New RAF Regiment Book

Carl Dowd

Carl Dowd

Longterm Registered User
I understand that a new book on the RAF Regiment is released with mainly its content refering to the 'Parachute' capability of the RAF Regt and also its time in Oman... Now as it states in the book the Battle of Mirbat is well recorded but the Battle for Salalah Airfield wasn't until now.

The interesting fact of this historical engagement is that it was the first time in British military history that Mortar Fire was brought to bear on their own positions (Hedgehogs) due to the ferocity of the engagement.

I have heard this story from the Horses mouth due to the fact that on occasion in the past an Ex 2 Sqn Rock used to work for me...

Now I always thought as an Amateur military historian that the RAF Regt's first encounter with Parachuting was in fact in 1962. However, this account is taking that assumption back to 1945..? (I believe) so that's rather interesting.

Remembering of course that 2 Sqn was not the only Sqn with a Parachute capability... 15 had their own process and 34 had a Para rescue team based in Cyrpus... Now I'm not here to debate the pros and cons of those units or their means of 'Selection'? it's fact they existed... and you cannot or should not re-write history without good cause, I believe..!

Has anyone here had a read or a glimpse..?

CD
 
I am led to believe that 2 squadron or No 2 Armoured Car Squadron was amalgamated into the RAF regiment in 1946 and was operating in Palestine at the time, if memory serves me right I think the unit came back to the UK for the first time since being formed in 1922 in either 1960 or 61.

At the time of their amalgamation into the RAF regiment I am almost 100 % sure that it was still an armoured car company.

Interesting that some one is saying that the regiment had parachute capability in 1945, a little research required I think.
 
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Extract from the book 'Through Adversity' A History of the Royal Air Force Regiment 1942 - 1992

In 1947 HQ 38 Group – which had carried the Airborne Forces to Normandy, Arnhem and the Rhine – was tasked to develop an airportable capability for an RAF Regiment wing which could then be flown into overseas areas to secure an airfield for transport operations.

2 Wing Headquarters, with 15 and 16 LAA Squadrons and 63 Rifle Squadron, assembled at RAF Upavon in 1948 to carry out unit airportability trials. The two LAA squadrons worked on methods of loading their 24 Bofors guns, and associated equipment, into four engined Hastings aircraft while the Rifle squadron developed loading tables for its move by smaller two-engined Valetta aircraft. 63 Squadron completed its task sooner than the two LAA squadrons – which were finding a number of problems in dismantling their 40mm Bofors guns so that they could enter the side-loading doors of the Hastings in several pieces, secure them adequately for flight, unload them on arrival and assemble the guns for action. To fill in time which the Rifle squadron had at its disposal, the officers and airmen of 63 squadron were trained as parachutists in order to give the wing an all-round airborne role.

The Air Ministry refused to recognise the parachutist qualifications of the 63 Squadron personnel, despite the fact that they had completed the course at the RAF’s No.1 Parachute Training School and were carrying out parachuting duties. Although RAF Regiment parachute units had been raised in both the Middle East and Far East during the war and had been authorised to wear parachute wings.
 
Never Not Ready - Home

Have a butchers here Larpy... I am led to believe that the Author has conducted some serious research not of course that I am making a judgement one way or the other..? Thanks for your input mate, very useful..!

CD
 
I'm not certain about the details or the time factors exactly but my father, and those that talked about him at his funeral, said that he was involved in some of the early 'tree jumping' experiments, looking into ways of infiltrating troops into the jungles of Malaya and Borneo, due to his parachute experience with 63, I think, but it may have been 15 sqdn. A bit sketchy on the details, like I said, because he never really talked much about his Malaya /Borneo days and the old boys at his funeral were vague themselves. The idea was abandoned after too many men were injured or, in a couple of cases, actually killed but it was definitely trialed. There may be some on here who know more. He was involved with training up the Iragi Levies as well, around the same time I believe and I THINK, but may be wrong, that there was an attempt to form a parachute-capable sqdn/flight for possible tactical use in the area. There were a lot of ideas being tried out in the early 50's during the transitional period from war-time to pre-and-post Suez era, so a lot of men would have been used as guinea pigs for all sorts of abortive schemes dreamed up by the war department. He survived a Valletta crash in the desert during his time there too....Ah, the good old days, eh? Always something going on...
 
You know it's quite revealing when you dig out the history, we now learn that the RAF Regt was involved in Military Parachuting pre-1962 and I am also aware that an RAF Regiment Officer was in fact very influential in the abinitio British Army Sniper school... so the RAF Regiment has for sure contributed over the years to some good Infantry tactics and training..!

Just in case you are wondering where my interest lies..? I was involved in British military sponsored Parachuting from 1976 to 1989...

Good days, some sad events!, but mostly positive..!

CD
 
A lot more than we know Carl, judging by some of he things I've heard and been told by the older generation, 1050's to early 70's, when I went in.
During the mid'60's the Americans made extensive use of Regiment personnel for training their own forces in airfield protection and tactical airfield acquirement, and, so I gather, may even have acted as 'consultants' during the early days of Vietnam.
 
Carl Dowd said:
I understand that a new book on the RAF Regiment is released with mainly its content refering to the 'Parachute' capability of the RAF Regt and also its time in Oman... Now as it states in the book the Battle of Mirbat is well recorded but the Battle for Salalah Airfield wasn't until now.

The interesting fact of this historical engagement is that it was the first time in British military history that Mortar Fire was brought to bear on their own positions (Hedgehogs) due to the ferocity of the engagement.

I have heard this story from the Horses mouth due to the fact that on occasion in the past an Ex 2 Sqn Rock used to work for me...

Now I always thought as an Amateur military historian that the RAF Regt's first encounter with Parachuting was in fact in 1962. However, this account is taking that assumption back to 1945..? (I believe) so that's rather interesting.

Remembering of course that 2 Sqn was not the only Sqn with a Parachute capability... 15 had their own process and 34 had a Para rescue team based in Cyrpus... Now I'm not here to debate the pros and cons of those units or their means of 'Selection'? it's fact they existed... and you cannot or should not re-write history without good cause, I believe..!

Has anyone here had a read or a glimpse..?

CD
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If you are talking about the book "Never Not Ready" then yes I have a copy and a fantastic and informative read it is too! And yes the RAF had a parachute capability in WW2 via the RAF Assyrian Levies that were parachute qualified. Best bet, stick your hand in your pocket and purchase a copy! In my view, though not cheap it is well worth it and you wont be disappointed!

Tony
 
sailorbear said:
If you are talking about the book "Never Not Ready" then yes I have a copy and a fantastic and informative read it is too! And yes the RAF had a parachute capability in WW2 via the RAF Assyrian Levies that were parachute qualified. Best bet, stick your hand in your pocket and purchase a copy! In my view, though not cheap it is well worth it and you wont be disappointed!

Tony
Click to expand...

Thx Tony, and you are right mate, a great read and a good way to check on authenticity... Jimmy B Ex 16, 1, 58 and other Sqns sent me up a copy so that I could have a good 'Butchers' mate... An amazing read and interesting to also see some real Legend names from when we were all young..!

Thx again mate...

CD
 
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