RAF Squadrons Receive Battle Honours from Her Majesty The Queen
 

https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/articles...sty-the-queen/

No idea how to embed the page.

I think its bizarre at this particular moment - no doubt someone deep int he UK MoD is beavering away on these important task - but here is the announcement:-The Battle Honours have been awarded to commemorate notable battles, actions, or engagements in which squadron aircrew or RAF Regiment personnel played a memorable part. Battle Honours have been awarded to 32 operational flying squadrons and nine RAF Regiment squadrons for their service during operations in Afghanistan during the period 7 October 2001 to 31 December 2014. Six operational flying squadrons and nine RAF Regiment squadrons have been awarded the highest honour of ‘Battle Honour with Emblazonment’. In addition to the Afghanistan honours, Her Majesty The Queen has also granted Battle Honours for some past operations that correct some previous omissions.

The Battle Honour, BOSNIA 1995, with emblazonment, is awarded to No IV (AC) Squadron and No 6 Squadron.

The Battle Honour, SIERRA LEONE 2000, with emblazonment, is awarded to No. 7 Squadron.

The Battle Honour, ‘IRAQ 2003 – 2011’, without the right to emblazon is awarded to 78 Squadron.



The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Mike Wigston CBE ADC said:
"Battle Honours reflect the tremendous contribution of Royal Air Force Squadrons to operations in the air and on the ground. They add to the Royal Air Force's rich history of operational excellence, protecting our Nation. Everyone involved can be rightly proud of the part they played."

The Chief of the Air Staff
Air Chief Marshal Mike Wigston CBE ADC


There are two levels of Battle Honour within the Royal Air Force, the first is entitlement which recognises that a squadron played a notable and significant role in the campaign. The second, higher level, gives the right to emblazon the Battle Honour on the Squadron Standard itself. This highest level has been awarded to squadrons who were involved in direct confrontation with the enemy, and who have demonstrated gallantry and spirit under fire.

RECOGNISED SQUADRONS FOR AFGHANISTAN:

Squadrons honoured with the right to emblazon ‘AFGHANISTAN 2001-2014’ on their Squadron Standard.:

• No. 7 Squadron RAF
• No. 3 Squadron RAF Regiment
• No. 18 (Bomber) Squadron RAF
• No. 15 Squadron RAF Regiment
• No. 27 Squadron RAF
• No. 27 Squadron RAF Regiment
• No. 28 (Army Cooperation) Squadron RAF
• No. 34 Squadron RAF Regiment
• No. 47 Squadron RAF
• No. 51 Squadron RAF Regiment
• No. 78 Squadron RAF
• No. 58 Squadron RAF Regiment
• No. 1 Squadron RAF Regiment
• No. 63 Squadron RAF Regiment
• No. II Squadron RAF Regiment

SQUADRONS HONOURED WITH A BATTLE HONOUR:

• No. 1 (Fighter) Squadron RAF
• No. 30 Squadron RAF
• No. II (Army Cooperation) Squadron RAF
• No. 31 Squadron RAF
• No. 3 (Fighter) Squadron RAF
• No. 32 (The Royal) Squadron RAF
• No. IV (Army Cooperation) Squadron RAF
• No. 39 Squadron RAF
• No. V (Army Cooperation) Squadron RAF
• No. 51 Squadron RAF
• No. 8 Squadron RAF
• No. LXX Squadron RAF
• No. IX (Bomber) Squadron RAF
• No. 99 Squadron RAF
• No. 10 Squadron RAF
• No. 101 Squadron RAF
• No. 12 (Bomber) Squadron RAF
• No. 120 Squadron RAF
• No. XIII Squadron RAF
• No. 201 Squadron RAF
• No. 14 Squadron RAF
• No. 206 Squadron RAF
• No. 23 Squadron RAF
• No. 216 Squadron RAF
• No. XXIV Squadron RAF
• No. 617 Squadron RAF

I would have thought they all would.

Maybe Div II didn't show enough " gallantry and spirit under fire"

Regiment and Rotary, yes.

Fast Air, No.

