No. 617 Squadron RAF No. 617 Squadron RAF Number 617 Squadron is a Royal Air Force aircraft squadron, based at RAF Marham in Norfolk. It is commonly known as the "Dambusters", for its actions during Operation Chastise against German dams during the Second World War. In the early 21st century it operated the Tornado GR4 in the ground attack and reconnaissance role until being disbanded in the spring of 2014. The squadron reformed on 17 April 2018, and was equipped at RAF Marham during summer 2018 with the F-35 Lightning II, becoming the UK's first squadron with this advanced V/STOL type. According to the
No. 617 Squadron RAF both RAF and Royal Navy personnel, operating both from RAF Marham, and from the Royal Navy's new "Queen Elizabeth" class aircraft carriers. It will fly alongside the Fleet Air Arm's 809 NAS as part of the Lightning Force. 617 Sqn is expected to return to Marham in the summer of 2018 following training at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort in South Carolina. On 6 June 2018, a quartet of F-35s of 617 Squadron, supported by three Voyagers and an Atlas, made an eight hour flight across the Atlantic to become the first of the UK's aircraft to be based permanently