15 Squadron RAF Regiment was formed on 1st June 1946 as No 2700 Light Anti Aircraft (LAA) Squadron at RAF Nethertown and equipped with L40/60 Bofors guns. In the following year the Squadron was re-numbered as 15 LAA Squadron and moved to the RAF Regiment School of Gunnery at RAF Watchet, where it stayed for 6 months as the Demonstration Squadron. During the next 11 years the Squadron was based at RAF Netheravon, RAP Pembray and RAF Innsworth. In October 1958 the Squadron was renamed as No 15 (Field) Squadron). Between November 1959 and January 1960, the Squadron deployed two flights to RAF Gan and the remainder to RAP Changi on internal security operations. During the Indonesian Confrontation (1962 - 1965) 15 Squadron operated in Labuan, Brunei, Gan and Malaysia in support of air operations. In September 1964 the Squadron was re-deployed to RAP Seletar, where it specialised in Jungle Warfare, until its return to RAF Wittering in December 1969. During the next few years (1970 - 1974) the Squadron completed 5 consecutive 3 month detachments to RAP Salalah, RAP Muharraq and RAF Kai Tak. In between these detachments the Squadron also undertook deployments to Northern Ireland.
Further emergency deployments required 15 Squadron to cover the closure of RAF Luqa, the withdrawal of the RAF from Malta in 1973 and to reinforce RAF Akrotiri following the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974. For it’s participation in the Cyprus emergency the Squadron received the ‘Higginson Trophy’ which was presented by Air Marshal Sir Ruthven Wade KCB DFC RAF. In October 1975 the Squadron was presented with its Standardby Air Marshal Sir Andrew Humphrey GCB OBE DFC AFC RAF, The Chief of the Air Staff.
In March 1982 the Squadron was equipped with the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) (CVR (T)). During the conversion training period the Squadron was put on standby for Operation Corporate. In April 1982 ‘C’ Flight were deployed to Ascension Island under the command of No 3 Wing RAF Regiment and remained there until the end of hostilities.
In September 1982 the Squadron was formally declared operational as a Light Armoured Squadron and shortly afterwards began retraining in the Internal Security (IS) role for duty in Northern Ireland from January to May 1983. After returning from Northern Ireland the Squadron moved to RAF Hullavington in June 1983. In July 1983 the Squadron was deployed at short notice to RAF Greenham Common as part of the forces in support of Operation Roust. This involved the security of RAF Greenham Common and continued as a commitment until 1985. From May to September 1984 the Squadron completed a very successful tour in Northern Ireland followed a detachment to Cyprus in November and December 1984. Having returned from a successful tour of Northern Ireland the Squadron underwent a major CVR (T) training phase and deployed to Germany for both Main Base and Harrier defence exercises. After some excellent results in the field of CVR (T) the Squadron once again underwent training to return to Northern Ireland from January to May 1987. As a result of the Squadron’s heavy commitments in 1987, it was again awarded the ‘Higginson Trophy’, presented by Air Vice Marshal J H Harris CBE RAP in May 1988.
In July 1990, the Squadron disbanded as a light armoured squadron and reverted to its original role of ground based air defence, this time equipped with the Rapier Field Standard B1 (M) surface-to-air missile system to be reformed at RAF Leeming in August 1990. At this point the Standard was handed over to 54 Squadron RAF Regiment who had formed at RAF Leeming on 1 August 1989. The Squadron was awarded the Barnard Trophy for Aircraft Recognition in January 1993 following its very successful 1992 Annual Categorization Board. 15 Squadron returned from the Falkland Islands in February 1993 after a highly successful 4 month detachment and are now a very active, fully functioning member of the Rapier Force. In March 1996, the Squadron drew down as a Rapier equipped unit at Royal Air Force Leeming and the number was transferred on 1 April 1996 to No 20 Squadron Royal Air Force Regiment, previously a United States Air Force funded Rapier squadron based at RAF Honington. No 15 Squadron RAF Regiment was re-declared operational to NATO in June 1996 as a Rapier Field Standard C unit.
Since then the Squadron has deployed on many exercises and deployments. During Exercise STRONG RESOLVE in 1998, the Squadron deployed to northern Norway taking Rapier Field Standard C into the Arctic for the first time. The Unit also undertook the first deployment of Rapier Field Standard C to a hot-humid jungle environment as it deployed on Exercise Flying Fish 2000 in Malaysia and Singapore. In September 2001, 15 Squadron Royal Air Force Regiment deployed at short-notice to Au Al Salem, Kuwait, in support of Operation RESONATE (SOUTH). This saw the execution of a well-organized short-notice deployment, in defence of Royal Air Force assets deployed in the area.
In 2003, the Squadron saw active Service on Operation TELIC when it was re-roled as a field squadron and returned to Ali Al Salem to provide the ground defence of the UK assets deployed there. After recovering its primary Rapier skills, the Squadron participated in Exercise VOLCANEX/DAPEX, Spain, during September 2004, a European Air Group Exercise designed to foster international relations between the participating NATO forces and develop Standard Operating Procedures. The Squadron completed its ninth and final deployment to the Falkland Islands as the Resident Rapier Squadron in 2005, supporting the continuous task of deterring any attack on UK forces.
As part of the recent review of military capability completed in 2004, it was announced that the responsibility for GBAD would rest solely with the Royal Artillery by 2008. The Squadron will continue its pivotal role as part of a Very High Readiness Force until November 2007 before finally disbanding in March 2008. Until then, the Squadron remains as strong as ever and looks forward to tackling any challenge given to it.