One of Britain's oldest military flying units, 201 Squadron Royal Air Force, will be marching for the last time on Guernsey's Liberation Day, 9 May 2011.

Originally a naval flying unit, 201 Squadron RAF traces its origins back to the formation of No 1 Squadron, RNAS at Fort Grange on 16 October 1914. The Guernsey affiliation dates from 1935 when the squadron was operating flying boats from the South coast of England.

BBC News reports that:

The Royal Air Force's longest serving squadron has decided to hold its last public parade in Guernsey before it is disbanded.

201 (Guernsey's Own) Squadron, based at RAF Kinloss, has been linked to the island since 1939. It has been cut in the latest UK defence review.

Wing Commander Mike Blackburn is due to lead the squadron's remaining staff on parade on Liberation Day, 9 May.

Those personnel are due to be dispersed throughout the RAF in new roles.

The squadron has been involved in maritime reconnaissance for most of its history, which dates back to 1914.

It had been involved in the roll-out of the new Nimrod MR4A, which was cancelled in October as part of the same UK government defence review.

• Channel TV - The last march of "Guernsey's own squadron"
• mod.raf.uk - 201 Squadron
• mod.raf.uk - RAF Kinloss
• Wikipedia - No. 201 Squadron RAF