RAF Patch 8 Squadron Royal Air Force Crest Shackleton

RAF Patch 8 Squadron RAF Royal Air Force Crest Queens Crown 1980s Shackleton AEW RAF Lossiemouth 1980s Embroidered on wool cut edge

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Squadron history 1971-2013

Following WWII Middle East service with bombers 8 Squadron was reformed on 1 September 1946 at RAF Khormaksar on the renumbering 114 Squadron equipped with Mosquito FB 6 fighter bombers. The Squadron reequipped with Tempest aircraft in 1947 and Brigand fighter bombers in 1949. A number of Meteor FR 9 phot reconnaissance aircraft were added to the fleet in November 1951. The Squadrons first jet fighter bomber Vampire FB 9s arrived in 1953 followed by Venom FB 1s in 1955. 8 Sqn upgraded to Hunter fighter bombers in 1960 and retired its Meteor FR 9 recce aircraft in 1961. The squadron disbanded at RAF Kormaksar on 21 December 1971. 

8 Squadron was reactivated at RAF Kinloss on 1 January 1972 equipped with Shackleton AEW 2 aircraft for maritime patrol and Airborne Early Warning AEW. The Squadron relocated to RAF Lossiemouth on 14 August 1973. The Squadrons Shackleton aircraft were named after characters from The Magic Roundabout and The Herbs. The Squadron disbanded at the end of June 1991 on the retirement of the Shackleton aircraft. 

The Squadron was immediately reactivated at RAF Waddington on 1 July 1991 equipped with E 3D Sentry AEW aircraft. 8 Squadron along with its sister 23 Squadron until its disbandment have operated the E 3D Sentry on deployments over Bosnia Kosovo Afghanistan Iraq Africa and Libya.

This patch dates from the 1980s.