RAF Patch Regt sb 66 Squadron Royal Air Force Regiment 1980s La

RAF Patch 66 Squadron Royal Air Force Regiment DZ 1980s Rapier Air Defence USAFE Bases RAF Mildenhall RAF Lakenheath Embroidered on twill merrowed edge 89mm by 89mm three and one half inches by three and one half inches.

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66 Squadron RAF Regiment was activated at Lydda Air Base Palestine on the renumbering 2899 Squadron RAF Regt on 8 June 1947 equipped with Bofors 40mm light anti aircraft guns. The Squadron moved to RAF El Hamra Suez Zone Egypt before relocating to Aden in 1948 before disbanding there. 66 Squadron was reformed at RAF North Luffenham before moving to RAF Bruggen.

The Squadron relocated to RAF Catterick in the 1960s joining 26 Squadron equipped with Bofors light anti aircraft guns and 48 Squadron RAF Regt equipped with Tigercat short range anti aircraft missile systems. 26 Squadron exchanged numbers with RAF Laarbruch based 58 Squadron in April 1976 taking over its Rapiers and leaving its Bofors for 58 Squadron at RAF Catterick. 66 Squadron and 58 Sqn began regular rotational deployments to Belize British Honduras in 1976 to provide light anti aircraft cover for units at RAF Belize during increased tensions with Guatemala. 48 Squadron RAF Regt joined the deployments with its Tigercat missiles in July 1977 when Guatamala threatened invasion. Deployments continued until 66 Squadron RAF Regiment disbanded at RAF Catterick on 16 July 1978.  

66 Squadron RAF Regt was reactivated at RAF West Raynham on 1 July 1983 as a Low Level Air Defence LLAD Squadron equipped with USAF purchased Rapier all weather Blindfire Short Range Air Defence SHORAD system tasked with the air defence of USAFE bases RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath. The Squadron was assigned to HQ 6 Wing RAF Regt and worked alongside 19 Squadron and 20 Squadron RAF Regiment to protect USAFE bases in England. New recruits completed courses with the RAF Regiment Rapier Training Unit at RAF West Raynham. 66 Sqn won the Lloyds Cup the trophy for the being the top shooting Squadron within the RAF Regiment in 1987.

Following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990 20 Squadron was released from its role and deployed for Operation Granby taking its Rapier systems to RAF Akrotiri Cyprus on 11 August 1990. 20 Squadron relocated A Flight to Muharraq Airfield Bahrain at the end of August to set up airbase air defence with the remaining Flight joining them in mid October 1990. 20 Squadron personnel returned to RAF Honington leaving their Rapiers when relieved by 66 Squadron personnel on 14 November 1990. 66 Squadron was awarded the battle honour Gulf 1991.

66 Squadron RAF Regiment was disbanded with HQ 6 Wing in 1994 when the USAF withdrew funding for the USAF Rapier Force as a result of the ending of the Cold War.

This patch dates from the 1980s.