Also, i wanted to know if the raf reg get alot of contacts in afghan or iraq, i read that they go upto 30km out, but i also was told by one serving raf reg guy that he did a 6 month tour and never sawshot at anyone. Royal air force 3 squadron regiment gunners are performing at the counterimprovised explosive device ciedtraining for their deployment to afghanistan. Members of b squadron,raf regiment,patrol in wmik land rovers near kandahar airfield, afghanistan. Anyone who has read anything about the afghanistan campaign will be familiar with the major forces taking part. Operation herrick is the codename under which all british operations in the war in afghanistan were conducted from 2002 to the end of combat operations in 2014. Members of b flight, 27 squadron, raf regiment pictured during a combat mission near kandahar airfield, afghanistan, january 2010, in a wmik weapons mount installation kit land rover fitted with a grenade machine gun gmg and general purpose machine gun gpmg. Examples of such tasks are non combatant evacuation operations neo, recovery of downed pilots joint personnel recovery jpr, and in depth defence of. The royal air force regiment raf regiment is part of the royal air force and functions as a specialist corps founded by royal warrant in 1942.
The battle honours have been awarded to commemorate notable battles, actions, or engagements in which squadron aircrew or raf regiment personnel played a memorable part. What the raf is still doing in afghanistan as a helicopter. Raf hemswell project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Upon its return to the uk, the squadron was faced with the prospect of a move back to the raf regiment depot at raf catterick. An updated short history of the raf regiment from 1942 to 1982 with a brief account of the approach to the problems of airfield defence in the royal air force from 1918 until the formation of its own defence corps in 1942.
And for that the royal air force regiment was entirely responsible. Constant vigilance the raf regiment in the burma campaign. In foreign fields and over 8 million other books are available for amazon kindle. Since 2003, operation herrick has increased in size and breadth. An enthusiastic, loyal and dedicated member of the royal air force regiment, he was a willing volunteer for his tour of duty in afghanistan and epitomised the very best the service represents loyalty, respect, selflessness, service and excellence. The royal air force regiment raf regiment is part of the royal air force and functions as a. Raf regiment airman killed in afghanistan bbc news. Raf regiment sniper training raf regiment snipers go through a 9 week selection and training program held 3 times a year at raf regiment training wing, raf honington. The prince presented a new colour to no26 squadron raf regiment at raf honington in 2017. Jun 06, 2009 also, i wanted to know if the raf reg get alot of contacts in afghan or iraq, i read that they go upto 30km out, but i also was told by one serving raf reg guy that he did a 6 month tour and never sawshot at anyone. Raf officer honoured for role after afghan insurgent attack. Raf regiment conducts first joint patrols in afghanistan. The corps carries out soldiering tasks relating to the delivery of air power.
These comments referred to raf regt members in most unflattering terms, refused to acknowledge the raf regt as a real or proper regiment. The royal air force regiment is the airfield defence corps of the united kingdoms raf. The need was identified in 2008 for the cg raf regt to be able to recognize the efforts of corps individuals or teams within the raf regiment family, for example those of the raf regt assoc, who may fall outside of the conventional service commanders commendations associated with the new years and the queens birthday honours lists. Its role was to seize, secure and defend airfields to enable air operations to take place. Apr 24, 2020 and for that the royal air force regiment was entirely responsible. A brief history of the raf regiment 19421960 by air vice marshall j. Raf squadrons receive battle honours from her majesty the. The number of uk troops killed in afghanistan now stands at 93 two servicemen from the raf regiment were killed in a roadside blast in southern afghanistan, according to the ministry of defence. Raf recruitment raf regiment gunner royal air force. It is obvious to me that he was an outstanding gunner in every respect. A specialist unit of the raf will play a key role in this years highland military tattoo to mark the regiments 75th birthday. The enduring operations of recent years have seen marked developments in the capability and use of snipers making todays sniper unrecognisable from his predecessors. A royal air force regiment airman has been killed by gunfire in afghanistan, the mod confirms. Apr 14, 2008 the number of uk troops killed in afghanistan now stands at 93 two servicemen from the raf regiment were killed in a roadside blast in southern afghanistan, according to the ministry of defence.
This books concerns the regiments operational history in southeast asia command and draws on the diaries and recollections of the men who served in that theatre. All funding comes from generous donations by members of the public and the on site shop. The raf regiment is trained in cbrn chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defence and equipped with advanced vehicles. Dec 12, 2012 uk forces in theatre from june 2014 this final phase of the uks combat operations in afghanistan, known as operation herrick, will come to an end on 31 december 2014. Following the end of operations in afghanistan, 34 squadron. The raf regiment was created in the early years of world war ii for the active dedicated defense of raf airfields and installations. In 2003, the deployment in kabul was expanded to battalion. Raf regiment books khaki and blue the early ground defence of the raf in ww2 by colonel ronald sherbrookewalker td dl. We get a fair few ex raf regiment who later decide to join the royal marines, but extremely few transfer from the corps to the raf regiment. The royal army medical corps, the raf regiment and the territorial army.
