In October 2006 494 Sqn embarked on its first ‘Battlefield Tour’ which will now become an annual event. This year’s tour took the Squadron to the First World War battlefields of France and Belgium. The tour began early on 22nd October at Sqn HQ with arrival in the Belgian border town Ypres by 1600. The tour comprised of a number of visits to British, Commonwealth and German war graves as well as tours of the Beaumont Hamel and Sanctuary Wood battlefields.

The tour culminated in the Sqn parading at the Menin gate – a monument of remembrance to Soldiers whose bodies were never found during the fighting surrounding the town. Each evening at 8pm a ceremony of remembrance takes place and on 23rd October 494 Sqn laid a wreath of remembrance for the members of the Royal Flying Corps (the predecessor of the RAF) and all casualties of the First World War.