#1668 8 Sqn Sentry EAW1 print
Description
Squadron Prints Lithorgaph No. 1668 - ZH103, Sentry EAW1, 8 Squadron, RAF Waddington.
Formed at Brooklands on 1 January 1915, No 8 Squadron moved to France in April 1915 with BE 2cs for bombing and reconnaissance duties. The Squadron later specialised in tactical reconnaissance receiving FK 8s in August 1917. It returned to the UK in July 1919 prior to disbanding on 20 January 1920. On 18 October 1920, No 8 Squadron reformed at Helwan in Egypt equipped with DH 9As but moved to Iraq in 1921 and to Aden in 1927 where it successively flew the Fairey IIIF and Vincent. At the outbreak of World War II the Squadron was flying Vincents and Blenheim Is and later in the war it received Blenheim IVs and Vs, Hudsons and Wellingtons before disbanding in Aden on 1 May 1945. The Squadron reformed on 15 May 1945 at Jessore in India equipped with Liberator VIs for special operations over Burma and SE Asia, but disbanded again on 15 November 1945. It reformed once more at Khormaksar in Aden on 1 September 1946, now flying Mosquito FB6s and subsequently received Tempest F6s, Brigand B1s, Vampire FB9s, Venom FB1s and F4s, Meteor FR9s and Hunter FGA9s and FR10s. The Squadron was based in the Middle East throughout this period, leaving Aden in September 1967 before disbanding at Sharjah on 15 December 1967. Operating in an entirely new role and based in the UK for the first time in over 50 years, No 8 Squadron reformed at Kinloss on 8 January 1972 to fly in the Airborne Early Warning role with the Shackleton AEW2, moving to Lossiemouth on 17 August 1973. The Shackleton was the RAF’s last piston engined aircraft and on 1 July 1991 the Squadron re-equipped with the Sentry AEW Mk 1 at Waddington in Lincolnshire. In August 1992, and before becoming fully operational with its new aircraft, No 8 Squadron was the first RAF unit involved in policing the UN imposed no-fly zone over Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Squadron continued to be involved in operations over the former Yugoslavia until March 1999 when it took part in Operation ALLIED FORCE over Kosovo. The events of 11 September 2001 saw the Squadron prepare for new pastures and in October 2001 No 8 Squadron once again deployed to the Middle East as part of Operation VERITAS, the UK contribution to Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, the war against terrorism. Operating the Sentry both over hostile territory and in the Airborne Warning and Control role for the first time, the Squadron flew 289 sorties in support of VERITAS. Then, with only one month’s respite, the Squadron re-deployed to the Middle East once again in March 2003 to take part in Operation TELIC as part of the coalition forces involved in the liberation of Iraq. Since returning from Operation TELIC the Squadron has been heavily involved in High Visibility Events, notably the European Football Championships and Olympic Games of 2004 and the inauguration of Pope Benedict XVI in 2005. The Squadron headed back to the Middle East in December 2009 to support operations in Afghanistan, this time under the banner of NATO’s Operation AFGHAN ASSIST. No 8 Squadron also deployed at short notice in February 2011 to oversee the evacuation of UK nationals from Libya as part of Operation DEFERENCE and remained in theatre as the conflict developed into NATO Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR. This conflict ended in October 2011. The Squadron was also involved in the air security plan for the London 2012 Olympics and was airborne as a contingency for the opening and closing ceremonies. In January 2015, 8 Squadron was tasked with participating in Operation SHADER, carrying out surveillance and fighter control operations over Iraq in order to combat the threat posed by the so called Islamic State. 2015 also saw the 100th anniversary of the Squadron and the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review. Between May 2021 and August 2021 the Squadron supported Operation FORTIS, the maiden operational deployment of HMS Queen Elizabeth, with missions in the Mediterranean, Black Sea and Baltics. The last aircraft retired from service August 2021 with two aircraft being sold to the Fuerza Aerea de Chile.