Latin: Esse potius quam videri ("To be, rather than seem")[1]
Insignia
Squadron badge heraldry
A thistle. The thistle commemorates the fact that the squadron was formed in Scotland.
Military unit
No. 77 Squadron RAF was a squadron of the Royal Air Force which was active in various incarnations between 1916 and 1963.
History
No. 77 Squadron was formed on 1 October 1916 at Edinburgh, and was equipped with B.E.2 and B.E.12 aircraft. The squadron disbanded at RAF Turnhouse on 13 June 1919.
In October 1942, the squadron converted to Halifaxes at RAF Elvington, moving to RAF Full Sutton in May 1944. On 8 May 1945 the squadron joined Transport Command, and in July 1945 re-equipped with Douglas Dakotas. The squadron moved to Broadwell in August 1945 followed by a posting to India in October 1945. The squadron was disbanded by being renumbered as No. 31 Squadron on 1 November 1946.
It was reformed at Broadwell in December 1946 when No. 271 Squadron was re-numbered. The squadron operated Dakotas during the Berlin Airlift and then disbanded on 1 June 1949 at RAF Waterbeach.
In October 1962, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, the squadron was kept at full readiness, with the missiles aimed at strategic targets in the USSR.
The squadron was disbanded on 10 July 1963 with the termination of the Thor Program in Britain.
C. G. Jefford (2001). R.A.F. Squadrons: A Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of All Raf Squadrons and Their Antecedents Since 1912. Airlife Pub Limited. ISBN978-1-84037-141-3.