Its principal purpose is to counter our adversaries across a wide spectrum of threats, wherever and whenever necessary. Raf regiment conducts first joint patrols in afghanistan gov. During his time on the squadron he served in southern iraq between january and june 2006 providing force protection for basra. Welcome to the official shop for the raf regiment heritage centre. It was reformed in 2010 as a specialist chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear cbrn squadron initially based at raf honington in suffolk. The program begins with a sharpshooter course which provides a grounding in marksmanship and field craft. With the move to raf catterick came a change in role and in august, the squadron officially converted to a field squadron relying once more upon the land rover for mobility and the 81 mm mortar for squadron firepower. The mod has announced that her majesty the queen has approved the award of battle honours to squadrons of her majestys royal air force. A taliban leader has been killed in afghanistan, the countrys government said today, as the deaths of a british soldier and a civilian translator were confirmed after an explosion in. The raf regiments part in the burma campaign fought by the 14th army in the second. Taliban leader and raf gunner killed in afghanistan. Taliban leader and raf gunner killed in afghanistan james sturcke.
During ww2 the raf regiment distinguished themselves on several occasions defending vital forwards airstrips and radar sites against attacks by the japanese. It consisted of the british contribution to the natoled international security assistance force isaf, and support to the americanled operation enduring freedom oef. In 2006 the first 501 squadron gunners deployed with 2 squadron raf regiment to afghanistan, carrying out force protection duties of kandahar airfield and surrounding areas. Raf regiment troops often out ran army units to take control of german and italian airbas. Operation granby, commonly abbreviated op granby, was the code name given to the british military operations during the 1991 gulf war. The pair died during the explosion in kandahar province on sunday april at 1848 local time, the mod said. After successful completion of his trainee gunner course, undertaken at raf honington, he was posted to 51 squadron raf regiment at raf lossiemouth on 18 november 2005.
The royal air force regiment is the ground fighting force of the royal air force and is charged mainly with protecting military airfields, among other duties. The heritage centre receives no government funding and is run entirely by volunteers. Oct 15, 2015 raf regiment servicemen near khandahar airfield, afghanistan january 2010. British soldiers from b flight, 27 squadron, royal air force regiment take a break whilst on a combat misson near kandahar airfield, afghanistan, jan.
We get a fair few exraf regiment who later decide to join the royal marines, but extremely few transfer from the corps to the raf regiment. Aerial view of raf hereford, the uk military base where the special air service sas is located. Raf regiment snipers go through a 9 week selection and training program held 3 times a year at raf regiment training wing, raf honington. The raf regiment was created in the early years of world war ii for the dedicated defence of raf airfields and installations. Examples of such tasks are non combatant evacuation operations neo, recovery of downed aircrew joint personnel recovery jpr, and indepth defence of airfields by way of. Squadron leader craig pearson, of the raf regiment, received a commemorative coin from general austin scott miller, the american commander in chief of the nato resolute support mission. Taliban leader and raf gunner killed in afghanistan world.
Gregg brown the prince is honorary air commandant of raf honington, near bury st edmunds, a role. Please note all personalised items can take upto 14 days to process overseas postage is available on request please call 059 237963 during shop opening hours. Raf no 1 force protection fp wing commander mick smeath said the squadrons primary role when it gets to camp bastion is the protection of royal air force aircraft and other aircraft. The main role of the 2,000member raf regiment, which sustained casualties in afghanistan, is to patrol and protect raf bases and airfields. Two raf personnel are among five people killed in a helicopter crash in afghanistan the puma mk2 helicopter had been landing at a nato hq in the. During his time on the squadron he served in southern iraq between january and june 2006 providing force.
This has been continued with members of both regiment and fp roles mobilising with 1 squadron raf regiment tour of the region 8 august to 9 march. Raf squadrons, a comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all raf squadrons and their antecedents since 1912. The royal air force regiment is the ground fighting force of the royal air force and is charged mainly with protecting military airfields, among other duties first formed in 1942 to protect the airfields against enemy attack, the regiments motto is per ardua through adversity. The raf regiment also prepares nonforce protection specialists for the rigours of operations. Royal air force the role of the sniper in todays raf. First formed in 1942 to protect the airfields against enemy attack, the regiment s motto is per ardua through adversity. This books concerns the regiments operational history in southeast asia. To meet the clear requirement for a dedicated ground and low level air defence force, the royal air force regiment was formed on 1st of february 1942 as a. Raf regiment books raf regiment association official website. In 1992, the raf regiment withdrew the cvrt from service and no. Jan 31, 2019 a royal air force officer from birmingham has been recognised for his outstanding efforts providing humanitarian support in afghanistan. There has been a total of 15 deaths in the raf, afghanistan.
