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#1784 84 Sqn, Puma HC2 print

84 Sqn, Puma HC2 print
Purchased products will not feature the Squadron Prints watermark
£10.00 €12.08 $12.65
43.8 cm x 29.2 cm
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Print
Puma HC2
ZJ955 'X'
84 Sqn
RAF Akrotiri
UK - Air Force
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Description

Squadron Prints Lithograph No. 1784 - ZJ955 'X', Puma HC2, 84 Squadron, RAF Akrotiri.

84 Squadron was formed in January 1917, equipped with SE5 fighter aircraft and was soon dispatched to France.  During its fifteen months service in WWI, the Squadron’s pilots proved very successful and destroyed 129 enemy aircraft and 50 observation balloons.  After spending a year as part of the Army of Occupation in post war Germany, the Squadron was disbanded as part of a major reduction in the Armed Forces in 1920.  84 Squadron was reformed just eight months later in Baghdad and spent the years leading up to WWII in Iraq.  In 1939 the Squadron moved to the Western Desert flying Blenheim bombers and took part in the campaigns in Greece, Iraq, Syria and Persia.  In 1942 the Squadron was transferred to the Far East theatre, carrying out raids on Japanese forces in Sumatra, Batavia and Java.  Japanese forces overran the Squadron in Java and all were taken prisoner except a small party including the CO and eleven aircrew.  The Squadron reformed in India for the remainder of WWII and went on to serve in Malaya and Singapore.  84 Squadron became a transport squadron in 1953 equipped with Valetta aircraft flying from the Canal Zone and Aden receiving Beverleys in 1958.  When Aden closed in 1967, the Squadron re-equipped with Andover aircraft and moved to Sharjah until it disbanded in October 1971.  The Squadron was reformed in January 1972 at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus with Westland Whirlwind helicopters in the Search and Rescue and Support Helicopter roles.  Conversion to Wessex helicopters occurred in 1981, followed by the Griffin HAR2 conversion in 2003 which operated under the first Contractor Owned Military Registered arrangement for a frontline Squadron. On 31 March 23, 84 Squadron converted to the Puma HC2, an aircraft entering its 52nd year of RAF service. The dayglo panels were added to aid visual conspicuity whilst firefighting in the hills of Cyprus with other aerial assets. 84 Squadron is unique in being the only current RAF Squadron to have been based overseas for its entire service history.  The Squadron’s official badge of a scorpion reflects its long association with the Middle East. Hoot ‘n’ Roar.

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