1 Squadron RAF Regiment

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No. 1 Squadron RAF Regiment is a field squadron in the Royal Air Force. It is organised to protect RAF bases from ground attack and patrol a large area around main operating bases abroad.  It does this to defend aircraft on ingress and egress from surface-to-air attack. It is currently based at RAF Honington.

The Squadron specialises in operations involving wheeled armoured vehicles, including Jackal and Foxhound. Personnel are highly trained in dismounted close combat, Ground Extraction Force tasks, Close Quarter Battle, and operations within Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear environments.

It was formed on 22 December 1921, as No. 1 Armoured Car Company RAF at Heliopolis in Egypt. After undergoing many changes, No.1 Armoured Car Company was merged with No. 2701 Squadron RAF Regiment.  On 25 February 1947 was renamed No. 1 (Armoured Car) Squadron RAF Regiment. The squadron retained its armoured car role, until 1953 when it assumed the dismounted field squadron role. The squadron was re-equipped and trained as a Light Anti-Aircraft unit in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It again changed role as a light armoured squadron, equipped initially with Saracen Armoured Personnel Carriers, and then with the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) series of vehicles.  CVR(T) included Scorpion, Spartan, Sultan and Samson. In 1992, the RAF Regiment withdrew the CVR(T) from service and No. 1 Squadron reverted to the dismounted field role, in which it has remained since.

During the Cold War the squadron was mainly based in Germany and took part in the Berlin Airlift. After several moves it moved permanently to RAF Laarbruch. In 1998 the squadron was re-located to the UK, based at RAF St Mawgan in Cornwall before moving to RAF Honington.

After the Cold War the squadron has seen frequent action. It was deployed against Iraq both in the 1991 Gulf War and in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Additionally, Sqn RAF Regtit has carried out peacekeeping duties in the former Yugoslavia, including Bosnia, Croatia and Macedonia, with periodic deployments to Northern Ireland and Cyprus, as well as to Kuwait in support of British forces operating there. In 2003, No. 1 Squadron took part in the invasion of Iraq with 16 Air Assault Brigade and subsequently with 3 Commando Brigade. It was awarded the battle honour Iraq 2003 for its contribution. The squadron has returned to Iraq on three occasions since 2003, defending the Contingency Operating Base at Basra.