RAF Patch j 20 Squadron Royal Air Force u Harrier Strike GR 7

RAF Patch 20 Squadron Royal Air Force Reserve Strike Harrier Force GR 7 Subdued RAF Wittering 2003 Embroidered on twill merrowed edge 78mm three inches diameter.

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Badge   In front of the rising sun an eagle, wings elevated and perched on a sword  approved by King George VI in June 1937. The rising sun is intended to commemorate the unit’s long association with the East. The eagle is perched on Talwar indicative of the Squadrons work with the Army in India. 

Motto  Facta non verba – Deeds not words 

Unit history 1947 2011

Following its wartime service in the Far East with Hurricane fighters 20 Squadron based in Siam reequipped with Spitfires in September 1945 and then Tempest FBIIs in May 1946 before disbanding in India on 1 August 1947.

20 Squadron reactivated at RAF Llanbedr on 11 February 1947 on the renumbering of 631 Squadron equipped with a variety of aircraft rolled for Anti Aircraft Cooperation AAC and moved to RAF Valley on 19 July 1949 before disbanding on 16 September 1951.

The squadron reformed at RAF Jever Germany on 14 June 1952 equipped with Vampire FB Mk9 jet fighter bomber aircraft moving to RAF Oldenberg in July 1952. 20 Squadron reequipped with Sabre fighters in 1953 rerolling for day fighter operations. The Squadron reequipped with Hunter fighter aircraft in November 1955. 20 squadron disbanded on 30 December 1960.

20 Squadron reformed at RAF Tengah Singapore on 1 September 1961 equipped with Hunter fighter bombers for ground attack operations. The Squadron deployed to Thailand to operate against communist insurgents in 1962 and operated in other parts of the Far East Air Force’s area during the Indonesian Confrontation. The Squadron operated a flight of Pioneers CC Mk 1 aircraft for Forward Air Control tasks when 209 Squadron disbanded in 1969. With the withdrawal of the RAF from the Far East 20 Squadron disbanded on 18 February 1970.

20 Squadron reformed on 1 December 1970 at RAF Wildenrath Germany equipped with Harrier GR1 ground attack VSTOL aircraft. With the decision to reduce Harrier Force Germany the Squadrons Harrier aircraft were handed over to 3 and 4 Squadrons on 1 March 1977 and 20 Squadron reformed on the same day at RAF Bruggen equipped with Jaguar GR1 aircraft for strike attack missions with conventional and tactical nuclear weapons. The Squadron was assigned to SACEUR for operational and targeting purposes with political control over release of the British owned WE 177 nuclear weapons retained by the British government.

20 Squadron relocated to RAF Laarbruch on 30 June 1984 on the redesignation of 20 Designate Squadron which was activated on 1 April 1984 to train personnel to operate Tornado GR1 ground attack aircraft taking over its Tornados to continue its conventional and nuclear strike attack role with SACEUR.  With the collapse of the Eastern Bloc and end of the Cold War RAF units in Germany were reduced and 20 Squadron was disbanded as a front line unit on 31 July 1992.

The Harrier Operational Conversion Unit OCU at RAF Wittering was renamed 20 Reserve Squadron on 1 September 1992. Following the decision to withdraw the Sea Harriers of the Royal Navy the RAFs 1 and 4 Squadrons and the Fleet Air Arms 800 and 801 Naval Air Squadrons with 20 Reserve Squadron Harrier OCU formed the squadrons of Joint Force 2000 on 1 April 2000.  Joint Force 2000 under the command of RAF Strike Command deployable from both aircraft carriers RAF stations and deployed air bases. Joint Force 2000 was redesignated Joint Force Harrier later that year. JFH migrated entirely to the Harrier GR7 and the upgraded GR9 with the retirement of the Sea Harrier in 2006. Elements of 20 Reserve Squadron participated in JFH deployments for training and combat.

20 Reserve Squadron the Harrier Operational Conversion Unit was disbanded with 4 Squadron on 31 March 2010. 4 Reserve Squadron reformed at RAF Wittering on 1 April 2010 taking over as the Harrier OCU. At the same time Joint Force Harrier was renamed Joint Strike Wing and all remaining GR 7s were retired. JSWs final Squadrons 1F 4R and 800 NAS were disbanded on the 28th January 2011 and the Harriers retired.

This patch dates from 2003.