No II Squadron Jaguar Groundcrew GR 1 Patch RAF Royal Air Force Variant A2

II Squadron Jaguar Groundcrew GR 1 Patch RAF Royal Air Force AC Army Cooperation Variant A2 1976 RAF Laarbruch West Germany Cold War

II Squadron Jaguar Groundcrew rectangle patch shows a Jaguar aircraft (plan) on each side with trails entwining a roman numeral II forming  a Staffordshire knot detailed to look like rope with “No II (AC) Sqn” title on top and “Groundcrew” below.

This is the first issue of this design where the manufacturers error of incorporating 11 instead of roman numeral II onto the No II (AC) Sqn title on top. The patches were hand machine altered to show the II and issued to Groundcrew personnel.

Tangible Original Authentic

British made Bryant and Tucker

Machine embroidered on blue twill through white paper covered black fabric backing with white synthetic return threads and a merrowed overlocked edge

Visibility – colour

Used Condition Uniform Removed

75mm by 100mm

Approximately 3 Inches by 4 Inches

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Squadron history 1970 – 2016

In 1970 No II AC Army Cooperation Squadron took delivery of the Phantom FGR 2 at RAF Bruggen in the reconnaissance role. No II AC Squadron moved to RAF Laarbruch in May 1971. To support the squadron, Numbers 3 and 4 MFPUs Mobile Film Processing Units amalgamated to form the newly named fully mobile RIC Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre. It was at this time that the Squadron tail letters spell the words SHINEY TWO AC.

The Squadron reequipped with Jaguar GR 1 reconnaissance aircraft in February 1976. No II AC Squadron excelled in Tactical Evaluations and exercises particularly at Red Flag in the US.

No II AC Squadron converted to Tornado GR1 A reconnaissance aircraft in 1989 continuing its tactical recce role. Teething problems with the new reconnaissance systems were solved in time for Operation Granby with deployment with XIII Squadron to Dhahran Saudi Arabia. No 2 Composite Squadron operated purely at night with a tactical reconnaissance capability that no other allied Squadron could achieve producing valuable and timely reconnaissance material. The Squadron returned to RAF Laarbruch and moved to RAF Marham in December 1991.

The Squadron upgraded to GR4 4A recce aircraft in 2001 and celebrated its 90th Anniversary in 2002. In March 2003 the Squadron was deployed to the Gulf for Operation Telic during which it was tasked to locate Iraqi Scud missiles in the western desert at low level and at night. Crews were also sent to Al Udeid, Qatar to form a bombing wing with elements from 12 B Bomber Squadron and 617 Squadron. Since 2003 No II AC Squadron was regularly deployed to Al Udeid in support of Operation Telic including its spring 2009 mission providing a reconnaissance and Close Air Support role to aid the successful withdrawal of British troops marking the end of 19 years of Tornado operations over Iraq.

From 2010 the Squadron has deployed on several occasions to maintain the Tornado GR4 detachment in Afghanistan as part of Operation Herrick and saw action over Libya during Operation Ellamy Operation Unified Protector. 2 Squadron operated eight aircraft from RAF Akrotiri as part of Operation Shader coalition strikes against the extremist group ISIS.

With the Squadron due to reequip with Typhoon FGR4 recce aircraft 2 Squadron at RAF Marham was redesignated 12 Squadron on 9 January 2015 and 2 Squadron relocated to RAF Lossiemouth taking over the Typhoons of 2 Squadron Designate on 12 January 2015. The Squadron embarked on a far east tour October to November 2016 undertaking exercises in Japan and Korea.

This patch dates from 1976 Cold War.