Do we all remember the Air Force poster "Don"t Assume Check" ?
Well as there are apparently so many "histories" of 26 Squadron floating about, I thought I would write one.
However before Assuming I knew because I was there, I became a reader at The National Archive at Kew,to Check.
The squadron was reformed at Odiham in 1962.Then in 1963 sent an advance party to Khormaksar.The remainder to stay at Odiham , the administation of groundcrew and aircraft taken over as from 1st March 1963 by 72 Squadron, to await the call from the parent unit. Please note no merger or any other word for joining .It can be read in TNA AIR 27/2940 Operations Record Book RAF Form 540 and from this day forward until November, that aircraft movements are reported in two entries one for each squadron.
However Fred (Su) Karno's army put paid to that plan and 26 went to Kuching with 3 Belvederes and 33 groundcrew ,well allright ,11 of 'em were 72 squadron's finest.As reported in TNA AIR 24/2682 the ORB for Kuching dated December 1963 "11. No.38 GroupDetachment. During December No.26 Squadron (Belvedere) and No.225 Squadron (whirlwinds) arrived at Kuching to operate as support in the Borneo Territories."
I now turn to TNA AIR 27 / 2949 the ORB for 66 Squadron which each month from December 1963 till May 64 religiously refers to XG 453,XG 464 & 466 as 26 Squadrons aircraft.Also for the finale, of the tour that never was, the Squadron Commander's notes for July 1964
" The last day of the month saw the repatriation to the United Kingdom of the first party of groundcrew from 26 Squadron. This occasion should not pass without record being made of the excellant work these men have done in support of No.66 Squadron in Kuching."
Finally the demise of 26 in Aden, the aircraft went To No.66 Squadron, groundcrew went to No.78 Squadron.
Last edited by OLLY HOLBROOK; 26th Aug 2009 at 15:17.