ROYAL AUXILIARY AIR FORCE I 100 th ANNIVERSARY
505 ( Wessex ) Squadron RAuxAF
505 ( Wessex ) Sqn is the youngest RAuxAF Sqn , formed on the 5 January 2015 as a General Support Squadron to recruit , train and employ Logistic Drivers , Suppliers , Chefs , Intelligence Analysts and Personnel Support staff . Having recruited a skeletal HQ staff , the first Part Time Volunteer Reservists ( PTVRs ) attested in April 2016 to begin their training and went ‘ front line ’ in 2017 . The only RAuxAF Sqn in the South West of England , 505 is based at RAF St Mawgan near Newquay in Cornwall and its personnel come from as far afield as Penzance in the west to Taunton and Southampton in the east . Achieving Full Operational Capability in 2017 the Sqn has now been able to design and apply for its own Squadron badge or ‘ crest ’ which is expected to be the first of such awarded by HM King Charles III later in 2023 .
With its motto of ‘ Magna Simul ’ ( Great things at Once ) the Sqn has pressed on with vigour Operation SHADER , 2018 saw the first 505 Sqn PTVR mobilisation to Crete in support of Operation SHADER , along with support to the RAF 100 Parade in London . The Sqn put in a team to the Military Altcar Challenge competition winning a Bronze award and received its first Royal Visit by HRH the Countess of Wessex . The year ended with the Sqn ’ s involvement with Jamie Oliver ’ s 15 Programme to help young local under-privileged adults become fully qualified chefs .
2019 saw an increase in qualified PTVRs being able to support UK Defence across the globe ; with PTVRs going to Norway in support of the Defence SERE Training Organisation , continued mobilisations in support of Operation SHADER and at home at RAF Brize Norton , Waddington and Benson , support to Ex Normandy Eagle to celebrate the 75 th anniversary of D-Day and Ex Arnhem Eagle to celebrate the 75 th anniversary of Operation MARKET GARDEN . The Sqn MT Drivers competed in the British Army Motoring Association ( BAMA ) annual event and were even placed first !
The start of 2020 saw the Sqn hold its first ever formal dinner night with its guest of honour , the Honorary Air Commodore Edward Bolitho , Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall , in attendance . As mobilisations continued at RAF Waddington and on-board HMS ALBION , the COVID pandemic saw
AS2 Fin Loader , AS2 Luke Herman , AS2 Adrian Brown and Cpl Paul Smith proudly displaying their trophy ’ s after successfully competing in a Tri Service Night Navigation offroad Rally . an immediate cohort of 11 PTVRs volunteer to provide their immediate support to Operation RESCRIPT . Post initial training they were sent to RMB Stonehouse , RAF Benson , Coningsby , and St Mawgan before being mobilised to form a Mobile Testing Team and deployed to the West Midlands . For the latter the team received an AOC Commendation .
2021 saw the continued support to Operation Rescript whilst Sqn Subject Matter Experts ( SMEs ) provided direct support to the UK JFAC , 3 Commando Brigade and DSTO . Meanwhile PTVRs mobilised to the Falkland Islands and ASIC at RAF Wyton . June saw the Sqn heavily involved in RAF St Mawgan ’ s response to Operation TRELAWNY in support of the G7 summit in Carbis Bay ; again being recognised as part of St Mawgan ’ s AOC Team Commendation .
2022 was another busy year with PTVRs mobilising in support of Operation BILOXI ( Romania ), SHADER ( Cyprus ) and to ASIC at RAF Wyton in the UK . RSD support was also provided to the Commando Helicopter Force at RNAS Yeovilton , Ex JOINT WARRIOR ( NATO Maritime Exercise ) and RMB Poole . The summer saw members of the Sqn involved in HM Queen Elizabeth II ’ s Diamond Jubilee in London and again in the autumn in the more sombre event of Her Majesty ’ s passing as part of Operation BRIDGES . Meanwhile PTVRs from the Sqn continued to compete in the BAMA competition and in the Interservice Games Angling Competition and World Gig Rowing competition .
2023 , with the end of the COVID pandemic , has seen an increase in recruiting with two new cohorts of PTVRs joining the Sqn and an increase in activity . Members of the Sqn proudly represented the RAuxAF at the coronation of HM King Charles III and Queen Camilla as part of Operation GOLDEN ORB , whilst others have mobilised back to Cyprus as part of Op SHADER or ASIC at RAF Wyton .
505 Sqn made up the majority of the RAF Women ’ s Gig team at the World Gig Rowing Championships of the Isles of Scilly
Sqn personnel during their secondment to support an MOB
Dining In Night 2023
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