'Dambusters' reformed as UK's first F-35 unit

摘要

The UK Royal Air Force's (RAF's) 617 Squadron (the 'Dambusters') has been officially reformed as the UK's first Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) unit.A formal ceremony was held on 17 April in Washington, DC, which saw the new commanding officer, Wing Commander John Butcher, ask permission from the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Stephen Hillier, to reform the squadron. Although it is an RAF unit, the reconstituted 617 Squadron will be staffed by personnel from both the RAF and the UK Royal Navy (RN).