No. 76 Squadron RAF

The squadron disbanded at Bramham Moor on 13 June 1919, having seen no action during this part of its service life.

These were replaced by Handley Page Hampdens and Avro Ansons in April 1939, the unit moving to RAF Upper Heyford at the outbreak of war.

The squadron reformed shortly on 30 April 1940 at RAF West Raynham as a Hampden unit before being disbanded on 2 May 1940.

The Squadron moved to RAF Middleton St. George in June 1941, returning to Linton-on-Ouse in July 1942.

On 9 December 1953, the squadron reformed at RAF Wittering, equipped with English Electric Canberra B.2 bombers.

76 Squadron on Christmas Island (also referred to as Kiritimati) in 1957 and 1958 is of particular note as they were tasked with flying through atomic and thermo-nuclear mushroom clouds, making several cuts at different altitudes, in order to collect information on the radioactivity after the bombs were detonated.

The instruments carried by each sampling aircraft were Sample Strength Indicator (Salmon), Dose Rate Meter (Romeo), Integrating Dose Meter (Charlie), a personal Quartz Fibre Dosimeter and a Personal Film Badge Dosimeter.

When asked what a radioactive cloud feels like the pilots replied ‘Like smog over Manchester.” RAF 76 Squadron members flew through Britain’s largest thermonuclear explosion ‘officially’ recorded at 3 megaton ( 3000 kilotons)

All RAF 76 Squadron members who went to Christmas Island were required to have their blood tested as per Bomber Command Operation Order No.

However, it is not a military campaign medal as the Ministry of Defence does not consider there was enough ‘risk and rigour’ involved on the Cold War work of the British Nuclear Test Veterans.