No. 54 Squadron (LIV Squadron), stationed at RAF Waddington, serves as the hub of the RAF's Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) force. Unlike a traditional flying squadron, it functions as the ISTAR Operational Conversion Unit (OCU), responsible for training mission crews for a diverse array of high-tech aircraft, including the RC-135W Rivet Joint, Shadow R1, and MQ-9A Reaper, as well as the Poseidon MRA1. Formed in 1916, the squadron has a legendary combat heritage as a fighter unit: it flew Sopwith Camels in World War I and Spitfires during the Battle of Britain, where its pilots defended the chaotic skies over Dunkirk and Dover. During the Cold War, it became well known for operating the SEPECAT Jaguar in a ground-attack role from RAF Coltishall. Its enduring resilience is captured in its motto, Audax Omnia Perpeti ("Boldness to endure anything").
