USAF Patch GLCM USAFE b 11 TMS Tactical Missile Squadron u E Flight Cruise Missile

USAF Patch USAFE GLCM 11 TMS Tactical Missile Squadron E Flight 1982 501 Tactical Missile Wing RAF Greenham Common UK embroidered on twill merrowed edge 76mm three inches diameter.

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Squadron History

11 Tactical Missile Squadron was activated 1 October 1982 at RAF Greenham Common as the missile squadron of 501 Tactical Missile Wing to operate BGM-109G Ground Launched Cruise Missile GLCMs introduced to counteract the threat of the Soviet SS 20 mobile missiles deployed in the Soviet Block from 1975. The first GLCMs were received by the Squadron in November 1983.

11 Tactical Missile Squadron had 96 missiles held by six flights A B C D E and F each having 2 Launch Control Vehicles and 4 Transporter Erector Launchers with four missiles each providing 16 missiles per flight. Support was provided by 501 Tactical Missile Maintenance Squadron. During
periods of increased tension the flights would be deployed with additional security and support vehicles to one of a number of pre-surveyed classified locations in the countryside away from the base. The flight would dig in erect camouflage to hide the vehicles set up special intrusion detection radar and prepare for launch.

The Reykjavík summit in Iceland on 11 October 1986 between US President Ronald Reagan and Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev agreed in principle to removing Intermediate Range Nuclear Force systems from Europe and to equal global limits of 100 INF missile warheads. The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty was signed on 8 December 1987 coming into force on 1 June 1988 leading to the removal of all nuclear missiles from Western Europe.

11 TMS was the last missile Squadron to be inactivated on 31 May 1991 following the decommissioning of the BGM-109G.

This patch dates from 1982.