No. 2623 (East Anglian) Squadron RAF Regiment
Encyclopedia
No. 2623 Squadron of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force
is a part of the Royal Air Force Regiment, based at RAF Honington
. It was formed on 1 July 1979 to provide ground defence of the station. Tasked with preventing Soviet Special Forces
from disrupting flying operations, personnel were recruited from across East Anglia
and formed an integral part of the Station's war-fighting capability for the next 15 years. Throughout this period, the Squadron participated in many exercises and held annual camps in the United Kingdom, Germany and Gibraltar, winning the Strickland Trophy competition in 1991.
Regiment field Squadrons, resulting in the word "Training" being added to the Squadron's title to reflect the new role. This role was later subsumed into Training Wing at Royal Air Force Honington and the Squadron subsequently switched roles again.
The Strategic Defence Review in the mid -1990's had identified the need to provide sustainment of the Royal Air Force's Ground Based Air Defence Force. As a result, the Squadron resumed its original title and took on a new role in October 1998 with a mix of regulars and auxiliaries operating the highly sophisticated Rapier Field Standard C missile system
, being declared operational in its new role in April 2001. In May 2003, many of the Squadron's personnel were mobilised and deployed to the Falkland Islands
to augment 16 Squadron Royal Air Force Regiment as the Resident Rapier Squadron, providing the ground based air defence of the Mount Pleasant Complex
from July 2003 to January 2004. Ground based air defence passed to the Royal Artillery in entirety following the 2004 Defence Review, but under Royal Air Force command. At the same time, a need for the Squadron to provide a new capability was also highlighted, resulting in the Squadron re-rolling once again to provide a key component of the Joint Nuclear Biological and Chemical Regiment's operational output from March 2004. Deploying to Canada in 2005 and then Cyprus in 2006, the Squadron won the Inspector's Cup for Excellence in 2007 and Kemp Dirk for recruiting during 2008.
In June 2008, Number 8 Royal Air Force, Force Protection Wing was stood up to undertake a single operational tour at Kandahar Airfield within Operation HERRICK
. The Wing comprised Headquarter elements from Royal Air Force Henlow
, together with Number 27 Squadron Royal Air Force Regiment
and Number 2623 Squadron Royal Air Force Regiment and resulted in a temporary change to a purely Dismounted Close Combat role for both squadrons. The Wing deployed to Kandahar Airfield from August 2009-February 2010 and a large number of reservist personnel from 2623 Squadron were mobilised, serving within both 27 Squadron and the Wing Headquarters itself. On completion of the operational tour, both squadron's returned to their previous role within the now re-named Joint Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Regiment. The Squadron was presented with its Standard to commemorate 25 years service by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at a unique ceremony held at Royal Air Force Marham
on 18 July 2010.
Airfield Defence Guards
Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment Comandos de Aviación
Fusiliers Commandos de l'Air
German Air Force Regiment
Iraq Levies Japan Air Self-Defense Force
Polícia Aérea
Sri Lanka Air Force Regiment
United States Air Force Security Forces
Royal Auxiliary Air Force
The Royal Auxiliary Air Force , originally the Auxiliary Air Force , is the voluntary active duty reserve element of the Royal Air Force, providing a primary reinforcement capability for the regular service...
is a part of the Royal Air Force Regiment, based at RAF Honington
RAF Honington
RAF Honington is a Royal Air Force station located south of Thetford near Ixworth in Suffolk, England. Although used as a bomber station during the Second World War, RAF Honington is now the RAF Regiment depot and home to the Joint CBRN Regiment.-RAF use:...
