RAF Patch j 31 Squadron Royal Air Force Tornado GR 1 AC a

RAF Patch 31 AC Army Cooperation Squadron Royal Air Force Tornado GR 1 Gold Star RAF Bruggen 1984 Serif Numeral Embroidered on twill merowed edge 90mm three and one half inches diameter.

Free Shipping

Squadron history 1984 2013 

No 31 Army Cooperation replaced its Jaguars in 1984 at RAF Bruggen with the Tornado GR 1 retaining its role with tactical nuclear strike capability until nuclear weapons were withdrawn from RAF service in 1994. 

The Squadron led the RAFs detachment in Dhahran as part of Operation Granby 1990 1991. During 1999 the Squadron reequipped with the Tornado GR 4 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 1984.