In April 1940, Number 713 Defence Squadron was formed at HQ Fighter Command, RAF Bentley Priory to operate in an improvised Light anti-aircraft role during the Battle of Britain. The Sqn’s main armament was the Lewis gun augmented by assorted small arms.
In February 1942, with the creation of the RAF Regiment, the Squadron was reformed as No 2713 (Rifle) Squadron RAF Regiment and, in 1943, it formed the nucleus of the Fighter Command Battle School at RAF Hazlemere. In that year, it represented the Corps at the first Battle of Britain parade in London. In October 1943 it changed its role to a field squadron. During the next 12 months, the Squadron was committed to airfield defence but it also provided Guards of Honour and security escorts to many VIPs, including King Haaken of Norway, King George of Greece, King Peter of Yugoslavia, Prince Bernhardt of the Netherlands, Mr Winston Churchill, Generals Eisenhower and Montgomery, General Giraud - Leader of the Free French Forces and Mrs F D Roosevelt.
In April 1944, the Sqn became a unit in No 83 Group, 2 Tactical Air Force, and entered Normandy via the Utah and Omaha beaches. In July 1944, it changed roles to a rifle squadron and its duties, of airfield defence and the security of isolated radar and special signals units, took it via Caen, Brussels, Ghent and the Ardennes into Germany. After the surrender of the German forces, the Squadron moved to Luneburg Heath, Hamburg, Bonn and, to what was to become its final base, Celle on the edge of the Luneburg Heath. It was there, on 21 August 1947, that the Squadron assumed the numberplate of No 51 (Rifle) Squadron RAF Regiment. In November 1955, the Squadron once again reverted to the Light anti-aircraft role, re-equipping with Bofors 40/60 guns. The Squadron remained at Celle until it was disbanded in September 1957.
On 13 July 1964, the Squadron was reformed in the field role at the RAF Regiment Depot, Catterick. In January to July of the following year, the Sqn deployed on IS duties to Cyprus and Aden. On 29 November 1965, following UDI by Rhodesia, it deployed to Zambia. Six months later after guarding the Javelin aircraft of No 29 Squadron, airfield and radar units at Ndole, Livingstone and Lusaka, the Squadron returned to its base at Catterick. In January 1967, the Squadron was flown out to Khormaskar in Aden to perform IS duties. In mid-1968, it spent 4 months defending isolated airfields in the Sultanate of Oman.
The Squadron moved to RAF Wittering in March 1969 in support of the NATO Harrier Force. In August 1969 it deployed by flight to RAF Aldergrove, Bishops Court and Ballykelly for the start of 4-month roulments, which continued until January 1987. The Squadron also took part in roulement deployments to Salalah, 1969 to 1975, and Hong Kong, 1972 to 1975. On 13 November 1973 the Squadron qualified for a Standard, which was received on 22 December 1977.
The Squadron returned to Catterick on 13 October 1982, and was re-roled and equipped with the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) family of light armoured vehicles with a war-time role to defend the Germany Harrier Force. In November 1990, the Squadron deployed as part of Operation GRANBY to provide ground defence at Dhahran airbase in Saudi Arabia, with a detachment at Tabuk airbase and an initial detachment at Muharraq airfield in Bahrain. The Squadron returned to the United Kingdom in March 1991 at the end of the Gulf War and was disbanded on 31 March 1993.
Due to the need for a 4th very high readiness Field Sqn No 51 Sqn RAF Regiment was reformed at RAF Honington on the 8 May 2001, with the Sqn then moving to its current home at RAF Lossiemouth in June 2001. The Sqn has been deployed on airfield defence duties in Kuwait as part of Op RESINATE (SOUTH) and in Iraq as part of Op TELIC. Until recently, 51 Sqn was operating as two Rifle Flights, a Manoeuvre Support Flight and a Sqn HQ, but on 1 April 2004 the Sqn reached Full Operating Capability following the successful completion of a STANEVAL and the formation of a third rifle flight. is employed on airfield defence duties at Ali Al Salem in Kuwait as part of Op RESINATE (SOUTH). Since then it has undertaken operational tours to the Middle East.
“CELERITER DEFENDERE”
“SWIFT TO DEFEND”