RAF Patch b 72 Squadron Royal Air Force Crest v Tucano 1FTS

RAF Patch 72 Squadron Royal Air Force Crest Patch 2009 RAF Linton on Ouse Tucano Pilot Training Embroidered on twill cut edge 111mm by 86mm four and three eighth inches by three and three eighth inches.

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Badge  A Swift Volant – The swift in the squadron’s badge is symbolic of speed. 

Motto  Swift 

Squadron History 

During WWII 72 Squadron equipped with Spitfire aircraft took part in the evacuation of Dunkirk the Battle of Britain North Africa Italy France and Germany locating to Zeltweg AB Austria where they were disbanded on 30 December 1946. 

The Squadron was reactivated on 1 February 1947 at RAF Odiham equipped with Vampire F 1 fighters on the renumbering of 130 Squadron before relocating to RAF North Weald. 72 Squadron converted to to the Meteor F 8 fighters in 1952 and moved to RAF Church Fenton in February 1956 taking on a night fighter role upgrading to Meteor NF 12 and Meteor NF 14 nightfighter aircraft. The Squadron became an all-weather fighter unit moving to RAF Leconfield and receiving Javelin FAW 4 and later Javelin FAW 5 all weather fighter aircraft. The Squadron was disbanded at RAF Leconfield on 30 June 1961. 

72 squadron reformed at RAF Odiham on 15 November 1961 equipped with twin rotor Belvederes HC 1 helicopters in the transport role. The Squadron converted to Wessex HC 2 in August 1964. The Squadron provided detachments to support British Forces operations around the world including deployments for combat operations in Malaya post disaster assistance following the Torrey Canyon tanker disaster in 1967 and supported the security forces in Northern Ireland operating from 1969. The Squadron relocated to RAF Aldergrove Northern Ireland on 12 November 1981 and added Puma helicopters to its fleet in January 1997 72 Sqn was disbanded in April 2002 at RAF Aldergrove and the Wessex helicopters were retired from service. 

The Squadron was reactivated on 12 July 2002 at RAF Linton on Ouse as 72 Reserve Squadron of 1 Flying Training School equipped with Tucano training aircraft operating with 207 Reserve Squadron providing pilot training. 

This patch dates from 2009.