No. 230 Squadron RAF

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No. 230 Squadron RAF
230 Squadron RAF.jpg
Squadron badge
Active20 August 1918 – 1 April 1923
1 December 1934 – 28 February 1957
1 September 1958 – 3 December 1971
1 January 1972 – 30 April 1992
4 May 1992 – present
Country Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
Allegiance King Charles III
Branch Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg Royal Air Force
Type Flying squadron
RoleHelicopter medium-lift support
Part of Joint Aviation Command
Based at Medicina Lines, British Forces Brunei
Motto(s)Kita chari jauh
(Malay for 'We search far') [1] [2]
Aircraft Westland Puma HC2
Battles * Honours marked with an asterisk may be emblazoned on the Squadron Standard [3]
Website 230 Squadron RAF
Insignia
Squadron badge heraldryIn front of a palm tree eradicated, a tiger passant guardant. [1] [2] The badge commemorates the squadron's association with Malaya, the travellers palm being a reference to the long flights undertaken and the tiger is said to have been inspired by the labels on the bottles on the local Singaporean beer. [4] Approved by King George VI in February 1937.
Squadron codesFV (Apr 1939 – Sep 1939) [5]
NM (Sep 1939 – Jan 1943) [6]
DX (1942 – Dec 1942) [7]
4X (Apr 1946 – Apr 1951) [8]
B (Apr 1951 – 1956) [9]
230 (1956 – Feb 1957)
D (carried on Pumas whilst at Odiham) [10]

Number 230 Squadron Royal Air Force is a Royal Air Force (RAF) flying squadron, currently based at Medicina Lines in Brunei Darussalam, part of British Forces Brunei, operating the Westland Puma HC2. [11] [12] The squadron was previously part of Royal Air Force Germany (RAFG), operating the Puma HC1 there from 1980. Following the drawdown of the British Armed Forces in Germany at the end of the Cold War, the squadron disbanded on 30 April 1992. This was short-lived however, and the squadron reformed at RAF Aldergrove on 4 May 1992, again with the Puma HC1.

Contents

The squadron is well experienced in night flying; almost a third of flights are undertaken after dark. The 2004 Future Capabilities chapter of the UK Defence White Paper, Delivering Security in a Changing World , announced a plan to reduce the squadrons Puma force by six helicopters. It was announced in late 2008 that the squadron was to move to RAF Benson by 2010. The Squadron re-equipped with Puma HC Mk2 in 2014 following removal from service of the Puma HC Mk1. [13]

History

Short Singapore III flying boat of 230 squadron at Alexandria, mid-1930s. 230sqd-ShortSingaporeIII.jpg
Short Singapore III flying boat of 230 squadron at Alexandria, mid-1930s.

First formation

No. 230 Squadron was formed on 20 August 1918;106 years ago, at Felixstowe, consisting of three flights. Nos. 327 and 328 Flight used Felixstowe F.2 and F.2A flying boats and Fairey IIIs for maritime reconnaissance, whilst No. 487 Flight flew Sopwith Camels on escort duties. At the end of World War I, the squadron was retained as one of the few RAF coastal units. In 1920, the squadron got Felixstowe F.5 flying boats, and it moved to RAF Calshot in May 1922, where on 1 April 1923, it was renumbered to 480 Flight RAF. [14]

First reformation

On 1 December 1934, No. 230 Squadron was reformed at RAF Pembroke Dock with Short Singapore flying boats. The Squadron used the Singapore until 1938, serving from Aboukir, Alexandria, Lake Timsah, and after a short return to the UK, RAF Seletar. On 22 June 1938, the first Short Sunderland flying boat arrived, [15] the aircraft the squadron would be equipped with for the next 20 years, in fact until 28 February 1957, when the squadron was disbanded at Pembroke Dock. [16]

