RAF Battle Honours for Operations in Afghanistan
(4 years, 8 months ago)
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The Minister for the Armed Forces (James Heappey)
My noble Friend the Minister in the House of Lords (the right hon. Baroness Goldie DL) has made the following written ministerial statement. A Battle Honour with the right to emblazon “AFGHANISTAN 2001-2014” on their Squadron Standard is awarded to: No. 7 Squadron RAF No. 3 Squadron RAF Regiment No. 18 (Bomber) Squadron RAF No. 15 Squadron RAF Regiment No. 27 Squadron RAF No. Squadron RAF Regiment No. 28 (Army Co-operation) 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 A Battle Honour is awarded to: No. 1 (Fighter) Squadron RAF No. 30 Squadron RAF No. II (Army Co-operation) Squadron RAF No. 31 Squadron RAF No. 3 (Fighter) Squadron RAF No. 32 (The Royal) Squadron RAF No. IV (Army Co-operation) Squadron RAF No. 39 Squadron RAF No. V (Army Co-operation) 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 am today announcing that Her Majesty The Queen has been graciously pleased to approve the award of battle honours to squadrons of Her Majesty’s Royal Air Force for their participation in operations in Afghanistan during the period 7 October 2001 to 31 December 2014.
Battle honours may be “awarded to commemorate any notable battle, action or engagement in which aircrew or Royal Air Force regiment personnel played a memorable part”. There are two levels of battle honour within the Royal Air Force. The first is the award of a battle honour which recognises that a squadron played a notable and significant role in the campaign. The second, higher level confers the right to emblazon the battle honour on the Standard itself. Battle honours with emblazonment are reserved for those squadrons which are involved in direct confrontation with an enemy and demonstrate gallantry and spirit under fire.
Six operational flying squadrons and nine Royal Air Force regiment squadrons were awarded the highest honour of a battle honour with the right to emblazon. Battle honours were approved for 26 operational flying squadrons for their participation in operations in Afghanistan.
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