No. 27 Squadron RAF Regiment
Encyclopedia
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 (I defend the defender).
. On November 28, 1951, the Squadron saw its first action against the Egyptians. Four enemy were killed in this action. The Squadron remained in Egypt predominately as an Internal Security force until it redeployed to Cyprus in January 1956.
In August 1977 the Queen, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
, approved the awarding of a Standard
to the squadron in recognition of 25 years service.
During the 1980s, 27 Squadron was based at RAF Leuchars
, in Scotland
. Its role was anti-aircraft defence and was equipped with the Rapier Field Standard A anti-aircraft missile system
. Detachments from 27 Squadron, would regularly be sent to Belize
in Central America
, to provide airfield defence.
as part of the RAuxAF Regiment. On April 1, 1999, No 27 Squadron and 1st Royal Tank Regiment
merged to form the Joint Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Regiment (Jt NBC Regt). No 27 Squadron now runs the Biological Detection Capability of the Jt NBC Regt.
In 2005, following the addition of radiological weapons to its remit, the Jt NBC Regt changed to the Joint Chemical, Biological, Radiation and Nuclear Regiment (Joint CBRN Regiment).
In 2008 27 Sqn RAF Regt, still based at RAF Honington
temporarily re-roled to full Field Sqn status. Following an intensive period of training and kitting it deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan in 2009 for its turn of duty in the Force Protection role. 27 Sqn RAF Regiment is due to return to its Joint Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Regiment role in the near future.
RAF Regiment
The Royal Air Force Regiment is a specialist airfield defence corps founded by Royal Warrant in 1942. After a 32 week trainee gunner course, its members are trained and equipped to prevent a successful enemy attack in the first instance; minimise the damage caused by a successful attack; and...
in the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
. Its mission is protection of RAF bases from ground attack. The squadron's current HQ
HQ
HQ may refer to:* HQ, an abbreviation for headquarters* HQ, an abbreviation for high quality* HQ , a 1975 album by Roy Harper* Hagströmer & Qviberg, a Swedish investment bank* Harley Quinn, a DC Comics character and enemy of Batman...
is 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:...
. The motto of 27 Squadron is Defensores Defendo (I defend the defender).
History
No. 27 Squadron RAF Regiment was formed on September 3, 1951, at RAF Yatesbury. The squadron was first deployed to Abu Suer in EgyptEgypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. On November 28, 1951, the Squadron saw its first action against the Egyptians. Four enemy were killed in this action. The Squadron remained in Egypt predominately as an Internal Security force until it redeployed to Cyprus in January 1956.
In August 1977 the Queen, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
, approved the awarding of a Standard
Ensign
An ensign is a national flag when used at sea, in vexillology, or a distinguishing token, emblem, or badge, such as a symbol of office in heraldry...
to the squadron in recognition of 25 years service.
During the 1980s, 27 Squadron was based at RAF Leuchars
RAF Leuchars
RAF Leuchars is the most northerly air defence station in the United Kingdom. It is located in Leuchars, Fife, on the east coast of Scotland, near to the university town of St Andrews.-Operations:...
, in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. Its role was anti-aircraft defence and was equipped with the Rapier Field Standard A anti-aircraft 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...
. Detachments from 27 Squadron, would regularly be sent to Belize
Belize
Belize is a constitutional monarchy and the northernmost country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages. Even though Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official...
in Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
, to provide airfield defence.
Present
In 1995, the Squadron moved to RAF ScamptonRAF Scampton
Royal Air Force Station Scampton is a Royal Air Force station situated north of Lincoln in England, near the village of Scampton, on the site of an old First World War landing field.-First World War:...
as part of the RAuxAF Regiment. On April 1, 1999, No 27 Squadron and 1st Royal Tank Regiment
1st Royal Tank Regiment
The 1st Royal Tank Regiment is an armoured regiment of the British Army. It is part of the Royal Tank Regiment, itself part of the Royal Armoured Corps. It was originally formed as 1st Battalion, Royal Tank Corps in 1934....
merged to form the Joint Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Regiment (Jt NBC Regt). No 27 Squadron now runs the Biological Detection Capability of the Jt NBC Regt.
In 2005, following the addition of radiological weapons to its remit, the Jt NBC Regt changed to the Joint Chemical, Biological, Radiation and Nuclear Regiment (Joint CBRN Regiment).
In 2008 27 Sqn RAF Regt, still 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:...
temporarily re-roled to full Field Sqn status. Following an intensive period of training and kitting it deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan in 2009 for its turn of duty in the Force Protection role. 27 Sqn RAF Regiment is due to return to its Joint Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Regiment role in the near future.