Second reformation

On 1 September 1958, No. 215 Squadron RAF at Dishforth was renumbered 230 Squadron, flying Scottish Aviation Pioneer light transport aircraft in support of the British Army. [2] In November that year, the squadron moved to RAF Nicosia in Cyprus as a response to the Cyprus Emergency, flying reconnaissance operations against EOKA Greek Cypriot nationalist guerrillas, as well as its normal communications duties. The squadron returned to Britain in April 1959, with its new base being RAF Upavon in Wiltshire. [17] In 1960, the squadron supplemented its Pioneers with larger Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer aircraft, and in May that year the squadron moved to RAF Odiham. [18] In September 1960, the squadron's 'A' Flight was detached to British Cameroon, flying internal security patrols as the colony prepared for the 1961 British Cameroons referendum. The flight returned to its parent formation in September 1961. [2] [17] Westland Whirlwind HAR.10 helicopters began to arrive in June 1962, becoming the squadron's standard equipment by the end of the year. [2]

In January 1963, No. 230 Squadron moved to RAF Gütersloh in occupied West Germany, with a detachment at Nicosia. The squadron returned to Odiham in December 1964, before being transferred to Borneo, due to the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation in February 1965. In October 1966, the squadron again returned to Odiham, resuming its detachment at Nicosia. [17] In November 1971, began to convert to the Westland Puma HC1 at RAF Odiham. On 14 October 1980, the squadron moved back to RAF Gütersloh, West Germany, where they remained until being disbanded and reformed at RAF Aldergrove, Northern Ireland in April 1992. [14]

230 Squadron was one of two Northern Ireland based squadrons of the Royal Air Force, the other being 72 Squadron (equipped with Westland Wessex HC2s). 230 Squadron's eighteen Puma aircraft were rotated with No. 33 Squadron's fifteen Pumas to even out flight hours amongst the fleet (Northern Ireland based helicopters had a much higher operational tempo). The main role of the squadron was tactical transport of the Security Forces, including the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), and the British Army. [19]

On 17 November 2009, 230 Squadron eventually left Northern Ireland for RAF Benson in Oxfordshire (together with 33 Squadron from RAF Odiham) after 17 years in the province. [20]

A Westland Puma HC1 of 230 Squadron. Aerospatiale.puma.hc1.fairford.arp.jpg
A Westland Puma HC1 of 230 Squadron.

Kabul accident

On 11 October 2015, one member of the squadron was killed in an accident in Kabul, Afghanistan, whilst landing at the NATO Training and Support Mission HQ. A Ministry of Defence spokesman said the crash was "an accident and not the result of insurgent activity". [21] The crewman was named a day later, and was repatriated back to the UK on the 20th. The Flight Lieutenant's CO commented saying "A man with exceptionally high standards, he was never afraid to remind anyone when he felt they could have done better. However, this advice was always delivered with his characteristic wry smile and good humour. The Support Helicopter Force has lost not only an outstanding operator but a good friend to so many... his lasting legacy will be the professionalism and courage he passed onto all who flew with him. A loving husband and father, our thoughts are with his wife and children at this most difficult of times." [22] A post mortem found he died of severe head injuries. The inquest was adjourned indefinitely until the conclusion of separate inquiries being undertaken by the Ministry of Defence were completed. [23]

The squadron was awarded a new squadron standard in February 2019 by RAF Benson's Honorary Air Marshal, Prince Michael of Kent. The standard, the third to be awarded to the squadron, is made of silk, and features the battle honours awarded to the unit since its formation. [24]

On 18 May 2023, No. 230 Squadron returned to the island of Borneo, relocating from RAF Benson to Medicina Lines in Brunei Darussalam, as part of British Forces Brunei. [11] [12]

Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated by No. 230 Squadron Royal Air Force [17] [25] [26] [27]
fromtoaircraftversionnotes
August 1918March 1919 Curtiss H.12 H.16 [28]
September 1918December 1918 Sopwith Camel No. 487 Flight
October 1918June 1921 Fairey III B, CNos. 327 and 328 Flight
August 1918April 1923 Felixstowe F.2 A, F.3Nos. 327 and 328 Flight
January 1920April 1923 Felixstowe F.5
April 1935November 1938 Short Singapore Mk.III
June 1938January 1943 Short Sunderland Mk.I
June 1941March 1942 Dornier Do 22 Kex-Royal Yugoslav Navy no. 2 squadron
June 1941March 1942 Rogožarski SIM-XIV Hex-Royal Yugoslav Navy no. 2 squadron [29]
December 1941January 1943Short SunderlandMk.II
April 1942March 1945Short SunderlandMk.III
January 1945February 1957Short SunderlandMk.V
September 1958March 1960 Scottish Aviation Pioneer CC.1
January 1960December 1962 Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer CC.1/CC.2
June 1962December 1971 Westland Whirlwind HAR.10
October 1971December 2012 Westland Puma HC.1
March 2013present Westland Puma HC.2 [11]

Squadron bases

Bases and airfields used by No. 230 Squadron Royal Air Force [17] [25] [26] [30]
fromtobaseremark
20 August 19187 May 1922 RAF Felixstowe, Suffolk
7 May 19221 April 1923 RAF Calshot, Hampshire
1 December 19342 October 1935 RAF Pembroke Dock, Pembrokeshire, Walesair echelon left 23 September 1935
23 September 19352 October 1935en route to Egypt
2 October 193524 October 1935 RAF Aboukir, Egypt
24 October 193525 November 1935 RAF Alexandria/Maryut, Egypt
25 November 19351 December 1935 Lake Timsah, Egypt
1 December 19357 August 1936Alexandria/Maryut, Egyptair echelon left 30 July 1936
30 July 19363 August 1936en route to UK
3 August 193614 October 1936RAF Pembroke Dock, Pembrokeshire, Wales
14 October 19368 January 1937en route to Far East
8 January 193713 February 1940 RAF Seletar, Malaya
15 October 193927 October 1939 Penang / Gelugor, Malaya detachment
27 October 193930 October 1939 Trincomalee, Ceylon detachment
30 October 193923 November 1939 RAF Colombo, Ceylondetachment
23 November 193913 February 1940 RAF Koggala, Ceylondetachment
13 February 19402 May 1940RAF Koggala, Ceylon
2 May 19406 May 1940en route to Egypt
6 May 194019 June 1941Alexandria/Maryut, Egypt
12 December 194018 April 1941 Skaramagas, Greecedetachment
19 June 19413 July 1942RAF Aboukir, Egypt
3 July 194228 July 1942Kasfareet / Fanara (Great Bitter Lake), Egypt
28 July 19429 January 1943RAF Aboukir, Egypt
9 January 19437 February 1944 Dar es Salaam, Tanganyika Territory
1 June 19437 November 1943RAF Aboukir, Egyptdetachment
7 February 194417 April 1945RAF Koggala, Ceylon
17 April 194523 May 1945 RAF Akyab, Burma
23 May 19451 August 1945 RAF Rangoon, Burma
1 August 19451 December 1945 Red Hills Lake, Madras, British India
1 December 194515 April 1946RAF Seletar, Singapore
15 April 194610 August 1946RAF Pembroke Dock, Pembrokeshire, Wales
10 August 194616 September 1946 RAF Castle Archdale (Lower Lough Erne), County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland
16 September 194616 February 1949RAF Calshot, Hampshire
4 July 194818 December 1948 Finkenwerder, Hamburg, West-Germany detachment Berlin airlift
16 February 194928 February 1957RAF Pembroke Dock, Pembrokeshire, Wales
1 September 195827 November 1958 RAF Dishforth, North Yorkshire
27 November 19587 April 1959 RAF Nicosia, Cyprus
7 April 19591 May 1959RAF Dishforth, North Yorkshire
1 May 195930 May 1960 RAF Upavon, Wiltshire
30 May 196014 January 1963 RAF Odiham, Hampshire
September 1960September 1961 Mamfe, Cameroon detachment
14 January 19631 January 1965 RAF Gütersloh, West-Germanydetachment at Nicosia, Cyprus
1 January 196510 March 1965RAF Odiham, Hampshire
10 March 196514 November 1966 Labuan, Malaysia
14 November 196625 November 1966en route to UK
25 November 196610 March 1969RAF Odiham, Hampshiredetachment at Nicosia, Cyprus
10 March 19693 December 1971 RAF Wittering, Cambridgeshire detachment at Nicosia, Cyprus
1 October 19711 January 1972RAF Odihamtraining as No. 230 Sqn (Puma Echelon)
1 January 197214 October 1980RAF Odiham, Hampshire
14 October 198030 April 1992RAF Gütersloh, West-Germanydets. at Belize and Northern Ireland
November 1990April 1991Ras-Al-Ghar, Saudi Arabia detachment for Operation Granby
4 May 199217 November 2009 RAF Aldergrove, County Antrim
August 1995October 1995 Bosnia detachment
17 November 200918 May 2023 RAF Benson, Oxfordshire
18 May 2023 [12] present Medicina Lines, Brunei Darussalam [11]

