This will likely increase the time it takes for your changes to go live. We get a fair few exraf regiment who later decide to join the royal marines, but extremely few. The second issue is one of cultural acceptance, is uk civil and military culture ready to accept female combat casualties. The infantry is the basic building block of the army as has the front line role in the army. Jul 16, 2009 the raf regiment takes the lead on force protection fp for the raf and is responsible for ensuring the protection of any deployed raf assets. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
The raf regiment at war 19421946 oliver, kingsley on. It means that anyone properly qualified can be posted to any appropriate role a manning dream. It is a unit with a long history having its origin on 22 december 1921, when number 1 armoured car company raf was formed at heliopolis in egypt. Raf regiment troops often out ran army units to take control of german and italian airbas. So far 91 publications available in paperback or e book versions have been released in six series. The raf regiment is the ground fighting force of the raf. Aug 10, 2008 seeing as the sas is part of the army, and the raf regt is part of the raf, very few if any, its like asking how many c pilots there are working in submarines. The raf regiment are not classified as special forces. The raf regt defend the areas surrounding airfields. The raf regiment and the infantry are really quite different. During the cold war the squadron was predominately based in germany. Raf regiment books khaki and blue the early ground defence of the raf in ww2 by colonel ronald sherbrookewalker td dl.
The raf regiment is still a good job to have but, as clip said, they have a very different wartime role to the army infantry units. Branches raf regiment association official website home. An updated short history of the raf regiment from 1942 to 1982 with a brief account of the approach to the problems of airfield defence in the royal air force from 1918 until the formation of its own defence corps in 1942. The rock apes do not get the opportunities to fight as often as the army, but when they do they do all right. Raf opens close combat role to women ahead of schedule. The royal air force regiment raf regiment is part of the royal air force and functions as a specialist corps founded by royal warrant in 1942. Raf regiment officers specialise in ground combat tactics, leading and directing the raf regiment squadrons that protect raf bases and forward operating bases. The raf regiment at war 19421946 by kingsley oliver goodreads. The edges of war an raf regiment story by tim hillyar. Beware, you are proposing to add brand new pages to the wiki along with your edits. So im delighted that the raf regiment will be open to recruitment to women from september.
Additionally the royal auxiliary air force regiment fielded the following reserve squadrons. Raf regiment is a defensive unit tasked with defending air assets. The history of raf regiment parachute units 1942 2012, barney books, 2012, isbn 9781906542498. Th royal air force cadets national marching band evening hymn and sunset. Each csp squadron had an authorized strength of twentyone officers and 538 enlisted men. An adversary may hope to achieve air supremacy or protect itself from air attack first by attacking airbases, aircraft and other. The raf regiment was created in the early years of world war ii for the active dedicated defence of raf airfields and installations. Examples of such tasks are non combatant evacuation operations neo, recovery of downed aircrew, and in depth defence of airfields by way of aggressively patrolling a large area of. The regiment grew to a strength of 80,000 men with 280 squadrons of 185 men. A high standard of combat effective fitness for all is a laudable aim. Jenzenjones royal air force raf regiment troops, possibly based out of honington or wittering, have been deployed to bamako as a force protection fp element for raf operations in support of the french intervention in mali. But those mongs still leave the safety of fobs to go on the ground and take on the enemy.
Specialists in ground combat operations, the raf regiment contributes to the defence of raf airfields in the uk and overseas, forward air controlling, ceremonial duties and support to special forces operations. Now held at the national archives in series air 50, they include commonwealth, united states army air force and allied units based in the united kingdom during the second world war. We get a fair few ex raf regiment who later decide to join the royal marines, but extremely few transfer from the corps to the raf regiment. Dont get me wrong, the raf reg arent disliked because their job which they generally do well pretty much confines them to camp. Welcome to forces reunited the place where you can find information and friends from raf regiment we are the largest and fastest growing community of uk forces veterans on the web with over 500,000 members. Usually known as the rockapes, its original role was concerned with airfield defence although this is no longer a role that even the raf can pretend is important. Other arms and services operate role specific absolute fitness standards ie carry weight x over distance y in under time z irrespective of age or gender, why would the raf regiment be any different. Members of b squadron,raf regiment,patrol in wmik land rovers near kandahar airfield, afghanistan.
