No. 2 Squadron RAF Regiment
| No. 2 Squadron RAF Regiment | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Active | 1922 - present |
| Country |
 United Kingdom
|
| Branch | Royal Air Force |
| Type | Airborne Air Force Infantry |
| Role | Force Protection |
| Size | 1 Squadron |
| Garrison/HQ | RAF Honington |
| Motto(s) |
Nunquam Non Paratus (Latin: "Never Unprepared") |
| Battle honours | Transjordan 1924 Palestine 1936-1939 Egypt & Libya 1940-1943 Iraq 1941 Syria 1941 El Alamein North Africa 1943 |
| Insignia | |
| Identification symbol |
Winged Tyre |
No. 2 Squadron RAF Regiment is based at RAF Honington in Suffolk. It is a parachute-trained Field Squadron in the RAF Regiment which is capable of inserting by parachute and securing forward airfields, although this capability has never been put to use in combat operations.
The unit was formed as Number 2 Armoured Car Company RAF at Heliopolis, Egypt on 7 April 1922 and placed under the command of Squadron Leader M. Copenan. The Company was equipped with Rolls-Royce Armoured Car and Morris tenders, which it retained until 1944. In 1924 the unit was engaged in active operations against the Wahabi tribe who were causing unrest in Transjordan, then a British Protectorate. The actions took the form of a series of ground and air attacks against the fanatical tribesmen near the city of Amman. During the course of the battle, II ACC captured one of Wahabi tribe's coveted banners.
The Company's second battle honour was won during the Palestine troubles in 1936-1939, assisting the Palestine Police Force in search operations, convoy escorts, recovering downed aircrew, strike breaking and road patrols. When employed for convoy escort and road patrol, members of the Company found they were frequently under ambush or sniper fire. The high road speed of the Rolls-Royce Armoured car was found to be invaluable in a theatre where communication lines were frequently the target of sabotage.
Throughout World War II the Company's expertise in desert operations, gained in the previous two decades, was put to good use. In September 1940 a section of the Company was detached to General Wavell’s ground forces during the first offensive against the Italians in Egypt. It is said that these armoured cars became "the eyes and ears of Wavell". During the actions in the October of that year the Company was employed on convoy escort tasks, airfield defence, fighting reconnaissance patrols and screening operations. The Company performed well and became regarded as an asset to a force that was short of light reconnaissance elements.
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Wikipedia