Inside Stories
No 76 Squadron had a lengthy association with northern England, and its powerful, historic connection is outlined
Lt Macdonald of A Flight leans on his BE 12b C3094 at Copmanthorpe in August 1918, just as the aircraft were being withdrawn. Their performance did not allow them any great success against intruding Zeppelin airships
JM BRUCE/G S LESLIE COLLECTION
Responsible for home defence duties, 76 Squadron was formed under Maj EM Murray at Cramlington, Northumberland, on September 15, 1916, to combat Zeppelin airship raids on the northeast of Britain. But its stay there was brief, moving down to Ripon in North Yorkshire a month later.
The squadron was equipped with a mix of BE.2 and the single-seat BE.12 aircraft and, to increase its patrol coverage, it had detached Flights at Copmanthorpe near York (A Flight), Helperby near Boroughbridge (B Flight) and Catterick (C Flight), with the HQ being at Ripon.
