RAF Patch b 29 Squadron Royal Air Force Lightning Wattisham 1970

RAF Patch 29 Squadron Royal Air Force Crest Lightning Fighter Interceptor 1970 RAF Wattisham Applique embroidered on wool cut edge 111mm by 82mm four and three eighth inches by three and one quarter inches.

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Badge  An eagle in flight preying on a buzzard symbolising air combat. The Squadron used XXX marking on its aircraft since the 1920s and was known as Triplex Squadron. Various explanations to have XXX instead of XXIX have been in circulation including that ground crew were asked to apply two Xs and one X or it referred to XXX on strong beer labels.

Motto  Impiger et acer Energetic and keen

Unit history 1976 2015

In May 1967 29 F Squadron returned to the UK to reequip with Lightning fighter interceptors at RAF Wattisham disbanding on 31 December 1974. No 29 reformed at RAF Coningsby with Phantom FGR2 on 1 January 1975. In March 1982 the Squadron deployed a detachment to Wideawake airfield Ascension Island to provide air defence and moved to Part Stanley Airfield in August 1982 for Air Defense of the Falklands Islands as soon as the airfield was capable of operating Phantoms. This detachment returned in March 1983 with 23 F Squadron taking over the Air Defence task with its Phantoms.

29 F Squadron replaced its Phantoms with Tornado F3 fighters in 1987 at RAF Coningsby. The Squadron deployed to Saudi Arabia after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in August 1990 and flying throughout the campaign in the air defence role. The Squadron was disbanded in October 1998.

The squadron was reformed in 2003 as the 29 R Squadron Typhoon OCU Operational Conversion Unit based at BAE Systems Warton airfield and worked closely with 17 R Squadron the Operational Test and Evaluation Unit to familiarise with the aircraft and to evaluate its capabilities. In June 2005 the Squadron officially moved to its home base at RAF Coningsby and by July it was teaching new pilots for 17R Squadron on a formal course. 29 R Squadron officially stood up for operational service on 4 November 2005. 

This patch dates from 1970.