Formation in World War II

No. 179 squadron equipped with 16 + 4 Wellington Mk.VIII Leigh Light aircraft was formed on the 1st of September 1942 at RAF Skitten in Caithness. The Squadron was initially to consist of a flight from No. 172 Squadron RAF which were on detachment to RAF Skitten and RAF Wick consisting of 8 aircraft, a flight commander, and 6 fully trained crews. Additionally 6 Armstrong Whitworth Whitley trained crews from No.3 Operational Training Unit, and 4 fully trained crews from No. 612 Squadron RAF would also join the squadron. No. 172 Squadron also transferred 50% of their servicing personnel to No. 179 Squadron. The aircraft required to make up the establishment were expected to arrive at Skitten during the months of September, October, and November 1942. . It was then stationed at Gibraltar, before operating patrols from airfields in the United Kingdom including RAF Chivenor, RAF Benbecula, RAF Predannack and RAF St Eval in Cornwall.

In November 1944 the squadron converted to Warwick aircraft and in February 1946 one element of the squadron (179X) converted to Lancasters, while 179Y retained the Warwicks before it was renumbered No. 210 Squadron RAF. No 179 squadron was finally disbanded on 30 September 1946.

179 Squadron was a successful anti-submarine unit, accounting for eleven U-boats destroyed during the Second World War.^[1]