RAF Patch HF RAF Germany Harrier Force 3 Sqn 4 Sqn 20 Sqn

RAF Patch RAF Royal Air Force Germany Harrier Force Patch 3 Sqn 4 Sqn 20 Sqn 1970s German made Embroidered on twill merrowed edge white fabric back 87mm three and three eighth inches diameter.

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Harrier Force RAF Germany was established on the reactivation of 4 Squadron and 20 Squadron equipped with Harrier GR 1 VSTOL aircraft at RAF Wildenrath in 1970 to provide tactical ground attack close air support CAS and reconnaissance against the Soviet and Warsaw Pact threat. The flexibility of the Harrier with its ability to be dispersed to temporary operating locations away from the main Air Bases which would be targeted in the event of war provided a conventional deterrent and a strike weapon against Soviet aggression with the Harrier Force trained to launch
attacks on advancing armour columns from East Germany. The dispersed operating locations were provided with Harrier Force ground support units to provide a fully supported operating environment including mobile RICs engineering maintenance servicing catering security from the RAF Regiment and the construction of temporary takeoff and landing sites by British Army Royal Engineers. 3 Squadron joined RAF Germany Harrier Force on its reactivation with Harrier GR 1s at RAF Wildenrath in 1972.

In 1977 the Harrier Force relocated to RAF Gutersloh being much closer to the prospective front line in the event of an outbreak of a European war. 20 Squadrons was disbanded to reform with Jaguars at RAF Bruggen and its Harrier aircraft distributed between 3 and 4 Squadrons. The Squadrons continued with the Harrier upgrading to GR 3 in 1977 GR 5 in 1989 and GR 7 Night Attack in 1991.

With the end of the Cold War Harrier Force moved to RAF Laarbruch in 1992 and RAF Germany disbanded as a separate command in 1993 with all units transferring to 2 Group then 1 Group RAF Strike Command. Harrier Force began taking part in NATO policing operations deploying 3 Squadron aircraft to Incirlik Turkey in 1993 for Operation Warden in order to protect the Kurds and enforce the Northern Iraq No Fly Zone continuing in rotation with RAF Wittering based 1F Squadron Harriers until handing Op Warden over to Tornado GR1 Squadrons in January 1995. In July 1995 the Harrier Force deployed to Gioia del Colle Italy in support of Op Deny Flight over the Former Republic of Yugoslavia with NATO air strikes were authorised on 30 August 1995 and the commencement of Op Deliberate Force over Bosnia employing laser guided and freefall 1000lb bombs. The bombing missions resulted in a successful outcome with the signing of the Dayton Peace Accord. In the summer of 1998 Harrier
Force redeployed to Gioia del Colle for Op Deliberate Forge in response to continued Serbian aggression and ultimately participated in Op Allied Force air strikes that led to the withdrawal of Serbian troops from Kosovo.

In April 1999 Germany based Harrier operations ceased with 3 and 4 Squadrons relocating to RAF Cottesmore with the formation of Joint Force Harrier 2000.

This patch dates from the 1970s.