The corps carries out soldiering tasks relating to the delivery of air power. Prince harry presents the raf regiment with a new colour. I am sure you know what they get up to from watching all the coverage on television. All funding comes from generous donations by members of the public and the on site shop. Its principal purpose is to counter our adversaries across a wide spectrum of threats, wherever and whenever necessary. Raf to allow women in close combat roles ahead of schedule. Nov 08, 2015 th royal air force cadets national marching band evening hymn and sunset. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading defector phantom air combat book 1. Safeside association air force light infantry joined to fight. Defector phantom air combat book 1 kindle edition by gledhill, david. In afghanistan three members of the raf regiment earned the military cross.
The royal air force regiment is the ground fighting force of the royal air force and is charged mainly with protecting military airfields, among other duties first formed in 1942 to protect the airfields against enemy attack, the regiment s motto is per ardua through adversity. During the war the raf regiment grew to a force of over 80,000 men. The raf regiment is a specialist corps founded by royal warrant in 1942. However many individuals are capable of outstanding work in one role but physically unsuited to most other role related jobs. A brief history of the raf regiment 19421960 by air vice marshall j. Now youve stopped laughing, it is a modern, iraq based tactical game where the troops do everything the raf regiment dont theres not an airfield in sight. Despite what people might tell you, they do not see their fair share of combat. About 2804 armoured car squadron, from landing in france at the end of june 1944, through the. On 08 july 2016, the mod announced that all ground close combat roles rac, infantry, royal marines and the raf regiment would be opened to women by 2018 british army, 2016. Although used as a bomber station during the second world war, raf honington is now the raf regiment depot. As a former member of an raf regiment parachute unit i found this book absolutely fascinating not just being able to look. Now youve stopped laughing, it is a modern, iraq based tactical game where the troops do everything the raf regiment dont. The raf regiment also prepares nonforce protection specialists for the rigours of operations. A typical raf regiment squadron has support elements from the raf but these personnel do not always deploy on patrols and other combat operations.
Its mission is protection of raf bases from ground attack. This edit will also create new pages on giant bomb for. Seeing as the sas is part of the army, and the raf regt is part of the raf, very few if any, its like asking how many c pilots there are working in submarines. At the end of the war the decision was made to retain the raf regt. The raf regiment was created in the early years of world war ii for the active dedicated defense of raf airfields and installations.
The royal air force regiment is part of the royal air force and functions as a specialist corps founded by royal warrant in 1942. I am interested in joining the armed forces and have come across the raf regiment and i would like to hear from anyone who has been in the regiment or knows somebody who has on what daily life and society is like, what roles the regiment fills combat etc. The royal air force regiment raf regiment is part of the royal air force and functions as a. Raf regiment books raf regiment association official website. An raf pilot getting a haircut while reading a book john buchans greenmantle between missions. The royal air force has its own private pretend infantry unit called the raf regiment. Royal air force regiment take a break whilst on a combat misson near kandahar airfield, afghanistan, jan. Welcome to the official shop for the raf regiment heritage centre. In 1992, the raf regiment withdrew the cvrt from service and no. Published in 1952 by the saint catherine press ltd. After undergoing many expansions and contractions no. Infact, one could argue that the infantry regiments of the british army are trained to a much highe standard and maintain a much higher standard than the apes by virtue of their combat experience. Raf recruitment raf regiment gunner royal air force.
