Regiment History Flashcards
Why was the Regiment formed?
The Royal Air Force Regiment was formed for the sole purpose of providing close defense of
RAF Airfields.
Why was the formation of the Regiment necessary?
The catalyst for formation being the fall of Crete in 1941, with the Germans
unique use of mobility and surprise, “Blitzkrieg”, revolutionised military strategy. “Blitzkrieg”,
demonstrated the vulnerability of airfields long considered safe, deep behind enemy lines.
When was the regiment formed?
In January 1942 King George VI signed a Royal Warrant for “a Corps formed as an integral part
of the RAF”; the RAF Regiment was formed on 1st Feb 1942.
Regiment Depot Locations
Filey 1942
Belton Park 1942
Catterick 1946
Honnington 1994
Original Squadrons
Field Squadrons
Light Anti Air
The Regiment in WWII (Africa)
RAF Armoured Car Companies and Iraqi Levies provided nucleus of the new corps which saw action across the North African Campaign. Algiers, Oran, and Casablanca.
The Regiment in WWII (Europe)
The RAF Regiment was also heavily committed within mainland Europe; indeed men of the
Corps were also the first Allied forces to land in Greece.
The Regiment in WWII (Eastern)
Operating in India and Burma. It
was in Burma that the RAF Regiment fought the battle for which it had been raised. The airstrip
of Meiktila was deep behind enemy lines, for 10 long days the Japanese soldiers were repelled
in order to allow air operations to continue.
The Regiment in WWII (General)
RAF Regiment units were deployed all round the world during the war years, Squadrons
providing garrisons across the globe. At the end of WWII, RAF Regiment units were tasked with
the occupation of areas previously occupied by the enemy.
Northern Ireland
Between 1949 and closer to home the RAF Regiment deployed to Northern Ireland as a last
minute replacement for a Royal Marine Commando unit in 1969. Among the first security forces
to deploy during the recent troubles they provided a continuous presence in the Province for
over 30 years on Op Banner.
Belize
In 1972 the RAF Regiment deployed personnel to Belize, formerly
British Honduras, in order to dissuade territorial claims on the region by Guatemala. Indeed
members of the Corps maintained an official presence until withdrawal in 1991.
Cyprus
Following the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974 RAF Regiment personnel were flown to
reinforce the British Sovereign Base Area at Akrotiri. This augmented force protected RAF
installations and evacuated British civilians from threatened areas to safety in a divided island.
RAF Regiment personnel remain serving in Cyprus to this day.
Falklands
The invasion of the Falkland Island in 1982 prompted a rapid response, among the units to
deploy to the islands were 63 Squadron, landing at San Carlos. The Corps played an active
role in the defence of the islands until 2005.
Gulf War
During the 1st Gulf War, RAF Regiment Squadrons provided air, ground and Chemical
Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) protection at air bases used by coalition forces
throughout the region. In particular, 1 Squadron RAF Regiment protected helicopter operations
during the advance into Kuwait and Iraq.
Telic 1
The start of the coalition operations in Iraq in 2001 saw the RAF Regiment heavily involved with
Op TELIC 1 (invasion). 51 Squadron augmented by 63 Squadron were among the first to cross
the border. In total five Squadrons were involved covering duties from Ground Based Air
Defence (GBAD) to Force Protection.
