RAF Battle Honours: Operations Vulcan and Barras

James Heappey Excerpts

Tuesday 24th March 2020 Written Statements

[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.

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 Operation Vulcan (Bosnia) during the period August to September 1995 and Operation Barras (Sierra Leone) during the period August to September 2000.

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. This ultimate accolade of battle honours with emblazonment is reserved for those squadrons which are involved in direct confrontation with an enemy and demonstrate gallantry and spirit under fire.

The highest honour of battle honour with the right to emblazon has been awarded to two squadrons for their participation on Operation Vulcan.

The highest honour of battle honour with the right to emblazon has been awarded to one squadron for their participation on Operation Barras.