USAF 11th Tactical Missile Squadron Patch BGM-109G GLCM RAF Greenham Common (3 Inch) – Subdued Variant A1

USAF Patch USAFE GLCM 11th TMS Tactical Missile Squadron Subdued Variant A1 1984 501st Tactical Missile Wing RAF Greenham Common UK First batch with correct H on both colour and subdued patches.

USAF 11th Tactical Missile Squadron subdued patch variant A1 from RAF Greenham Common during the Cold War Ground Launched Cruise Missile GLCM era. This example dates from 1984 and was issued to personnel of the 11th Tactical Missile Squadron, part of the 501st Tactical Missile Wing USAFE.

• Date 1984
• Visibility subdued green
• Embroidered on twill with merrowed edge
• Size: 77mm x 65mm
• Approximate size: 3 inches by 2.5 inches
• Taiwan manufactured
• Free shipping

This example is from the first production batch featuring the correct “H” in the design making these variants particularly interesting to collectors of Cold War USAFE insignia.

Squadron History – 11th Tactical Missile Squadron

11th Tactical Missile Squadron was activated at RAF Greenham Common on 1 October 1982 as the operational missile squadron of 501st Tactical Missile Wing. The Squadron operated the BGM-109G Gryphon Ground Launched Cruise Missile system introduced by NATO in response to Soviet SS-20 intermediate-range nuclear missile deployments across Eastern Europe during the Cold War.

The first GLCMs arrived at RAF Greenham Common in November 1983. The Squadron controlled 96 missiles organised into six operational flights designated A through F. Each flight operated:

• 2 Launch Control Vehicles
• 4 Transporter Erector Launchers TELs
• 16 missiles per flight

During periods of increased tension, the missile flights dispersed from RAF Greenham Common to pre-surveyed launch locations throughout the British countryside. These deployments involved camouflage positions, mobile security units, radar intrusion detection systems, and simulated launch operations.

The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces INF Treaty signed in December 1987 resulted in the removal of all NATO ground-launched nuclear missiles from Europe. 11th Tactical Missile Squadron became the final operational GLCM squadron to be inactivated on 31 May 1991 following the withdrawal of the BGM-109G system.

The Jiggs Squadron Emblem

The Squadron traces its lineage back to WWI and adopted the famous “Jiggs” emblem showing the cartoon character carrying a bomb under his arm. The design was created by Squadron pilot George McManus, creator of the popular comic strip Bringing Up Father. The emblem first appeared on Squadron DH-4 bombers at Maulan Aerodrome in France during September 1918, leading to the unit becoming known as the “Jiggs Squadron”.

This USAF 11th Tactical Missile Squadron patch dates from 1984 during the early operational deployment period of the RAF Greenham Common GLCM force.