No. 50 Squadron RAF was formed during the First World War as a home defence fighter squadron, and operated as a bomber squadron during the Second World War and the Cold War. It disbanded for the last time in 1984.

During World War II, No. 50 Squadron was a mainstay of RAF Bomber Command, initially flying the Handley Page Wellington before converting to the Avro Lancaster in 1942. The squadron operated from several bases including RAF Scampton and RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire, conducting intensive night bombing operations over Germany and occupied Europe as part of the strategic air campaign.

The squadron participated in major operations including the Battle of the Ruhr, the bombing of German industrial targets, and later operations in support of the D-Day landings and the Allied advance across Europe. Post-war, No. 50 Squadron transitioned to the post-war bomber role, eventually adopting the English Electric Canberra and later theBAC Lightning before disbandment.