Merlin Force Structure
On 3rd December 2007 the growing Merlin Force was split into 28 (AC) Squadron, 78 Squadron, and Merlin Force Engineering Squadron (MFES). 78 Squadron consists of an HQ element and 3 operational flights, whilst 28 (AC) Squadron has an HQ element, 2 operational flights and an embedded Operational Conversion Flight (OCF). The OCF outputs 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. Each flight now consists of 6 crews and currently deploys on operations under the'fight-by- Flight' regime. The number of crews will gradually increase as output from the OCF is successfully achieved over the next few years.
The two flying squadrons are supported by the Merlin Force Engineering Sqn (MFES) and also the many other personnel who make up the HQ and Support element of the Force.
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 4 years deployed on Op TELIC at Basrah Air Station in Iraq, along with their neighbours from 78 Squadron, under the guise of 1419 Flight. The Sqn has now returned from Iraq and is in the process of re-setting and training in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan as part of Op HERRICK in 2010.
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 and Mk3A 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 support Coalition Forces on Op TELIC.
Recently, 78 Sqn 'C' Flight flew the last RAF aircraft to be permanently based in Iraq, all the way back to RAF Benson to conclude this particular chapter of operations'. The Sqn is in the process of re-setting and training in preparation for leading the deployment of the Merlin to Afghanistan as part of Op HERRICK later this year.
On the Sqn there are currently 3 Operational Flights, A & B, and C. There is also a Training, Development and Standards Flight (TDSF) which is responsible for all environmental training, Combat Ready (CR) work-up and Merlin HC3A differences training.
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 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, comprising 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.
Since 2005, a Support Flight continued to provide engineering support to 1419 Flight on Operation TELIC with a permanent deployment of 45 engineers to the Contingency Operating Base at Basrah Air Station, Iraq. All personnel have now returned to RAF Benson to prepare for the deployment of the Merlin to Afghanistan as part of Op HERRICK at the end of this year.
1419 Flight, Op TELIC
No. 1419 Flight was first formed in World War II and is the deployed element of both 28(AC) Squadron and 78 Squadron having reformed on 5 March 2005, replacing 1310 Flight.
It has been part of the Multi-National Coalition Force supporting operations as part of Op TELIC in Iraq since 2005.
1419 Flt operated as part of the Joint Helicopter Force (Iraq) from the Coalition Operating Base (COB) at Basrah airport in Southern Iraq.
The Flight consisted of 5 HC3 Merlin helicopters plus a number of aircrew and support staff and they have now returned to the UK after the cessation of British operations in Southern Iraq has been completed.
At the end of the year, 1419 Flt and the Merlin Force will once again be called into action, this time in a different theatre of ops in Afghanistan, as part of the ongoing Op HERRICK commitment.