No. 47 Squadron (XLVII Squadron) was, until its disbandment in June 2023, a highly specialized transport unit stationed at RAF Brize Norton, famously operating the Lockheed C-130 Hercules. Formed in 1916 for the defence of Hull against Zeppelin raids, the squadron spent much of its early history in Sudan and North Africa, a connection immortalized by the crane (a bird native to the Nile) on its badge and its motto, Nili nomen roboris omen ("The name of the Nile is an omen of strength"). For decades, 47 Squadron was synonymous with tactical airlift and Special Forces support, earning a reputation for daring low-level flying and executing critical medical evacuations and supply drops in conflict zones from the Falklands to Afghanistan. Its stand-down marked the end of the Hercules era in RAF service, with its capabilities largely transferring to the A400M Atlas force.
