No. 7 Squadron RAF
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No. 7 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the CH-47 Chinook HC.2 from RAF Odiham, Hampshire.
7 Sqn is earmarked as the operator of the 8 Chinook HC.3s on order, if the problems with the helicopters are ever resolved.
History
No. 7 Squadron was first formed 1 May 1914 but has been disbanded and reformed several times since. The squadron spent most of the First World War as an observation squadron and was a heavy bomber squadron during World War Two. The squadron operated the Vickers Valiant from RAF Honington, Suffolk from 1956 until 1962.The squadron converted to helicopters and received its Chinooks HC.1s in 1982 and today operates five of the helicopters. The Chinook HC.2, equivalent to the US Army CH-47D standard, began to enter RAF service in 1993.
7 Squadron took part in the UK's deployment to the Gulf following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. 15 HC.1s were sent from No. 7 and No. 18 squadrons.
On June 2 1994 a 7 Sqn Chinook HC.2 (ZD576) crashed into the Mull of Kintyre while carrying 25 senior members of the British security forces from RAF Aldergrove, Belfast to Inverness. All passengers and the four crew were killed.
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
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