RAF Patch Royal Air Force Engineering Wing Abingdon 2 AMS Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Hawk

RAF Patch Royal Air Force 2 Aircraft Maintenance Squadron AMS RAF Abingdon Hawk Patch 1980s Embroidered on twill merrowed edge 102mm four inches diameter.

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In 1967 RAF Abingdon was re-tasked from a Transport Command base to a maintenance and repair depot airfield becoming home to 1 Aircraft Maintenance Squadron AMS carrying out major and modification servicing to Hunter and Jaguar aircraft in F Hangar and 2 Aircraft Maintenance Squadron carrying out major and modification servicing to Buccaneer and later Hawk aircraft in D Hangar reaching full capacity for Hawks in 1983. In addition RAF Abingdon became home to Field Repair Squadron which included Battle Damage Repair Flight BDRF and Aircraft Salvage and Transportation Flight AS&TF formally 71 Maintenance Unit Crash & Smash. Field Repair Squadron was later renamed Repair and Salvage Squadron RSS and AS&TF became Aircraft Recovery and Transportation Flight AR&TF and mostly worked away from RAF Abingdon responsible for repair and salvage of all UK Armed Forces fixed wing aircraft.

3 AMS based at RAF Brize Norton carried out servicing of VC 10 aircraft stored at RAF Abingdon from 1981 and was due to move to RAF Abingdon prior to relocating to the new VC 10 Twin Peaks Hanger at RAF St Athan as 1 AMS in 1992.

During 1983 and 1984 the Lancaster bomber of Battle of Britain Memorial Flight underwent major refurbishment at RAF Abingdon.

With RAF Abingdon recommended for closure the maintenance and repair units were relocated to RAF St Athan in 1991 – 1992.

RAF Abingdon was closed in December 1992 and taken over by the British Army and renamed Dalton Barracks although RAF Benson helicopter units continue to use Abingdon as a diversion airfield and for helicopter training and 612 Volunteer Gliding Squadron VGS continues to operate Grob Vigilant powered gliders from Abingdon.

This patch dates from the 1980s.