Bizarre in what particular respect, dare I ask? Good news is surely good news, irrespective of the timing and perhaps particularly at present, and it seems likely that, rather than put them on ice, DSSec had recently passed on HM's approval of these honours for publication for the benefit of those who justly earned them.

Jack

and this would have been the result of many months’ worth of work, long before anyone could spell Coronavirus

Why wait 20 years after an event? The query I have is why haven’t Army or Navy squadrons been awarded Battle honours for the same conflicts? (I assume Fleet and Land just haven’t applied).
I’m guessing the fact that this is an SDSR year, or whatever we are calling it this year, has no bearing on the fact that some at risk squadrons have been given battle honours and thus elevating their status, maybe to help save them?
yes, I’ve been told I’m a cynical bugger, they are all thoroughly well deserved though.

Working on handing out honours is a bit of luxury at any time I'd have thought.................

You couldn’t be more wrong. Recognising gallantry, dedication, determination, fortitude etc is a very worthy activity. It inspires others to do incredible things too. All part of military (fighting) ethos.

Firstly "bizarre" and now a "bit of a luxury" - perhaps I'm misinterpreting the guidance at the top of the page, but that's certainly bizarre in my view....

Jack

Tell me, Asturias, have you ever been under enemy fire?

Typical spotter comment. You don’t know what you’re talking about.

The men and women of 7 & 47 Sqn et al made the time in 2001 to take on a conflict that was extreme, remote, with little or no comms and with no means of external support or rescue in the most challenging of conditions. Making time for an embellishment on their squadron standards is very very little.

As the squadron being awarded the Sierra Leone honour is 7 Sqn, I don’t think there’s any risk that they’re likely to disappear in any defence review.

It was 2000. It seems to be quite a common mistake that people make, not sure why.

It's a long time go.............. twenty years flies - if you rewind 20 years from the action we'r in Pre Falklands times.....

But only a day since Herod last posted.....😁

Jack

Quite common indeed to think that UK operations in Afghanistan commenced in 2001.

I am sure I am missing something here, are you saying Afghanistan was 2000?

There seems to be a few omissions, is this deliberate or have I misunderstood the requirements? I am thinking Reaper and Harrier for being a pretty big player, yet isn't a recognised squadron?

The 2000 reference is Sierra Leone, for which 7 Sqn was awarded a battle honour in the same announcement (correcting its previous omission). Afghanistan began in 2001: the clue is in the title of the honour 'Afghanistan 2001-2014'. 1(F), 3(F) and IV(AC) are all on the list; as far as I know there have been no Typhoon or Hawk T2 deployments to Afghanistan so I conclude that the Harrier sqns have been recognised. 800 NAS would not appear in a RAF list. For the Reaper sqns, both 39 and XIII are on the list. However I'm certain they would already have earned the honour by their actions as PR9 and GR4 units, respectively. A sqn can't be awarded a battle honour twice so the question of whether RPAS units can earn them hasn't been tested here.

First comment...spot on!

Second part....only an idiot would calmly appraise a situation and determine what Gong he was going to collect for a specific act.

Third part....We should and do recognize our fellow war fighters when they perform acts of gallantry during difficult circumstances.....far too many deserving acts go un-rewarded unfortunately.

I attribute mine to an excess of poor judgement and very poor decision making mixed with being cornered and having no alternative.

On a serious note....glad to see Awards being given as notice of service well done!

Hand Salute!

Can the learned people of prune answer this for me?

why have none of the Naval Air Squadrons SH or Harriers been awarded Battle Honours for the same conflicts?

I know this is an RAF list but apparently the Navy flatly refused to entertain the idea of an honour at all.

I'm sure what you say here is true, and may be what you inferred, but it's not what I implied or intended.

I'd be surprised if the RM commandos that served in Afghanistan were not awarded the battle honour, so at least those RN units will be rewarded.

Have BHs ever been awarded to FAA sqns, and do they even possess colours or standards on which to display them? I know that ships have been awarded BHs in the past, but they don't (I think) have colours or standards.

"only an idiot would calmly appraise a situation and determine what Gong he was going to collect for a specific act."

I have a memory of reading about a young, lunatic junior officer who shouted "Death or a VC" charging into action in some pre WW1 action... he got one but not the other....... :(