ROYAL AUXILIARY AIR FORCE I 100 th ANNIVERSARY
2623 ( East Anglian ) Squadron RAuxAF Regt
With its history linked to 623 Squadron , Royal Air Force , a World War 2 bomber Squadron , 2623 ( East Anglian ) Squadron RAuxAF was formed on 1 July 1979 at RAF Honington as an auxiliary field sqn providing ground defence . Tasked to prevent Soviet SpecialForces from disrupting flying operations , the Sqn became an integral part of RAF Honington for over 15 years . Throughout this period , the Sqn participated in many major UK exercises and deployed within the UK , and to Germany and Gibraltar , winning the prestigious Strickland Trophy Competition for military skills in 1991 .
The Sqn disbanded as a field sqn on 18 April 1994 but reformed on 1 June 1995 as a training unit to provide centralised training for reservist personnel . Although the training role was subsumed into Training Wing at RAF Honington at the end of 1997 , the Sqn subsequently switched role again .
The Strategic Defence Review of the mid-1990 ’ s identified a need to provide sustainment of the RAF Ground Based Air Defence Force . Consequently , the Sqn took on a new role in 1998 operating the sophisticated Rapier Field Standard C missile system . The Squadron was declared operational in April 2001 and in May 2003 , many of the Sqn ’ s personnel were mobilised and deployed to the Falkland Islands . Here they augmented No 16 Squadron RAF Regt as the Resident Rapier Squadron , providing the ground-based air defence of the Mount Pleasant Complex from July 2003 to January 2004 . Ground based air defence passed to the Royal Artillery following the 2004 Defence Review but at the same time , a need to provide a reservist element to the Joint CBRN Regiment saw the Squadron re-role in March 2004 , deploying to Canada in 2005 and then Cyprus in 2006 .
In June 2008 , Number 8 RAF Force Protection Wing RAF Regiment stood up to undertake a single operational tour as part of Operation HERRICK . The Wing comprised headquarters elements from RAF Henlow together with personnel from No 27 Sqn RAF Regt and 2623 Sqn RAuxAF Regt . The Wing deployed to Kandahar Airfield from August 2009 to February 2010 and included a large number of reservist personnel serving with 27 Sqn RAF Regt and also within the Wing Headquarters .
The Sqn was presented with its Standard to commemorate 25 years operational service by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at a unique ceremony held at RAF Marham on 18 July 2010 .
With the formation of 20 ( DCBRN ) Wing RAF Regt , 2623 Sqn RAuxAF Regt became a dual-role organisation , providing personnel for mobilisation in a Force Protection capacity but also training and holding readiness in the CBRN Specialist role . Specialising on Biological Sense and Hazard Management , the Sqn originally training on the Integrated Biological Detection System and then its replacement the Biological Surveillance Collector System . The Hazard Management role saw the Sqn training on and operating the Multi-Purpose Decontamination System . Following the transfer of the Defence Specialist CBRN role from the RAF Regt to the Army and the disbandment of No 20 ( DCBRN ) Wing RAF Regt , 2623 Sqn RAuxAF Regt reverted to a traditional role and although held at readiness for Specialist CBRN tasks , now operate as a Base Defence Detachment for the Typhoon Force under the Command of No 7 RAF Force Protection Wing .
The Sqn continues to deploy gunners to Minad as part of the ongoing flightline security support provided by the RAF Regt . In 2020 the Sqn mobilised a large number of gunners to support the OP RESCIRPT mobilisation effort as part of the UK ’ s response to the Covid 19 outbreak . This developed and sections where re-tasked to support ERAMUS / QRA duties at high profile locations such as RAF Marham . Since 2020 the Sqn continues to mobilise troops in support of OP AZOTIZE and OP BILOXI as part of the ongoing NATO Air Policing mission .
The Platinum Jubilee celebrations of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 2022 marked the 70 th anniversary of her accession to the throne on 6 February 1952 . As part of the celebrations the Sqn provided a number of gunners to augment their regular counterparts and march side by side in the parade .
In 2022 , 2623 was re-tasked during a Sqn ACT period to provide support to OP BALLAM as part of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II . The Sqn augmented their regular counterparts in 2023 to take part and support OP GOLDEN ORB . 8 members of the Sqn took part in His Majesty King Charles ’ Coronation parade .
2623 Sqn continues to support security operations in Cyprus at RAF Akrotiri as part of OP TIMBERN since the RAF Regt relieved the Army of the role in 2022 .
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