See also

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References

Notes
  1. 1 2 Rawlings 1982, p. 156.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Halley 1988, p. 297.
  3. ↑ Barrass, M. B. (2015). "No. 226–230 Squadron histories". RAFweb.org. Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  4. ↑ Warner 2004, pp. 34–36.
  5. ↑ Bowyer and Rawlings 1979, p. 14.
  6. ↑ Bowyer and Rawlings 1979, p. 76.
  7. ↑ Bowyer and Rawlings 1979, pp. 31–32.
  8. ↑ Bowyer and Rawlings 1979, p. 116.
  9. ↑ Bowyer and Rawlings 1979, p. 126.
  10. ↑ Flintham and Thomas 2003, p. 199.
  11. 1 2 3 4 "Berita Parajurit, vol 9 – Air Capability static display – participating squadrons" (PDF). MinDef.gov.bn. Bolkiah Garrison, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei: Defence Information Technology Unit, Ministry of Defence, Brunei Darussalam. 31 May 2023. p. 8. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  12. 1 2 3 "Last week, on the 18th May, 230 Squadron officially re-mustered in Brunei marking its return to South East Asia". Facebook.com. RAF Benson (Facebook). 24 May 2023. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  13. ↑ "Job cuts over RAF Aldergrove exit". News.BBC.co.uk. BBC News. 24 April 2008. Retrieved 26 March 2011.
  14. 1 2 "230 Squadron". NationalColdWarExhibition.org. RAF Museum. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
  15. ↑ Rawlings 1969, p. 242.
  16. ↑ Rawlings 1969, p.244.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 Rawlings 1982, p. 157.
  18. ↑ Halley 1988, pp. 297–298.
  19. ↑ "The final flights from Aldergrove". News.BBC.co.uk. BBC News. 12 October 2008. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
  20. ↑ Air International January 2010, p.7.
  21. ↑ "RAF helicopter crash: Five Nato staff die in Afghanistan". BBC.co.uk. BBC News . Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  22. ↑ "Flight Lieutenants Alan Scott and Geraint Roberts have died – fatality notice". GOV.UK . HM Government . Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  23. ↑ "UPDATE: Inquest into deaths of two RAF Benson airmen opens". HeraldSeries.co.uk. Herald Series. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  24. ↑ "RAF Benson's 230 Squadron receive new standard". Forces.net. Forces Network. 8 February 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  25. 1 2 Halley 1988, p. 298.
  26. 1 2 Jefford 2001, pp. 76–77.
  27. ↑ Warner 2004, p. 174.
  28. ↑ Jefford 2001, p. 76.
  29. ↑ Warner 2004, p. 171.
  30. ↑ Warner 2004, pp. 182–184.
Bibliography
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