RAF Patch b 38 Squadron Royal Air Force Crest Nimrod 236 OCU

RAF Patch 38 Squadron Royal Air Force Crest Patch Nimrod 236 OCU Reserve Shadow Squadron 1980s 122mm by 94mm four and three quarter inches by three and three quarter inches.

Free Shipping

Badge: – A heron volant

Motto: – Ante Lucem Before the dawn

Squadron History 1945 – 1992

38 Squadron moved to Malta In July 1945 and converted from its Wellingtons to Warwicks for air sea rescue ARS duties following its anti-shipping
wartime role. The Squadron deployed detatchments to Greece and North Africa and converted to Lancasters in 1946 and relocated to Palestine for long-range patrols over the Mediterranean supporting the Royal Navy in preventing illegal Jewish immigration to Palestine including rendition of prisoners to Kenya. The Squadron returned to Malta in 1948 resuming reconnaissance and air sea rescue duties re-equipping with Shackletons in 1954 and deploying detachments to Gibraltar and Egypt to participate in the Beira patrols during the period of Rhodesian UDI and to the Persian Gulf for an air blockade following the failure of negotiations with regard to the presence of a Saudi Arabian party at Hamasa. 38 Squadron disbanded at Hal Far Malta on 31 March 1967.

38 Squadron reformed on 1 July 1970 at RAF St Mawgan as 38 Reserve Squadron as the shadow squadron for 236 Operational Conversion Unit OCU on the renaming of the Maritime Operational Training Unit to train crews for the Nimrod. In times of war the OCU would provide front line combat cover with their Nimrods as 38 Squadron.

The Squadron moved with 42 Squadron to RAF Kinloss in 1992. 38 Reserve Squadron and 236 OCU disbanded on 1 October 1992 when it was renamed 42 Reserve Squadron. 

This patch dates from the 1980s.