. It was formed on 1 July 1979 to provide ground defence of the station. Tasked with preventing Soviet Special Forces
Spetsnaz
Spetsnaz, Specnaz tr: Voyska specialnogo naznacheniya; ) is an umbrella term for any special forces in Russian, literally "force of special purpose"...
from disrupting flying operations, personnel were recruited from across East Anglia
East Anglia
East Anglia is a traditional name for a region of eastern England, named after an ancient Anglo-Saxon kingdom, the Kingdom of the East Angles. The Angles took their name from their homeland Angeln, in northern Germany. East Anglia initially consisted of Norfolk and Suffolk, but upon the marriage of...
and formed an integral part of the Station's war-fighting capability for the next 15 years. Throughout this period, the Squadron participated in many exercises and held annual camps in the United Kingdom, Germany and Gibraltar, winning the Strickland Trophy competition in 1991.
History
The Squadron disbanded as a field squadron on 18 April 1994, reforming on 1 June 1995 as a training unit, providing centralised training to the Royal Auxiliary Air ForceRoyal Auxiliary Air Force
The Royal Auxiliary Air Force , originally the Auxiliary Air Force , is the voluntary active duty reserve element of the Royal Air Force, providing a primary reinforcement capability for the regular service...
Regiment field Squadrons, resulting in the word "Training" being added to the Squadron's title to reflect the new role. This role was later subsumed into Training Wing at Royal Air Force Honington and the Squadron subsequently switched roles again.
The Strategic Defence Review in the mid -1990's had identified the need to provide sustainment of the Royal Air Force's Ground Based Air Defence Force. As a result, the Squadron resumed its original title and took on a new role in October 1998 with a mix of regulars and auxiliaries operating the highly sophisticated Rapier Field Standard C missile system
Rapier missile
Rapier is a British surface-to-air missile developed for the British Army and Royal Air Force. Entering service in 1971, it eventually replaced all other anti-aircraft weapons in Army service; guns for low-altitude targets, and the English Electric Thunderbird, used against longer-range and...
, being declared operational in its new role in April 2001. In May 2003, many of the Squadron's personnel were mobilised and deployed to the Falkland Islands
Falkland Islands
The Falkland Islands are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, located about from the coast of mainland South America. The archipelago consists of East Falkland, West Falkland and 776 lesser islands. The capital, Stanley, is on East Falkland...
to augment 16 Squadron Royal Air Force Regiment as the Resident Rapier Squadron, providing the ground based air defence of the Mount Pleasant Complex
RAF Mount Pleasant
RAF Mount Pleasant is a military base for the Royal Air Force in the British Overseas Territory of the Falkland Islands. The facility is part of the British Forces South Atlantic Islands...
from July 2003 to January 2004. Ground based air defence passed to the Royal Artillery in entirety following the 2004 Defence Review, but under Royal Air Force command. At the same time, a need for the Squadron to provide a new capability was also highlighted, resulting in the Squadron re-rolling once again to provide a key component of the Joint Nuclear Biological and Chemical Regiment's operational output from March 2004. Deploying to Canada in 2005 and then Cyprus in 2006, the Squadron won the Inspector's Cup for Excellence in 2007 and Kemp Dirk for recruiting during 2008.
In June 2008, Number 8 Royal Air Force, Force Protection Wing was stood up to undertake a single operational tour at Kandahar Airfield within Operation HERRICK
Operation Herrick
Operation Herrick is the codename under which all British operations in the war in Afghanistan have been conducted since 2002. It consists of the British contribution to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force and support to the US-led Operation Enduring Freedom...
. The Wing comprised Headquarter elements from Royal Air Force Henlow
RAF Henlow
RAF Henlow is a Royal Air Force station in Bedfordshire, England, equidistant from Bedford, Luton and Stevenage. It houses the RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine, the RAF Signals Museum and 616 Volunteer Gliding Squadron.- History :...
