ROYAL AUXILIARY AIR FORCE I 100 th ANNIVERSARY
4626 ( County of Wiltshire ) Aeromedical Evacuation ( AE ) Squadron RAuxAF Regt
With its history linked to 626 Sqn , Royal Air Force , a World War 2 bomber Sqn The need for additional aeromedical evacuation ( AE ) capability was identified during the Falklands War . 4626 ( County of Wiltshire ) AE Sqn was formed on 9 Sep 1983 . Its purpose , to provide trained aeromedical escorts for evacuation of casualties during war and other national emergencies . The 4626 Sqn motto , Tute Domum ( Safely Home ) captures the spirit of the Sqn role , in support of the Defence Medical Services .
The Sqn number was allocated from 626 Sqn , a disbanded WW2 strategic bombing Sqn which operated the Avro Lancaster from RAF Wickenby during World War Two . 626 Sqn flew 2728 operational sorties from Nov 1943 to Oct 1945 , with 49 aircraft lost . 626 Sqn personnel spent the last months of the war air dropping food ( Operation Manna ), repatriating former prisoners of war , and bringing British troops home from Italy .
The first 4626 Sqn Officer Commanding was appointed in Jan 1984 and the first intake of recruits arrived for training at RAF Wroughton in Jul 1984 . The Sqn subsequently moved to RAF Hullavington , then RAF Lyneham and is now located at RAF Brize Norton .
4626 Sqn has twice mobilised as a formed unit – in support of Op GRANBY ( Gulf War 1 ) in 1991 and Op TELIC ( Gulf War 2 ) in 2003 . On both occasions more than 95 % of Sqn members presented themselves for mobilisation . In 1991 , call out papers were received only seven days prior to the reporting date . Ten days of intense preparedness , with a focus on chemical warfare , preceded deployment to Saudi Arabia and Bahrain . Just 48 hours later , Sqn personnel operating at four air staging units ( ASUs ) and as tactical / strategic aeromedical escorts , were the first RAF Reserves to come under enemy fire since WW2 .
In 2003 , Sqn members established an ASU at RAF Akrotiri , flying strategic aeromedical missions from Cyprus to the UK . Each mission they landed at different civilian airports , spreading the casualty load across the NHS . Later , Sqn members deployed forward to Iraq , operating from both Basrah Airfield and Al Amarah .
From 2006 to 2014 , Sqn members were deployed to Afghanistan in support of Op HERRICK . This time , and for all future operations , they mobilised as individual augmentees , operating in diverse functions such as the Medical Emergency Response Team ( MERT ), tactical and strategic aeromed , within the ED / ITU / Ward of the Role 3 hospital at Camp Bastion , as patrol medics and as the medical lead for civilian / military cooperation .
Since 2014 , Sqn personnel have deployed in support of operations and exercises around the world , utilising clinical and leadership skills gained from both civilian and military careers in new and challenging situations . This includes humanitarian relief and military aid to civil authorities . Sqn nurses deployed to Sierra Leone to work in an Ebola hospital in 2015 and , in 2020 , non-NHS Sqn members were mobilised to support the NHS Covid-19 response . Other deployed locations include Mali , South Sudan , USA , Australia , Falkland Islands , Cyprus , Kenya , South Korea , and Oman . More recently , Sqn physiotherapists have provided medical support to fast jet pilots engaged in NATO Air Policing in Europe .
High Readiness Reserve ( HRR ) contracts now provide the opportunity for personnel to complete pre-deployment training and then return to civilian employment , pending a service need . Under this contract , ITU nurses undertake regular Critical Care Air Support Team ( CCAST ) duties , nurses and medics work alongside Tactical Medical Wing colleagues to deliver worldwide AE and personnel are on standby for hurricane season in the Caribbean .
In Feb 2023 , a 4626 Sqn nurse on HRR contract was mobilised whilst on a training weekend and deployed to Turkey the next day to support the earthquake disaster response .
For years , Sqn personnel have made up at least 10 % of deployed RAF Medical Services . Whether training in the UK , on exercise or deployed overseas , they epitomise the character , spirit and attitude demonstrated throughout 100 years of RAF Reserve service .
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