Today, 28th September 2021, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal attended the reformation parade of Number 30 Squadron RAF held at RAF Brize Norton.
The Princess Royal, who is Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Brize Norton, reviewed members of the Squadron on parade in front of guests, commemorating the reformation of the most recent operational unit to operate the Airbus A400M Atlas. The parade marched to the music of The Band of the RAF Regiment, with a background of two static RAF A400M Atlas aircraft outside the Airbus hangar. The A400M carried out a spectacular flypast above the parade square to mark the momentous occasion.
Number 30 Squadron’s long and distinguished history began at Farnborough, England in November 1914. Its first operations were in Egypt, with the majority of the Squadron’s efforts in the First World War taking place in Mesopotamia. It was here, during resupply to the siege of Kut, in 1916, that the Squadron asserted its claim as the first air drop squadron. Operations in North Africa and the Middle East continued in the Inter-War years and at the start of the Second World War. The Squadron (at that point a fighter squadron), subsequently saw action over Greece, Ceylon and Burma prior to its reduction to number only status in 1946.
Reforming as a transport squadron in 1947, the Squadron has been heavily engaged on operations ever since. It was a significant contributor to the Berlin Airlift, supported famine relief in Africa in the late 50s/early 60s and, subsequently, was involved in the sustainment of operations in the Middle East from Bahrain. It received the C-130 Hercules in 1968 and continued to operate a variant of this aircraft until 2016. In this near 50-year period, 30 Squadron’s notable support to operations include: The Falklands; Iraq (1990-1, 1990s, 2003); The Balkans, Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Afghanistan and Libya.
Number 30 Squadron will, along with No. LXX Squadron, operate the A400M Atlas, maintaining the commitments around the globe and increasing the tactical remit of the aircraft.
“It’s an exciting time for all of us to be bringing back the Squadron for the next generation. Our Squadron has a rich operational history, so we are all looking forward to starting the next chapter with the A400M Atlas.”
Wing Commander Stuart Patton
Officer Commanding 30 Squadron
