No. 207 Squadron
The Marham Vickers Valiant years began in 1956 with the presentation of the Standard by HM The Queen. Later that year 207 bombed in the Suez campaign. In May 1960, 207 Squadron won both the Laurence Minot and the Armament Officers' Trophies in the annual Bomber Command bombing competition. It had one of the best records for completing its tasks and meeting standards both in the original high level and later low level role. In May 1964, a 207 Valiant inexplicably crashed at night, shortly after metal fatigue was found to be the cause of a broken main spar in another Valiant. In 1965, the Valiant force was finally withdrawn and the Squadron disbanded.
No.7 Sqn RNAS formed in East Africa in 1916, flying Voisins for 7 months on reconnaissance and bombing. It re-formed in France in November 1916, becoming a specialist night bomber squadron, flying Handley Page O/100s and O/400s. On 1st April 1918 it became No.207 Sqn RAF. 'Darkness Shall Cover Me' by Humphrey Wynn was inspired by the account of a young 207 pilot of that time. In 1936 207 Squadron returned home to Worthy Down and an expanding Air Force, joining Bomber Command. Re-equipping with Vickers Wellesleys in 1937, 207 learned new techniques of navigation and bombing, and of maintaining aircraft with modern features such as a retractable undercarriage, flaps and a variable pitch airscrew. Re-equipped with Fairey Battles in early 1938 and based at Cottesmore, 207 worked as an Operational Training Unit in the hectic post-Munich preparations for war. In April 1939 it was 'adopted' by the City of Leicester. In April 1940, its role was formally absorbed by 12 OTU and 207 Squadron re-formed in November 1940 in 5 Group, Bomber Command.
Lancasters were flown until 1949 from Spilsby, Methwold, Tuddenham, Stradishall and Mildenhall from where Avro Lincolns were flown until the Squadron disbanded in 1950. Re-formed in 1951 at Marham as a B29 Washington squadron, 207 displayed this aircraft in the Queen's Coronation Review at Odiham. In 1954, the Washingtons were replaced by English Electric Canberras, one of which was lost that year after a night take-off.
In 1969, the RAF's Southern Communications Squadron was renumbered as 207 Squadron and for the next 15 years flew mainly DH Devons as well as Beagle Bassets and Percival Pembrokes from Northolt. It covered the British Isles and much of NATO Europe, carrying VIPs and senior officers, and had a key support role with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. On retirement of the venerable Devons, on 30th June 1984, 207 Squadron once more disbanded.
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