RAF Patch j 16 Squadron Royal Air Force Tornado GR1 Saints

RAF Patch 16 Squadron Royal Air Force The Saints Tornado GR 1 1984 Tactical Nuclear Strike RAF Laarbruch West Germany Embroidered on twill cut edge 89mm by 72mm three and one half inches by two and thirteen sixteenth inches.

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Badge  Two keys in saltire approved by King Edward VIII in November 1936. The badge symbolises the time spent on army cooperation duties the keys indicating the unlocking of enemy secrets with the gold key by day and the black key by night.

The squadron has been known as the Saints due to its formation at Saint Omer France. The unofficial stickman logo was adopted in the 1960s.

Motto  Operta aperta Hidden things are revealed a reference to the original reconnaissance role of the Squadron.

Squadron history 1958 2015

16 Squadron reformed at RAF Laarbruch with Canberra BI 8 on 1 March 1958. 16 Squadron maintained a permanent readiness state tasked with tactical strike attack against the Soviet threat both with conventional and tactical nuclear weapons. The Squadron converted to Buccaneer S 2B on 16 October 1972 continuing the strike attack nuclear role and distinguished itself in many bombing exercises including winning the Salmond Trophy in 1978 and 1979.

The Squadron reequipped with the Tornado GR 1 in 1984 again for conventional and nuclear strike attack. In 1990 the Squadron deployed to Tabuk AB with 20 Squadron to form Tabuk Tornado Force for Operation Granby and during the first Gulf War used JP233s and 1000 lb bombs on low-level sorties against Iraqi airfields and other targets. Some of the Squadrons aircraft later formed a TIALD flight that conducted accurate medium-level bombing. Following the end of hostilities the Squadron disbanded on 11 September 1991.

The Squadron reformed in November 1991 at RAF Lossiemouth as 16 Reserve Squadron replacing and taking over the Jaguar aircraft and equipment of 226 Operational Conversion Unit responsible for training and converting new pilots for the Jaguar. Although no longer a front line operational squadron it remained assigned to SACEUR for front line operations in the event of war and retained its conventional and nuclear weapons and readiness.

Although a nonoperational squadron its crews participated in Operation Deny Flight and Northern Watch. The Squadron relocated to RAF Coltishall in 2000 and disbanded on 11 March 2005 as the Jaguar approached retirement.

On 1 October 2008 16 Reseve Squadron was reformed at RAF Cranwell with Grob Tutor to instruct new pilots in Elementary Flying Training EFT as part of 1 Elementary Flying Training  School. 16 R Squadron instructs a third of the RAFs new pilots and some pilots from overseas with the rest shared between 57 R Squadron at RAF Wyton and 85 R Squadron at RAF Church Fenton.

This patch dates from 1984.