No. 51 Squadron RAF Regiment

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No. 51 Squadron RAF Regiment
Latin for 'Swift to defend')[1]
Battle honours
  • France and Low Countries (1944–1945)
  • Iraq
    (2003–2011)*
*Honours marked with an asterisk may be emblazoned on the Squadron Standard
Insignia
BadgeIn front of a curved sword with a notched blade is a cheetah depicted at full stride.
Badge heraldryApproved in November 1975. The cheetah, a swift, aggressive animal capable of being controlled, is depicted in full stride and the sword with its cutting edge to the right emphasises its military use and refers to the County of Middlesex where the unit was formed.[2]

No. 51 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.

History

The history of No. 51 Squadron goes back to 1947 when it was formed at

No. 2713 Squadron RAF Regiment. Its initial role was as a rifle squadron, protecting RAF facilities from ground attack. In 1955 it changed to the light anti-aircraft role which it retained until disbanded in 1957.[3]

In 1964 the squadron reformed, switching back to the rifle role, at the RAF Regiment Depot. The first assignments of the unit after reforming were overseas to Cyprus and Aden where it undertook internal security roles. After Rhodesia unilaterally declared independence in 1965 it was sent to Africa to protect Gloster Javelin aircraft which were deployed in Zambia. After returning to Catterick the unit's next deployment was back to Aden in the immediate period before the British withdrawal from there in 1967. Its service in Aden was mainly spent at the many isolated airfields dotting that colony.[3]

In 1968 the squadron shifted bases with a move to

RAF Salalah and Hong Kong.[3]

In 1982 the squadron moved back to Catterick from Wittering to re-role. It emerged operating the

Dharan, Muharraq and Tabuk during the war.[3] Following the Options for Change
defence cuts, the squadron was disbanded in 1993.

The dawn of a new century saw a return to active service for the squadron. Once again operating in a field squadron role, it reformed at

US Marines.[5] Some weeks after the attack, controversy raged when images of 51 squadron personnel were released showing them kneeling next to dead Taliban fighters with their thumbs up.[6]

No. 51 Squadron personnel practicing casualty evacuation in Cyprus prior to deployment

Most recently, 20 personnel from the Regiment deployed in support of Operation Shader.[7]

In 2016, the squadron celebrated its 75th anniversary with a parade at their home base of RAF Lossiemouth. Whilst the squadron was formed in 1940, it did not become an official RAF Defence Squadron until 1941.[8]

In April 2021 51 Sqn was highlighted for potential disbandment under new forces cuts.[9]

References

  1. ISBN 0-7100-9339-X
    .
  2. ^ "51 Squadron RAF Regiment". RAF Heraldry Trust. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d "RAF - 51 Sqn RAF Regt History". www.raf.mod.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  4. ^ "Gunner killed in Kandahar named". BBC News. 31 August 2007. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  5. ^ Sommerville, Quentin (24 September 2012). "Camp Bastion assault: Details emerge of Taliban attack". BBC News. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  6. ^ "Pictures appear to show RAF man posing with dead Taliban fighter". BBC News. 9 May 2014. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  7. ^ Robertson, John (10 October 2015). "Moray soldiers sent to Middle East to fight Islamic State". Press & Journal. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  8. ISSN 0035-8614
    .
  9. ^ Brown, Larisa (23 April 2024). "Royal Marines and RAF Regiment face job cuts". The Times. Retrieved 23 April 2024.

External links

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