Royal air force station hemswell or more simply raf hemswell is a former royal air force station located 7. The official raf regiment association website home for all. The regiment played a vital and significant role in the two major battles for. Two raf personnel are among five people killed in a helicopter crash in afghanistan the puma mk2 helicopter had been landing at a nato hq in the capital kabul the ministry of defence says it. It took part in the berlin airlift and numerous exercises. Raf regiment starts accepting women for ground close.
Operation herrick began in 2002 on the end of operation fingal, which saw britain hand command of the isaf force to turkey. Raf regiment, and a civilian interpreter had been killed. The history of raf regiment parachute units 1942 2012, barney books, 2012, isbn. Raf special regiment to play big role in highland military. They are probably on patrol in and around kandahar. Raf becomes first branch of british military to open every. Rocknet, the headquarters of the raf regiment network. Women currently make up 10% of the raf col richard. Sep 01, 2017 the main role of the 2,000member raf regiment, which sustained casualties in afghanistan, is to patrol and protect raf bases and airfields.
Raf officer honoured for role after afghan insurgent. Dec 08, 2014 the role of the sniper in todays raf regiment is a far cry from the traditional view of a lone marksman firing at targets from long range. Yeah i know this is an amry site, but the raf one is pretty dead. The sas has fought in afghanistan since 2001, longer than any war in the regiments history. At that point, the deployment was scaled back from 2,100 to approximately 300, primarily concerned with security in kabul, and manning the uk afghan national army training team ukanatt. The role of the sniper in todays raf regiment is a far cry from the traditional view of a lone marksman firing at targets from long range. Specialists in ground combat operations, the raf regiment contributes to the defence of raf airfields in the uk and overseas, forward air controlling, ceremonial duties and. Rocknet, the headquarters of the raf regiment network view. Raf regiment starts accepting women for ground close combat roles. But the raf regiment guys were the real unsung heroes during our det. During the cold war the squadron was predominately based in germany. The royal air forces groundfighting force has opened to women for the first time, making it the first branch of the british military to open every role to female service personnel.
Its mission is protection of raf bases from ground attack, and patrolling a large area around main operating bases abroad, in order to defend aircraft on ingress and egress from surface to air attack. Sep 01, 2017 the royal air forces groundfighting force has opened to women for the first time, making it the first branch of the british military to open every role to female service personnel. Oct 12, 2010 there has been a total of 15 deaths in the raf, afghanistan. Feb 21, 2009 a video i made with a selection of photos of the raf regiment in afghanistan. This books concerns the regiments operational history in southeast asia command and draws on the diaries and recollections of the men who served in that theater. Khaki and blue the early ground defence of the raf in ww2 by colonel ronald sherbrookewalker td dl. Aug 12, 2017 during ww2 the raf regiment distinguished themselves on several occasions defending vital forwards airstrips and radar sites against attacks by the japanese. Raf hemswell was also the headquarters for the no 5 lincolnshire missile dispersal sites located at raf bardney, raf caistor, raf coleby grange and raf ludford magna. Hope u all like it and remember keep supporting our lads who are doing a great job out there music is ozzy osbourne. Sac christopher bridge, aged 20, from sheffield joined the royal air force on 12 june 2005. After a number of moves it found a more permanent home at raf laarbruch. Raf regiment servicemen near khandahar airfield, afghanistan january 2010.
The raf regiment is a specialist corps founded by royal warrant in 1942. In response to an assessment of nato airfield low level air defence requirements during the cold war, 34 squadron raf regiment was formed on 19 november 1951 at raf yatesbury. A video i made with a selection of photos of the raf regiment in afghanistan. Examples of such tasks are non combatant evacuation operations neo, recovery of downed aircrew joint personnel recovery. Published in 1952 by the saint catherine press ltd. Raf opens combat roles to women amid concern from senior. A royal air force officer from birmingham has been recognised for his outstanding efforts providing humanitarian support in afghanistan. The royal air force regiment raf regt is part of the royal air force and functions as a specialist airfield defence corps founded by royal warrant in 1942. The cuban missile crisis brought the entire uk based thor missile force to maximum strategic alert and readiness for a tenday period during october and november 1962.
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