It took part in the berlin airlift and numerous exercises. As a result of the success of the 1041st security police squadron during its tour in vietnam, combat security police squadrons were formed and trained as an elite light infantry, combining the skills of the armys rangers and the british raf regiment. The visit started with prince harry presenting the firmin sword of peace to the raf police, before meeting personnel from the raf police. The raf regiment takes the lead on force protection fp for the raf and is responsible for ensuring the protection of any deployed raf assets. The raf regiment has much in common with the infantry, but has a very different spirit and discipline to the army.
I am biased towards the raf through many years of service in the reserves, but i believe the raf regiment is a genuinely better life than serving in the infantry. Safeside association air force light infantry joined. Both the raf regiment and royal marine commandos training is 32 weeks long. Mar 25, 2012 there is, of course, close combat raf regiment. All the publications are dedicated to allied aircraft and units.
This books concerns the regiments operational history in southeast asia command and draws on the diaries and recollections of the men who served in that theater. Royal air force combat reports 19391945 the national. Royal air force combat reports 19391945 the national archives. British soldiers from b flight, 27 squadron, royal air force regiment take a break whilst on a combat misson near kandahar airfield, afghanistan, jan. Jul 20, 2017 prince harry has visited raf honington to present the raf regiment with a new colour on behalf of the queen, who is the regiment s air commodore in chief. Prince harry has visited raf honington to present the raf regiment with a new colour on behalf of the queen, who is the regiments air commodoreinchief. This page provides information and regular updates for those interested in joining the raf regiment. A collection of military books covering the history of the. Examples of such tasks are non combatant evacuation operations neo, recovery of downed aircrew joint personnel recovery jpr, and indepth defence of airfields by way of. The reports cover action seen by the squadrons, wings and groups serving with fighter command, bomber command, coastal command and the fleet air arm. Formerly, all raf regiment personnel were men, as it was british government policy that women could not serve in close combat units. Air force ground forces and special forces wikipedia.
Raf regiment books raf regiment association official. From such uncertain beginnings in the midst of a world war, the raf regiment grew to become a highly professional fighting force of 50,000 officers and airmen in. A diverse force is a more operationally effective force. Aug 12, 2017 during ww2 the raf regiment distinguished themselves on several occasions defending vital forwards airstrips and radar sites against attacks by the japanese. Military aviation raf regiment there have been some incredible stories of women under fire in iraq and afghanistan with medals for gallantry to. Raf regiment personnel serve in the special forces support regiment, alongside paratroopers and royal marines. As you will all know, there were three factions when germany invaded yugoslavia. Feb 07, 2010 the raf regiment has much in common with the infantry, but has a very different spirit and discipline to the army. Traditionally the primary rationale for air force ground forces is for force protection. After a number of moves it found a more permanent home at raf laarbruch. Consequently they have expanded into almost any area which they believe might justify their existence. Aircraft are most vulnerable when on the ground, to offensive counter air operations, and most cannot operate without fixed infrastructure, consumables, and trained personnel.
These comments referred to raf regt members in most unflattering terms, refused to acknowledge the raf regt as a real or proper regiment. The raf regiment is a highlyspecialised force with responsibility for providing force protection to enable and support air operations. During ww2 the raf regiment distinguished themselves on several occasions defending vital forwards airstrips and radar sites against attacks by the japanese. Raf regiment gunners specialise in infantry tactics, weaponry, field craft, and force protection, defending raf bases and overseas air operations. We fight on the ground to ensure control of the air.
The heritage centre receives no government funding and is run entirely by volunteers. Royal air force honington or more simply raf honington iata. Its mission is protection of raf bases from ground attack, and patrolling a large area around main operating bases abroad, in order to defend aircraft on ingress and egress from surface to air attack. Speaking at the annual raf air power conference in london, sir michael praised the opening up of close combat roles to women, ahead of schedule, as a. Branches raf regiment association official website. Royal marines are offensive troops specializing in amphibious operations and operating in many different environments, commando trained etc. Born out of necessity in the dark days of the war, the r. The ban on women serving in close combat units was lifted in july 2016 by thenprime minister david cameron.