RSAF Patch da Sqn Royal Saudi Air Force b 15 Squadron T 33

RSAF Patch Saudi Arabia Royal Saudi Air Force 15 Squadron Crest T 33 Shooting Star 1967 Dhahran Air Field British made Embroidered Applique on wool cut edge 145mm by 103mm five and three quarter inches by four and one sixteenth inches

Free Shipping

15 Squadron was activated at Dhahran Air Field in 1958 equipped with ten T 33A Shooting Star advanced jet training aircraft which had been provided to RSAF with assistance from the US Military Training Mission USMTM to Saudi Arabia following the renewal agreement for the continued use of Dhahran by the US. The Squadron was tasked with advanced jet pilot training of graduate pilots and with 7 Squadron formed RSAF Operational Conversion Unit. Dhahran air Field was handed back to Saudi Arabia at the end of lease in 1962 and operated by the Royal Saudi Air Force renaming it Dhahran Air Base and retaining the United States Military Training Mission USMTM Detachment at the Base.

The Squadron reequipped with F 5B two seat trainer Freedom Fighters in 1972 from the Peace Hawk I programme continuing its advanced training role handling new pilots who had completed 200 hrs basic training on BAC 167 Strikemasters. 15 Squadron reequipped with F 5E single seat and F 5F two seat trainer Tiger fighter aircraft to its fleet in 1975 under Peace Hawk II transferring most of its F 5B trainers to 7 Squadron the F 5 OCU and took over the ground strike attack tasking previously assigned to the RSAF Lightning Squadrons. The Squadron was assisted by the USMTM Detachment including the provision of USAF instructor pilots and visiting aggressor pilots for training on Soviet aerial tactics.

15 Sqn pilots began Dissimilar Air Combat training against RSAF Lightning aircraft and regularly deployed to other RSAF bases for exercises. Squadron personnel participated in Red Flag 81 1 at Nellis AFB Nevada with the RSAF deployment using four F 5Bs six F 5Es and two F 5Fs borrowed from USAF 425 Tactical Fighter Training Squadron with its own ground personnel assisting the deployments 12 pilots carrying out 135 of the planned 140 sorties.

15 Squadron relocated to Khamis Mushayt Air Base in 1981 providing ground strike attack cover with its F 5E and F 5F as 6 Squadron transitioned from Lightnings to F 15C and F 15D Eagle fighters. Saudi Arabian personnel took over responsibility for depot level airframe and avionics maintenance from US contractors by 1983.The Squadron received a number of F 5Bs and F 5Es from 7 Squadron when it converted from F 5s to Tornado IDS aircraft becoming the Tornado OCU in July 1986. 15 Squadron received AGM 65A and AGM 65B missiles for its F 5s providing advanced strike attack capability.

The Squadron emblem changed in 1992 as it incorporated birds when RSAF decided that the depictions of living creatures on RSAF emblems not in accordance with Islamic scripture.

The Squadron deployed assets to Tabuk Air base following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990 taking part in combat missions during Operation Desert Storm. Khamis Mushayt AB was redesignated King Khalid Air Base in 1999 when all RSAF air bases were named after members of the Saudi Royal family and RSAF introduced its Wing system to control and support base Squadrons with 5 Wing established at KKAB Khamis Mushayt. 15 Squadron was inactivated in 2005 as part of the RSAF F 5 phase down.

With contracts for British aircraft equipment and training and the use of ex Royal Air Force pilots and personnel in the 1950s and 1960s Squadrons adopted unit flying suit patches based on RAF crest design with a central logo within a frame indented each side for the Squadron number and with a motto in scroll below and a Royal crown above. Crest patches were mainly manufactured in Britain with a number made by US manufacturers. With the contracts for US aircraft and training USAF style circular and shield shaped patches with new logos replaced crest patches in the mid 1970s and early 1980s with new unit patches provided by US aircraft manufacturers particularly for F 15 Squadrons. Patches changed again in the early 1990s when RSAF decided to standardise unit logos and to replace depictions of living creatures on RSAF emblems with stylised designs.

This patch dates from 1967.