High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! No. 271 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was operational for two periods; a few brief months between 27 September 1918 and 9 December 1918 operating flying boats to protect shipping from German U-boats, and between 28 March 1940 and 1 December 1946 (when it was renumbered to No. 77 Squadron RAF)) as a transport squadron.