RAuxAF 100 Anniversary Booklet | Page 12

ROYAL AUXILIARY AIR FORCE I 100 th ANNIVERSARY

the system was becoming less dependent on manpower and by 1957 , eight of the FCUs and one RRU were disbanded . By 1960 , having served their purpose and making a significant contribution to the defence of the United

Kingdom during the early days of the Cold War , the final units were disbanded , and radar tracking both military and civil combined at the centres at West Drayton and Preston .

Air Intelligence Unit

This unit formed as part of the RAuxAF in November 1955 , taking over from the RAFVR No1 Intelligence Unit ( formed in

1950 ) operating in the London area . However , it had a short life and was disbanded in 1957 .

Maritime Headquarters Units

In 1959 , the RAuxAF began its renaissance , with the formation of three Maritime Headquarters Units ( MHU ) and a single Maritime Support Unit . The Belfast based Maritime Support Unit was soon closed down , but No1 ( County of Hertford ) MHU based at Northwood , No2 ( City of Edinburgh ) MHU based in Edinburgh and No3 ( County of Devon ) MHU based at RAF Mountbatten , flew the RAuxAF flag for

20 years until 1979 . No3 MHU was amalgamated into No1 MHU in 1999 , and later in that year No1 MHU was formally re-numbered 600 ( City of London ) Squadron and located at RAF Northolt , and No 2 MHU was split into two Squadrons , renumbering to No 603 ( City of Edinburgh ) and No 602 ( City of Glasgow ). Up until 1979 , these three units formed the entirety of the RAuxAF .

Royal Auxiliary Air Force Regiment ( 1948 - 1957 ( and beyond ))

In 1948 , it was proposed to form 20 RAuxAF Regiment ( Regt ) Light Anti-Aircraft Squadrons , but in the end only twelve squadrons were formed . They were affiliated with RAuxAF fighter squadrons and their unit number plate was prefixed by the number 2 . The role of these squadrons was to provide airfield defence using 40mm Bofors guns . However , by 1955 , the introduction into service of more sophisticated weapons resulted in all twelve squadrons being converted into RAuxAF Regt Field Squadrons . In 1957 all twelve squadrons were disbanded along with their affiliated flying squadrons .

In 1979 , three new RAuxAF Field Squadrons were re-formed , followed by two more in 1982 and a sixth squadron in 1983 . Of these , two were disbanded and two were re-rolled . In 1985 , 1339 Wing was formed with 2729 and 2890 Squadrons ( both City of Lincoln ) and was equipped with Skyguard Radar and Oerlikon guns captured from the Argentinian forces during the 1982 Falklands War . Both squadrons were disbanded in 1994 and re-formed first as the Rapier Cadreisation Unit and then becoming No ’ s 27 and 48 Squadrons RAF Regt .

Between 1996 and 2001 a number of squadrons were re-formed , initially as Operational Role Support squadrons , established with multiple trades but with a large RAF Regt cadre , however , by 2005 , these Squadrons had re-rolled back into RAF Regt Field Squadrons , and in 2013 both 504 and 501

Squadrons were reformed as Logistic Support Squadrons ( although the existing 501 Sqn actually re-numbered back into its original squadron number of 2624 ( County of Oxford ), its personnel remaining as Gunners .

Since 2003 , following mobilisation for OP TELIC , RAF Regt Reservists have deployed alongside their Regular colleagues in Iran and Afghanistan , with SAC ’ s Gary Thompson and Chris Dunsmore ( both 504 Squadron ) being killed , and a number of gunners being wounded on active service .

Today , there are seven RAuxAF Regt squadrons located around the country , each affiliated to a Force Protection Wing or a Regular RAF Regt squadron as seen below :

603 ( City of Edinburgh ) affiliated to No 5 Force Protection Wing

609 ( West Riding ) affiliated to No 2 Counter Uncrewed Systems ( C-UAS ) Wing

2503 ( City of Lincoln ) affiliated to No 2 Police & Security Wing 2620 ( County of Norfolk ) affiliated to No 3 Force Protection Wing 2622 ( Highland ) affiliated to No 51 Sqn RAF Regt 2623 ( East Anglian ) affiliated to No 1 Sqn RAF Regt 2624 ( County of Oxford ) affiliated to No 4 Force Protection Wing

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