Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Specialist Reserve Squadrons
Amalgamation
ROYAL AUXILIARY AIR FORCE I 100 th ANNIVERSARY
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve ( RAF VR ) flights were formed on 1 April 1953 , which allowed serving members of the RAF VR , especially aircrew , were offered the opportunity to retrain as Photographic Interpreters ( PIs ), etc , flights prefixed by the number 7 ( 7006,7010 , 7630 ), with 7644 as a media unit , and served throughout the ‘ cold war ’ amalgamating with the RAuxAF in 1997 and at the same gaining squadron status . Up to 1997 the RAF VR included the Mobile Meteorological Unit , which in subsequently transitioned into an RAF Reserve Sponsored Reserve Unit .
Specialist Reserve Squadrons
Following studies into future support requirements during a major conflict , reinforced by the lessons learned during the 1982 Falklands Conflict , August 1982 saw the formation of 4624 ( County of Oxford ) Movements Squadron based at RAF Brize Norton , followed in 1983 with the formation of 4626 ( County of Wiltshire ) Squadron at RAF Lyneham . Both of these Squadrons have subsequently been involved in every major UK deployment since the first Gulf War in 1990 ( OP GRANBY ). Additionally , Movers and Medics regularly utilise their Reserve Support Days ( RSD ’ s ) to undertake real-life tasking , working alongside their Regular colleagues in the Air Mobility Force . In 1999 an additional Air Transportable Surgical squadron , 612 ( County of Aberdeen ) was formed and again , like their 4626 colleagues , this squadron has been heavily involved in operations .
A specialist Police and Security squadron ( 3 Tactical Police Squadron ) was formed in 1998 and as a specialist unit , are routinely mobilised and utilised . With the growing threat posed by cyber warfare , in 2013 the first specialist ‘ Cyber ’ Reserves were recruited and today they operate as members of 6 ( Cyber Reserve ) Squadron , 90 Signals Unit .
In 1994 , after a period of 37 years , RAF Reserve aircrew re-appeared . All of these personnel were ex-Regular with recent experience and following the success of the trial at RAF Lyneham , nine C130 Reserve crews were recruited . These personnel went on to become members of the re-formed 622 Squadron in 2012 , flying Hercules C130 , Tristar , C-17 and VC10 ’ s . In 1997 additional RAuxAF aircrew posts were established with personnel flying Puma ’ s , Nimrod ’ s , and Tornado F3 ’ s . More recently , Reserve aircrew returned to serve at RAF Lossiemouth as members of Covesea Flt , and also with 616 Sqn at RAF Waddington , including those flying with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight .
Amalgamation
On 1 st April 1997 , the RAuxAF and the RAFVR were amalgamated into a single RAF Reserve force under the 1996 Reserve Forces Act . The amalgamation saw the warappointable elements of RAF VR Flt ( 7006,7010 , 7630,7644 ) form as RAuxAF Intelligence squadrons and thus forming the single volunteer reserve force for the RAF . The amalgamation was marked by a formal ceremony held at the RAF College Cranwell .
The Sovereigns Colour Party for the Amalgamation Parade ( provided by 4624 Sqn )
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