ROYAL AUXILIARY AIR FORCE I 100 th ANNIVERSARY
In 1965 the Flt ’ s PIs were used to augment RAF Germany tactical imagery analysis and formed strong bonds with II ( AC ), 17 , 31 and 80 Sqns . In recognition of the Flt ’ s “ spirit and devotion ”, Queen Elizabeth II granted a unit badge to 7010 in 1982 , a unique exception to the rules for unit badges at the time . In the 1980 ’ s , 7010 personnel were war appointed to II ( AC ) at RAF Laarbruch , IV ( AC ) Sqn at RAF Gutersloh , 39 Sqn at RAF Wyton and 41 ( F ) Sqn at RAF Coltishall together with JARIC .
With the end of the Cold War the Flt shifted focus to support the Tornado Force at RAF Marham while continuing its relationship with RAF Coltishall and JARIC .
7010 became a Sqn with the amalgamation of the RAF VR with the RAuxAF in 1997 .
7010 has maintained an emphasis on delivering operational output in support of real-world intelligence requirements throughout its history . This ethos is reflected in the high tempo of working weekend activity undertaken for 11Gp , 1 ISR Wg and Defence Intelligence customers .
Sqn personnel have also mobilised in support of a variety of Operations including WARDEN , NORTHERN-WATCH , RESINATE-SOUTH , TELIC , HERRICK , ELLAMY , and SHADER .
Northern-Watch , Resinate-South , Telic , Herrick , Ellamy , and Shader
7010 celebrates its 70 th anniversary in 2023 . It ’ s motto Vocati Veniemus is freely translated as “ when summoned we shall be there ”.
7630 ( Volunteer Reserve ) Intelligence Squadron RAuxAF
7630 Flt RAF Volunteer Reserve Squadron RAuxAF was formed on 1 December 1958 , specialising in language capabilities essential to Human Intelligence ( HUMINT ) collection . Its origins lay in the changing character of 20th Century warfare with increased emphasis on intelligence gathering from captured prisoners of war . During the Second World War , a specialist organisation , MI9 , was established dedicated to interrogation of enemy prisoners . It operated worldwide and proved valuable in the collection of HUMINT . Although MI19 was disbanded at the end of the war , the Soviet threat to Western Europe necessitated the re-establishment of a reserve HUMINT capability . From November 1954 , this capability was delivered by a tri-service organisation , the Joint Service Interrogation Unit ( Territorial Army ) ( JSIU ), providing both HUMINT interrogation as well as supporting linguistic capabilities . RAF personnel of JSIU were recruited from many sources and included officers who served in the war supporting clandestine operations within the Directorate of Air Intelligence .
The RAF element was initially held on the strength of 7802 ( Miscellaneous ) Flight prior to its disbandment in 1958 , on the formation of 7630 Flight RAF Volunteer Reserve . Initially tasked with providing a pool of Russian linguists , the demands of the Cold War saw language capabilities expanded to include German and Polish . Subsequent operational necessity brought in Spanish , Arabic and
Serbo-Croat linguists . 7630 Flight initially recruited heavily from ex-National Service linguists and was based at the Intelligence Corps Depot at Ashford , Kent .
From its early years , 7630 Flight had global commitments and included participating in exercises in Aden ( 1963 ), Singapore ( 1963 ), Libya ( 1965 ) as well
Humint Trg 2012 as Malaysia ( 1970 ). The Flight was also tasked with training in resistance to interrogation techniques and supported this from 1965 through a series of exercises held at the Survival School at RAF Mount Batten . Over time , unit personnel also came to be employed more widely as generalist interpreters . In this , squadron personnel ( drawn from both ex-regular linguists and civilians with language skills ) added value by their knowledge of the military contexts and terminologies of foreign languages .
From the early 1970s , the Flight began recruiting nonlinguist intelligence officers who provided analytical and briefing capabilities to RAF and NATO Air Headquarters . The eventual formation of HQ Strike Command ’ s Command Intelligence Centre resulted in these personnel being formed in 1986 into 7006 Flight , a dedicated volunteer reserves intelligence unit .
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