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34 Squadron RAF Regiment is a field squadron of the RAF Regiment in the Royal Air Force. It protects RAF bases from ground attack. The squadron’s current base is at RAF Leeming. The motto of the squadron is “Feu de Fer “(Fire from Iron).
34 Squadron RAF Regiment has been based at RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire since 1 April 1996 and falls under the command of No. 2 Counter-Uncrewed Aerial Systems (C-UAS) Wing, part of the Combat Readiness Force within Global Enablement.
The Squadron consists of approximately 170 personnel, including mechanics, drivers, chefs, paramedics, and logisticians, and will continue to provide support to RAF operations both in the UK and overseas.
34 Squadron RAF Regiment was formed on 19 November 1951 at RAF Yatesbury. The squadron was immediately deployed overseas as a light anti-aircraft squadron to El Hammra, Egypt and launched a number of operational detachments to the Suez Canal Zone from January 1952. In 1954, the British withdrew from the Canal Zone and the squadron redeployed to Cyprus to provide low-level air defence to airfields at Akrotiri and Nicosia to counter the EKOA terrorist campaign. Operational detachments continued in Libya, Aden, Iran and Cyprus, including during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus and the subsequent bloody partition.
In 1975, the squadron was re-equipped as a Field Squadron. In 1982 it was equipped with the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) series of vehicles. CVR(T) included Scorpion, Spartan, Sultan and Samson.
After the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990, the squadron deployed to the Gulf to provide ground defence of RAF forward bases in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia before returning to its primary responsibility of providing internal security at RAF Akrotiri. The squadron re-equipped back to a field squadron in 1993, and in 1996 after 40 years in Cyprus, the squadron handed over responsibility to the British Army and returned to the United Kingdom and its present home, Royal Air Force Leeming in North Yorkshire.
In 1997, the squadron deployed to Banja Luka as part of the IFOR mission in Bosnia. The squadron undertook patrols under the MND (SW) region.
In January 1997, the squadron deployed for six months to the Former Republic of Yugoslavia in a security role but also assisted with humanitarian aid projects. With further tensions in Iraq, the squadron deployed in 1998 to Ali Al Salem airbase in Kuwait located in close proximity to the Iraqi border. Early 1999 saw an element of the squadron assisting the RAF Support Helicopter Force in the Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia.
In 2001, the squadron deployed to Oman in support of counter-terrorism operations in Oman followed by a deployment to Kabul International Airport in Afghanistan. On 16 January 2003, 34 Squadron deployed as part of 3 Commando Brigade to Basrah Air Station in Iraq. The squadron returned to the UK in April 2003, only to re-deploying back to Basra in September until January 2004 In 2005, the squadron deployed to Basrah Air Station for the third time. Here, the squadron provided an airborne reaction force for medical extraction teams and the Division’s Weapons Intelligence Section alongside its routine Force Protection (FP) duties. In 2006, the squadron deployed to Afghanistan as the lead element of the RAF FP Force in defence of Kandahar Air
In October 2017 the squadron was announced that 34 Squadron would again re-role to a Light Armoured Squadron and become equipped with Foxhound and Panther wheeled armoured vehicles along with Weapon Mounted Land Rovers and quad.