- equ ipped , ▁it ▁operated ▁as ▁a ▁heavy ▁bom ber ▁unit ▁from ▁February ▁ 1 9 4 5 ▁until ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁the ▁war . ▁The ▁squad ron ▁continued ▁in ▁this ▁role ▁until ▁it ▁was ▁red es ign ated ▁No . ▁ 1 ▁Squadron ▁RA AF ▁in ▁February ▁ 1 9 4 8 . ▁The ▁squad ron ▁was ▁reform ed ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 3 ▁to ▁operate ▁transport ▁hel ic op ters ▁but ▁was ▁again ▁dis band ed ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 9 . ▁ ▁History ▁ ▁World ▁War ▁II ▁No . ▁ 1 2 ▁Squadron ▁was ▁formed ▁as ▁a ▁general ▁purpose ▁unit ▁at ▁RA AF ▁Base ▁La ver ton ▁on ▁ 6 ▁February ▁ 1 9 3 9 ▁under ▁the ▁command ▁of ▁Squadron ▁Le ader ▁Charles ▁E aton . ▁The ▁squad ron ▁was ▁initially ▁equ ipped ▁with ▁four ▁Haw ker ▁Dem on ▁bi plane ▁f igh ters ▁and ▁four ▁Av ro ▁An son ▁mar itime ▁reconna issance ▁aircraft ▁and ▁comm enced ▁int ensive ▁training ▁in ▁May . ▁No . ▁ 1 2 ▁Squadron ▁began ▁to ▁move ▁to ▁Dar win ▁in ▁July ▁ 1 9 3 9 , ▁with ▁its ▁advance ▁party ▁arriv ing ▁there ▁on ▁the ▁ 2 4 th ▁of ▁the ▁month . ▁The ▁squad ron ▁was ▁the ▁first ▁RA AF ▁unit ▁to ▁be ▁perman ently ▁based ▁in ▁the ▁Northern ▁Territ ory ▁and ▁was ▁initially ▁station ed ▁at ▁Dar win ' s ▁civil ▁aer od rome . ▁Seven ▁No . ▁ 1 2 ▁Squadron ▁Ans ons ▁were ▁based