Sqn Numberplates

:D:rolleyes:;)

Been there, done it?

Bar a couple of months on 431 MU doing deepstrip which was a bit of a holding posting before tour ex in RAFG my whole career was first line, could also add LSS which was the VC 10 line for 10 Sqn…. Nearly ended up in base hangar after a course, but my F/Sgt kicked up a stink and got me posted back…. 😀

Coincidence – tour on 240 Squadron!

My main squadrons I served on we’re 240 OCU, 20 Sqn, 14 Sqn… And happy to see 20 Sqn is not on the list of active squadrons.

But you haven’t served with them twice, Tony?

And isn’t there something about a/c types? I’m not fully conversant with the niceties.

= Tim

PS – much pleased!!

One squadron are reforming at Leuchars with Tiffies

Though to be fair 3 Sqn was the 1st Sqn in the RAF, so cannot see the big thing about 1 Sqn…..

No. 1 Balloon Company, Royal engineers are to reform in their centenary year:

http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/archive/no1f-squadron-21052012

It says the official Stand Up will be at what may be the last Leuchars Airshow, which has to be the most bittersweet of double edged swords.

It all used to go to a place called Quedgeley, but I think that is a housing estate now. Orificers swords used to be held there as well and I know they went to Innsworth when Quedgeley shut, Innsworth is now some Army barracks with everything moved to High Wycombe so I kinda guess that is where it all ended up?

Could the BBMF take on some of the numberplates? Assign one, relavent to each aircraft, with each aircraft ‘team’ representing a squadron…. might keep some of the numbers alive…. could also rotate them every year…..

Not me Guv. (But I know a man that can!)

Baloffski

I guess you read the same DIN as me!

http://www.pprune.org/military-aircrew/405401-oldest-raf-squadron.html

10 Sqn will be the first Voyager Sqn

XIII Sqn will re-equip with Reaper

51 Sqn will be re-equipped with Rivet Joint/ Airseeker

Those have all been confirmed by the MOD – the serial numbers of the RC-135s will have the same digits as the original Nimrods, which add up to 51!!

IV(R) Sqn will be re-equipped with Hawk T2 – 19 Sqn to Disband

14 Sqn will re-equip with Shadow R1

42(R), 55(R), 111, 120 and 201 plus a lot of existing Reserve Sqns will disband

70 Sqn will get the A400M

Hadn’t heard the one about the Shadow component of 5 Sqn being re-assigned to 14 Sqn, but it makes sense – 42, 55, 111, 120 and 201 going is no surprise either.

76 Squadron, having only recently (2007) been issued to the Tucano Air Navigation Squadron, has been disbanded again, as the RAF are not training Navigators anymore.

I have heard from a reliable source that the following changes are going to be made to RAF Sqn Numberplates:

IV(R) Sqn will be re-equipped with Hawk T2 – 19 Sqn to Disband

10 Sqn will be the first Voyager Sqn

XIII Sqn will re-equip with Reaper

14 Sqn will re-equip with Shadow R1

42(R), 55(R), 111, 120 and 201 plus a lot of existing Reserve Sqns will disband

51 Sqn will be re-equipped with Rivet Joint/ Airseeker

70 Sqn will get the A400M

Still no definite news on No1 Balloon Company RE although it looks likely they will be the first F35 Sqn. The hole in the wall gang are of course safe until Tornado goes, but that possibly only gives them 6 and a bit years, so what then? Could one possibly become the Reds shadow Sqn?

I am hearing Shadow R1 will go to the Army as the asset it ‘replaced’ was an Army asset used elsewhere. Supposedly, it is could be used as a bit of a barter chip for any future realocation of funds, with the Royal Marines being thrown into the pot as they are a Shadow end user and the Navy wanting to keep some element of fixed wing ops in the short term. All very political!

So can we afford to be 1(F)less for ten years? Afford to lose an important BofB plate?

BTW does anyone know what the RC-135 will be named in RAF service?

‘Token’ (:rolleyes:)

If historic significance is important, 201 (and 202) will be retained

You’ve confused me slightly Baloffski, Surely the RC-135 will be operated by 51 sqn when their Nimrods go, and 5 sqn are already operating the Shadow R.1 which I would think they will carry on doing once the Sentinal R.1 goes?

BTW does anyone know what the RC-135 will be named in RAF service?

I picked XV fairly radomly to be honest, as the Tornado GR force will shrink, their sqns will go, I can’t see 617 being one of them.

Good reply Pagen01 but a few things:

5 (AC) will disband at the end of the Afghan campaign as the Sentinel will be done away with, but it could reform straight away(ish) with Rivet Joint 707’s.

I doubt XV (R) will disband it is the biggest Sqn in the RAF and will still be very important in the Tornado world.

Now for the bones of contention:

Historically, and that after all is what we are about:

Keep 99 who have been truckies for the last fifty years on and off but disband 14 with nearly unbroken offensive air since they formed?

Keep 60 who spent most of there op time in the middle east but ditch Battle of Britain Sqn 41?

Should the RAF be without 1(F) arguably the most important and if you count balloon ops the oldest Sqn in the world, for ten years waiting for JSF?

As stated above 5 could reform almost imediately with RC135 but then what of 51?