RAFO Patch Sqn Royal Air Force Of Oman b 18 Squadron F 16 2006

Oman Patch 18 Squadron

RAFO Patch Sqn Royal Air Force Of Oman 18 Squadron Patch Badge F 16 2006 embroidered on twill merrowed edge 68mm by 59mm two and five eighths inches by two and one quarter inches.

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History

The Sultanate of Muscat and Oman Air Force SMOAF was established on 1 March 1959 with British support and assistance with ex RAF Pioneer CC1s DHC-2 Beavers liason aircraft manned by 7 GD pilots seconded from the RAF and maintained by Airwork Ltd a commercial contractor.
With the start of the Dhofar Rebellion in 1962 twelve armed Provost T.Mk 52s were obtained seeing extensive use in the close air support role. The Pioneers were relinquished in 1962. In 1968 the Air Force received Strikemaster Mk.82 jet trainer and light strike aircraft for No 1 Squadron at Salalah for operation against insurgents in the Dhofar region with C-47 Dakotas joining the fleet in 1969 augmented by DHC-4 Caribou Shorts Skyvans with No 3 Squadron at Salalah and No 2 Squadron at Seeb and five second-hand Vickers Viscounts with No 4 Squadron at Seeb for troop transportation. Pilatus PC-6 Porter air ambulances were also used extensively during the conflict.

Following a palace coup Said bin Taimur was overthrown by his son Qaboos bin Said in August 1970 and the nation became the Sultanate of Oman with the air force renamed as the Sultanate of Oman Air Force SOAF. The new Sultan began reorganizing and reequipping the armed forces and in 1974 the SOAF was expanded with eight Norman Defenders for No 3 Squadron three BAC One-Eleven for No 4 Squadron and one
BAC VC10 for the Royal Flight and a fleet of Agusta-Bell AB205s which equipped 3 5 and 14 Squadrons at Salalah and Seeb.. Thirty Two Hawker Hunter ground attack aircraft were delivered to SOAFs No 6 Squadron at Thumrait in 1976 and carried out offensive action on the Yemen border to disrupt Yemeni support and rebel supply lines With the help of the British SAS Iranian detachments RAF IIAF the modernised armed forces drove the rebels back and the rebellion was finally declared over in 1976.

In 1977 the first Jaguars entered service to equip No 8 squadron at Thumrait AB and in 1978 air defence role was augmented with SOAFs No 10 Rapier Squadron at Thumrait AB and No 12 Rapier Squadron and Rapier SAM training unit at Seeb AB. A further 12 Jaguars delivered in 1983 enabled the formation of 20 Squadron at Masirah. Three Lockheed C-130H Hercules transport were delivered in the early 1980s. SC 7 Seavans  Skyvans modified for maritime reconnaissance anti-piracy anti-pollution and EEZ protection patrols.

In 1990 the SOAF was renamed to Royal Air Force of Oman RAFO and it supported operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Aircraft were still being flown primarily by seconded RAF exchange or contract pilots and RAFO increased efforts to train local pilots. In 1993 and 1994 the RAFO
replaced its Hawker Hunters with four BAE Hawk Mk 103 fighter-trainers and 12 single-seat Hawk Mk 203 for No 6 Squadron at Masirah which with No 1 Squadron with its mix of Pilatus PC-9s basic trainers and PAC Super Mushshak primary trainers before student pilots moved to Hawks for advanced flying training formed part of the Sultan Qaboos Flying Academy. Rotary wing students fly the Bell 206 and Super Lynx Mk 120 with No 3 squadron at Salalah AB. Following RAFOs evaluation of combat aircraft in 1997 the remaining 17 Jaguars ground attack fighters were
upgraded for extended service life. The first Super Lynx 300 helicopters arrived in Oman on June 24 2004 and equips No 3 Squadron at Salalah and No 15 Squadron at Al Musana with a SAR detachment at Masirah.Eight single seat F 16Cs and four two seat F 16Ds were delivered during 2005 and 2006 under the Peace Asama Asafiya Clear Skies programme equipping the newly formed No 18 Squadron at Thumrait and can carry AGM 88 HARM JDAM JSOW and WCMD advanced missiles. The ROAF continues to upgrade with a number of its aircraft types requiring replacement with further F 16s Eurofighters and helicopters under consideration.

Great emphasis is placed on training and for the RAFO this is primarily achieved via the Air Force Technical College (AFTC) at RAFO Seeb (responsible for airman training) and at the Sultan Qaboos Air Academy (SQAA) at RAFO Ghala (officer training) with flying training at the Sultan Qaboos Flying Academy at Masirah and ATC training at the Aircraft Control College at Seeb.

This patch dates from 2005