RAF Patch b 31 Squadron Royal Air Force AC Crest Jaguar

RAF Patch 31 Squadron Royal Air Force Army Cooperation AC Crest Patch Jaguar Strike Attack Early 1980s Jaguar RAF Bruggen Embroidered on wool cut edge 104mm by 77mm four and one sixteenth inches by three inches

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Squadron history 1946 -2013

Following war service in the bomber transport role in the Far East Burma Campaign 31 Squadron with its Dakotas was disbanded in Java in 1946 and reformed at Masroor Karachi India transporting many refugees during Indias partition following which the Squadron disbanded in Karachi Pakistan at the end of 1947.

31 Squadron reformed in July 1948 at RAF Hendon equipped with Ansons and Devons tasked with communications and air ambulance duties. In
1955 31 Squadron relocated to RAF Laarbruch Germany assigned to NATO and re-roled for reconnaissance equipping with Canberra PR7s.

In 1971 the Squadron moved to RAF Bruggen received F 4 Phantoms FGR2 aircraft and re-tasked to tactical strike attack with nuclear and conventional weapons. The Squadron re-equipped with Jaguar GR1s in 1976 and replaced its Jaguars in 1984 with Tornado GR1s retaining its tactical nuclear strike capability until nuclear weapons were withdrawn from RAF service in 1994.

31 Squadron led the RAFs detachment in Dhahran as part of Operation Granby 1990-1991. During 1999 the Squadron re-equipped with the Tornado GR4 and participated in air operations over the Former Republic of Yugoslavia as part of Operation Allied Force and Operation Endgadine flying Air Interdiction and Close Air Support sorties.

With the withdrawal of RAF forces from Germany the Goldstars were the last unit to leave relocating to RAF Marham in 2002. Iraq air policing operations continued with annual deployments to Ali Al Salem airbase in Kuwait with these eventually escalating into the Iraq conflict of March 2003 Operation Telic during which the Squadron was a part of the Tornado GR4 Combat Air Wing. No 31 AC Squadron continued its army support work operating from Al Udeid airbase in Qatar until 2009 as British forces continued their mission to return Iraq to a state of normality.

On withdrawal from Operation Telic the Squadron was assigned to replace Harriers in Afghanistan as part of Operation Herrick.

This patch dates from the early 1980ss.