No. 45 Squadron (XLV Squadron), currently stationed at RAF Cranwell, serves as the Royal Air Force's Multi-Engine Pilot Training (MEPT) unit. Operating the Embraer Phenom T1, it is responsible for the advanced instruction of pilots destined for the RAF's heavy transport and surveillance fleets, such as the Atlas, Voyager, and Poseidon. Formed in 1916, the squadron bears a distinctive "Winged Camel" on its badge—a heraldic nod to its World War I service flying Sopwith Camels and its subsequent long-term deployment policing the deserts of Iraq and the Middle East. This heritage earned the unit its enduring nickname, "The Flying Camels." The squadron also holds a significant place in post-war history, famously conducting anti-guerrilla operations during the Malayan Emergency using aircraft like the Bristol Brigand and de Havilland Hornet. Its determination is reflected in its motto, Per ardua surgo ("Through difficulties I arise").
