I was asked by the Hon Sec of 218(Gold Coast Squadron) if I knew the history of the Gold Coast title. Terry Gill has done some research which is shown below.

Sir John Shuckburgh writes:

‘Mention should be made of the number of Bomber  or Fighter Squadrons of the R.A.F. which bore Colonial  names. These included Ceylon,  Gold Coast and Hong Kong  Squadrons, as well as others named after Malta,  Jamaica, Uganda and Kenya. All such Squadrons were  regular units in the R.A.F. which had either been ‘adopted’ by some Colonial territory or were named after it in  recognition of generous contributions for the purchase of aircraft or for  promotion of the general war effort … In the Gold  Coast a local ‘Spitfire Fund’ was inaugurated in June 1940, total  contributions to which had reached the sum of £100,000 by June 1942. The  title ‘Gold Coast’ was conferred  upon No 249 Fighter Squadron of the R.A.F. – and later upon Bomber Squadron  No. 218 –  which was ‘adopted’ by the Governor and peoples of the Gold Coast in October 1941. The composition of  these and other ‘Colonial’  Squadrons was similar to that of other R.A.F. units. Their personnel did not  necessarily include any inhabitants of the eponymous Colony,  though there were cases in which individuals from the territory did in fact  see service with the unit. The choice of names was intended partly as a  compliment, and partly as a means of associating outlying parts of the Empire  as closely as possible with the general war effort. There is evidence to show  that the policy was successful in  both respects. The compliment was appreciated by those to whom it was paid,  and the fortunes of the Squadrons were followed  with interest and pride by their Colonial  ‘godparents’. Special steps were taken to ensure that their exploits obtained  suitable publicity in the territories concerned’. (Shuckburgh n.d., p.65).

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