badge was based on the Squadron's aircraft at the time, the Whitley, which had Tiger engines and twin tails.

Battle Honours: Home Defence 1916-1918*, Fortress Europe 1940-1944*, Ruhr 1940-1945*, Invasion Ports 1940, Biscay ports 1940-1943, Berlin 1940-1944*, Channel and North Sea 1942-1945*, Normandy 1944*, Walcheren, France and Germany 1944-1945*, Rhine*.

(Honours marked with an asterisk, are emblazoned on the Squadron Standard)

Merlin Force Engineering Squadron

The Merlin Force Engineering Squadron (MFES) is the technical support component that provides and maintains the Forward Fleet of 21 Merlin HC3 & HC3a aircraft that equip 78 Squadron and 28 (AC) Squadron at RAF Benson. Formed under the restructuring of the Merlin Force, the Engineering Squadron has an establishment of 235 ground crew personnel, providing a complete first line engineering support structure and service to the Merlin Force. The Engineering Squadron has grown from being the Engineering Flight on 28 (AC) Squadron, with 145 personnel, into its own distinct entity with the acquisition of the 6 Danish Multi-Role Helicopters (DMRH) and the establishment of a further 90 technicians. The Engineering Squadron, currently led by the Merlin Force Senior Engineering Officer (SEngO), Squadron Leader Paul Rose, comprises of 2 Flights and a swing shift providing a 24-hour, 5-day working regime for UK based Merlin HC3 & HC3a assets and 24-hour, 7-day engineering cover for deployed assets.

The Engineering Squadron has faced significant challenges, including the aircraft specific training issues associated with the rapid rate of influx of the 90 extra engineering personnel and the need to support the 2 DMRH lead-in training aircraft that operated from RAF Benson from August to December 2007. The engineers have succeeded in meeting these challenges, and whilst facing further challenges of aircraft and operational experience dilution in the short-term, the enormous benefits of the extra manning are already clear and of a particular relief to the previously overstretched and operationally fatigued engineering personnel.

A Support Flight continues to provide engineering support to 1419 Flight on Operation TELIC through the permanent deployment of 45 engineers to the Forward Operating Base at Basrah, Iraq, and the Main Support Facility at Udairi, Kuwait.

1419 Flight, Op TELIC

No. 1419 Flight was first formed in World War II and is the deployed element of 28(AC) Squadron and 78 Squadron currently part of the Multi-National Coalition Force operating as part of Operation TELIC in Iraq. It was reformed on 5 March 2005, replacing 1310 Flight.

It currently operates from a main operating base (MOB) at Udairi, Kuwait whilst elements of the Flight are forward based at the Coalition Operating Base (COB) at Basrah airport in Southern Iraq.

The Flight consists of 5 HC 3 Merlin helicopters plus a number of aircrew and support staff.