, together with Number 27 Squadron Royal Air Force Regiment
No. 27 Squadron RAF Regiment
No. 27 Squadron RAF Regiment is a field squadron of the RAF Regiment in the Royal Air Force. Its mission is protection of RAF bases from ground attack. The squadron's current HQ is at RAF Honington. The motto of 27 Squadron is Defensores Defendo . - History :No. 27 Squadron RAF Regiment was formed...
and Number 2623 Squadron Royal Air Force Regiment and resulted in a temporary change to a purely Dismounted Close Combat role for both squadrons. The Wing deployed to Kandahar Airfield from August 2009-February 2010 and a large number of reservist personnel from 2623 Squadron were mobilised, serving within both 27 Squadron and the Wing Headquarters itself. On completion of the operational tour, both squadron's returned to their previous role within the now re-named Joint Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Regiment. The Squadron was presented with its Standard to commemorate 25 years service by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at a unique ceremony held at Royal Air Force Marham
RAF Marham
Royal Air Force Station Marham, more commonly known as RAF Marham, is a Royal Air Force station; a military airbase, near the village of Marham in the English county of Norfolk, East Anglia....
on 18 July 2010.
The Squadron Crest
The Standard features the Squadron crest, which was awarded in 1998. The crest demonstrates the Squadron's links with East Anglia, with the wolf salient representing the 'Wolfmen' - the Danes who ravages and then settled in East Anglia during the Dark Ages. The crossed arrows represent the martydom of St Edmund and allude to the Squadron's association with the local town of Bury St Edmunds. The motto 'Gebeorgan Ond Werian' is Anglo-Saxon and can be loosely translated as Protect and Defend.See also
Aden Protectorate LeviesAden Protectorate Levies
The Aden Protectorate Levies were a militia force for local defense of the Aden Protectorate. The Levies were drawn from all parts of the Protectorate and were armed and officered by the British military...
Airfield Defence Guards
Airfield Defence Guards
The Airfield Defence Guard mustering of the Royal Australian Air Force performs specialist ground defence tasks to protect air power assets from hostile ground action. The mustering is composed of non-commissioned members, commonly called 'ADGies,' most of whom are employed within an Airfield...
Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment Comandos de Aviación
Comandos de Aviación
The Comandos de Aviación are Chile's elite Air Force Special Forces unit. The unit can be compared to the United States Air Force Combat Control Team....
Fusiliers Commandos de l'Air
Fusiliers Commandos de l'Air
The Fusiliers Commandos de l'Air of France's Armée de l'Air are equivalent to the United Kingdom's RAF Regiment, Germany's Objektschutzregiment der Luftwaffe or the United States Air Force's United States Air Force Security Forces...
German Air Force Regiment
Iraq Levies Japan Air Self-Defense Force
Japan Air Self-Defense Force
The , or JASDF, is the aviation branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces responsible for the defense of Japanese airspace and other aerospace operations. The JASDF carries out combat air patrols around Japan, while also maintaining an extensive network of ground and air early warning radar systems...
Polícia Aérea
Polícia Aérea
The Polícia Aérea are a Special Forces unit, a Police unit from Portuguese Air Force. The primary mission of the Air Police is to guarantee the security and immediate defense of the Air Force units in the Portuguese territory. Outside the national territory, it exerts its mission of supporting...
Sri Lanka Air Force Regiment
Sri Lanka Air Force Regiment
The Sri Lanka Air Force Regiment is a specialized ground combat corps within the Sri Lanka Air Force , responsible for capturing and defending airfields and associated installations. Its members are the SLAF Regiment Officers and the airmen of operations ground specialization...
United States Air Force Security Forces
Further reading
- Kingsley M Oliver, Through Adversity: History of the Royal Air Force Regiment, Forces & Corporate Publishing Ltd., 1997. ISBN 0952959704.
- Tim Ripley, 'RAF Regiment to boost equipment and recruitment', Jane's Defence WeeklyJane's Defence WeeklyJane's Defence Weekly is a weekly magazine reporting on military and corporate affairs, edited by Peter Felstead. It is one of a number of military-related publications named after John F. T. Jane, an Englishman who first published Jane's All the World's Fighting Ships in 1898...
, 16 April 2008, p. 10.