37 SQUADRON

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The first of the Squadron's aircraft arrived at Khormaksar from Luqa, Malta, in July, 1957. At Khormaksar, as one of its main tasks, the Squadron took on the important job of Air Policing, which includes the maintenance of law and order in the Federation, and the protection of internal trade routes.

 

This work is carried out in conjunction with the Federal Regular Army and other service units, and allows the many different tribes and peoples to live in peace and security.

 

During the six short years which No. 37 Squadron has been based at Royal Air Force Station, Khormaksar, Aden, its four Shackleton long-range Maritime reconnaissance aircraft have flown a total distance of 3,000,000 miles, the equivalent of 120 times around the world.

 

Another important part of the Squadron's work is in the Search and Rescue field, and in this work the aircraft have become known as far south as Mauritius, as far north as Kuwait, in Pakistan in the east, and in the Sudan and Kenya to the west.

 

The Squadron's many commitments in this role include the escorting of fighter aircraft in transit, escorting civil and military aircraft in distress, searching for shipping in distress, and dropping life saving and survival equipment to ditched aircraft and shipping in distress. The Shackleton aircraft are at immediate readiness to answer distress calls during working hours, at two hours readiness outside working hours during daylight, and at three hours readiness during the hours of darkness.