Home / Squadron / 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron

44 (Rhodesia) Squadron

Fulmina regis iusta – (The King’s thunderbolts are righteous)

Badge: On a mount an elephant. Based upon the seal of Lo Bengula, the chief of the Matabeles on conquest. The seal shows an elephant which, in the case of this unit, is intended to indicate heavy attacks.

Formed at Hainault Farm, Essex, on 24th July 1917, as a Home Defence Squadron. Title altered to ‘No. 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron’ in September
1941, in recognition of that country’s generous donations to the war effort. Equipped with Vulcans at Waddington in August 1960 until
December 1982.

Dear Reader

Thank you for taking an interest in this article.
Did you know that Vulcan to the Sky is a charity? We rely on merchandise sales and donations from you, the supporter, to enable us to look after XH558 and tell her story.
Please help us to keep delivering articles of interest to you by donating below, or alternatively visit our Shop or see what projects we currently have on.

Related Articles

Return of the Vulcan

A retrospective by Robert Pleming In an article, which was originally published in the Royal Academy of Engineering’s magazine Ingenia in March 2012, Dr Robert Pleming writes about the Vulcan’s historical importance and the significant role the aircraft played during…

Return of the Vulcan

Journals

Falklands War 1982 – Operation Black Buck

Operation Black Buck was a series of seven ambitious long-distance bombing missions conducted by the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Falklands War in 1982. It was the RAF’s most daring attack since Operation Chastise – the Dambusters raid in…

Falklands War 1982 – Operation Black Buck

Historical

Britain’s Nuclear Deterrent Development – Part Two

On 2 August 1939, the US President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, received a letter written by Leó Szilárd, a Hungarian-German-American physicist and inventor who conceived the nuclear chain reaction in 1933 and patented the idea of a non-fission nuclear reactor in…

Britain’s Nuclear Deterrent Development – Part Two

Historical

Britain’s Nuclear Deterrent Development – Part Five

The Potsdam Conference was held near Berlin on 17 July 1945, the day after the Trinity test, and was to run until 2 August. The conference was for the ‘Big Three’ heads of state – Joseph Stalin (USSR), Winston Churchill…

Britain’s Nuclear Deterrent Development – Part Five

Historical

First Flight of the First Production Vulcan B.1, XA889

On 4 February 1955, the first production Vulcan B.1, XA889, made its maiden flight, flying with the original Vulcan wing design. In September 1955, Avro test pilot, Wing Commander ‘Roly’ Falk flew the second production Vulcan B.1, XA890, at the…

First Flight of the First Production Vulcan B.1, XA889

Historical

Britain’s Nuclear Deterrent Development – Part Four

On 8 May 1945, Winston Churchill announced German armed forces had surrendered unconditionally. But, the World War had not completely ended. In his speech announcing VE Day Churchill spoke of Japan, saying “We may allow ourselves a brief period of…

Britain’s Nuclear Deterrent Development – Part Four

Historical

JOIN US

Stay up to date with all of the latest news and updates

Vulcan to the Sky swoosh

The Vulcan to the Sky Trust is registered with the Fundraising Regulator.

Registered address: Vulcan to the Sky Trust, Unit 4 Delta Court, Third Avenue, Doncaster Sheffield Airport, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN9 3GN Company No. 4478686. Charity Reg No. 1101948