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Formation of New Royal Air Force Units
Two new Royal Air Force units have been formed: 58 Squadron RAF Regiment at RAF Leuchars in Fife, and No 8 RAF Force Protection Wing Headquarters at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire. Both have been formed in response to high operational demand in Afghanistan for the specialist Force Protection capabilities they provide, and their formation will increase the time that their personnel spend between operational deployments.
The RAF Regiment provides essential protection to our air assets and armed forces serving on operations in Afghanistan. It is structured, equipped and trained for this specialist role. RAF Force Protection Wing Headquarters and RAF Regiment Field Squadrons allow air operations to continue despite hostile action, by protecting the base assets, personnel, and aircraft on flight paths approaching and departing the base. They are currently delivering in this role on operations at a number of air, joint-service and international operating bases in Afghanistan and, until recently, in Iraq. Air Commodore Russell La Forte CBE, the Commandant General of the RAF Regiment said:
“The formation of No 8 RAF Force Protection Wing Headquarters and 58 Squadron RAF Regiment is an important and very welcome development. Force Protection is of vital importance to allowing the RAF to play its part in bringing stability to Afghanistan, and also to allow all those at the bases we protect to get on with their work unhindered by insurgents. These additional units will allow us to maintain our high operational tempo whilst giving the people who man them more time to rest, recuperate, spend time with their families and train for the next deployment.“
Formation of No 8 Royal Air Force Force Protection Wing Headquarters
A new RAF Force Protection Wing Headquarters, 8 RAF Force Protection Wing Headquarters, has been formed at RAF Waddington, in Lincolnshire. The Wing will build up over the coming months and will ultimately consist of 15 personnel, commanded by a Wing Commander, but when deployed on operations it may have under its control hundreds of Force Protection personnel including those of other ISAF nations. The Wing is scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan in April 2011, where it will support Air Operations by ensuring favourable conditions on the ground for aircraft to operate in support of NATO operations, and provide protection for personnel working at air operating bases.
Formation of 58 Squadron Royal Air Force Regiment.
A new RAF Regiment Field Squadron, 58 Squadron RAF Regiment, has been formed at RAF Leuchars,
in Fife. The Squadron will build up over the coming months and will ultimately consist of 173 personnel,
commanded by a Squadron Leader. Air Officer Scotland and Station Commander RAF Leuchars, Air
Commodore Harry Atkinson said:
“I am delighted that Leuchars has been chosen to be the home of the new Regiment Field Squadron. RAF
Leuchars is a Main Operating Base, whose primary role is to deliver and maintain 24-hour Air Defence
through the provision Quick Reaction Alert aircraft and crews; however, it is also the proud home to a
number of other specialists units. The new squadron will complement RAF Leuchars’ operational focus
and output – both at home and overseas.”
The Squadron is scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan in April 2011, where it will support Air Operations by ensuring favourable conditions on the ground for aircraft to operate in support of NATO operations. 58 Squadron RAF Regiment has by far the most distinguished operational record of any RAF Regiment squadron. It has a total of 7 battle honours, 6 of which are from World War II and have the right to be emblazoned on its Standard. Some of these battle honours are not held by any other active or dormant RAF Regiment Squadron. 58 Squadron has in its history been in the rifle, field, light anti-aircraft and light armour roles. It carries the battle honours Home Defence 1941-42, North Africa 1941-43, Italy 1943-45, Gustav Line 1944, France 1944, SE Europe 1944-5 and Gulf 1991. The formation of 58 Squadron marks a return to Leuchars for the RAF Regiment; 27 Squadron RAF Regiment served there for many years before its disbandment in 1992. Sqn Ldr David Stellitano, Officer Commanding 58 Squadron, said:
“58 Squadron is delighted to be at RAF Leuchars. The Station is renowned for the warm support that it enjoys from the local community and it is our hope that we can continue to foster this relationship. The Squadron is also looking forward to deploying in support the RAF’s contribution in Afghanistan next year.”
Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Operations Squadron Renumbered to 26 Squadron RAF Regiment
The RAF Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Operations Squadron, based at RAF
Honington in Suffolk, has been designated 26 Squadron RAF Regiment with immediate effect, including
the right to bear the existing 26 Sqn RAF Regt Standard.
The Squadron is equipped, structured and trained to deliver specialist CBRN defence capabilities in
support of expeditionary and homeland operations. It provides unique, world-leading capabilities in the
collection and safe transportation of biological, chemical and radiological samples from wherever they are
found in the world, including operational theatres, to laboratories for analysis. The Sqn also provides
support to UK and overseas CBRN counter-terrorist activity. The role is hazardous, challenging and
specialised, requiring training with live chemical, biological and radiological (CBR) weapons-grade material,
and continuous maintenance of extremely high readiness for roles that potentially include CBR contaminated environments and terrorist CBRN weapons, as well as personnel having to defend themselves against conventional threats. The Squadron is part of the RAF Force Protection Centre, also at RAF Honington, and is currently established for 59 personnel, predominantly RAF Regiment. The allocation of a Squadron numberplate and, given its operational role, a Squadron Standard, recognises the continuing 40-year contribution that the Sqn has made to operations.
