No. 2625 Squadron RAF Regiment

No. 2625 (County of Cornwall) Squadron RAuxAF Regiment
Active	1982 - 2006
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Air Force
Type	Royal Auxiliary Air Force
Role	Force protection
Part of	RAF Regiment
Garrison/HQ	RAF St Mawgan
Motto	"Onen Hag Ol" (One and All)
Insignia
Identification symbol	Bayonet on St Piran's Cross

No.2625 (County of Cornwall) Squadron was formed at RAF St Mawgan on the 1 November 1982 to provide ground defence for its home station.

The Squadron remained at St Mawgan when in 1990 its role was changed to provide augmentation and sustainment to the regular RAF Regiment Very High Readiness Squadrons. In this role the Unit was established for 130 personnel the vast majority of which were Auxiliaries recruited from all of Cornwall and parts of Devon. An enthusiastic permanent staff of Regulars and Full Time Reservists supported these Auxiliaries.

The Squadron personnel were trained in standard infantry techniques, which were adapted to meet the particular requirements of airfield defence. The training encompassed a broad spectrum of military skills, which included personal and specialist weapons and pyrotechnics, minor tactics, fieldcraft, nuclear, biological and chemical defence and combat first aid techniques. All members of the unit were also trained in the use of signals equipment and surveillance devices.

In 1988 the Squadron was accorded the rare privilege of the Freedom of Newquay, and on several occasions exercised the right to Parade through the Town with bayonets fixed, the last time on 4 October 2006. The Badge of 2625 Squadron that received Royal Approval in 1989 shows a bayonet superimposed on the cross of St Piran, the patron saint of Cornwall. The Squadron motto was Onen Hag Ol (One and All).

From 1996 many Squadron members volunteered for operational deployments with Regular Units and served in Bosnia, Cyprus, Kuwait, Macedonia, Sierra Leone and also in the UK with RAF Mountain Rescue Service. During 1999, the Squadron deployed 14 personnel (over 10% of its established strength) on operational sustainment duties and has provided half of the RAF Regiment's requirement for a hunter guard force to support aircrew combat survival training.

In 2003 the whole Squadron was mobilised as part of OP TELIC to fulfil their commitment to the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. Their primary role as augmentees for the RAF Regiment Squadrons was fulfilled with Gunners joining both No.1 and No.34 Squadrons in theatre after a 10 day work up training package. A small number of Squadron members remained in the UK attending further training and were then deployed to other units at numerous locations in the Middle East. During OP TELIC, 22 members of 2625 Squadron were attached to No.1 Sqn RAF Regiment, which defended RAF Ali Al Salem in Kuwait during the opening stages of the Iraq War. The airbase suffered numerous missile attacks during this period. No.1 Sqn then moved into Iraq where the unit protected vital oil installations. All deployed personal received outstanding reports from the Regular units they served with and all Squadron members returned safe and well. Between June 2005 and November 2006 a further 15 Squadron members volunteered to, and served in Iraq. The Squadron regularly entered teams in Military Skills Competitions and were winners of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force Strickland Trophy at STANTA 4 times. The Squadrons Skills team also won the UK Reserve Forces Association International Military Skills Competition at Altcar on 6 occasions.

On 7 July 2005 the then Defence Secretary, Dr. John Reid, announced in parliament that 2625 Squadron was to be disbanded on 1 November 2006. The Squadron stopped recruiting but continued to train and send volunteers on operations. To mark the demise of the Squadron after 24 years of service the following events took place. The Squadron held a Freedom of Newquay Parade followed later by a Civic Reception in the Officers Mess at St. Mawgan for Squadron members, ex-members, families and invited Dignitaries on 8 October. To end the day a Sunset Ceremony was carried out, fittingly in drizzle and failing light when the 2625 Sqn Flag was lowered for the last time. On 27 October a formal Dining Out Night took place in the Officers Mess St Mawgan attended by serving and past Officers and SNCO's. A Party for all serving and ex members was held in the Atlantic Club St Mawgan on 28 October when 200 plus attended. The day after a remembrance service was held in London, as recorded in The Times. In Truro Cathedral on 4 March 2007 a wooden carved Boss, depicting the Squadron Badge was dedicated and set in the fabric of the Cathedral as a permanent record of the Unit's achievements. During the disbandment process the Squadron continued to send personnel on Operations and on 2 November 2006 the day after disbandment, 8 members were still training for, or deployed with regular units in Iraq. After disbandment, a number of personnel chose to re-enlist to serve with other units such as 501 Sqn RAF Regiment, 232 Tpt Sqn- 155 (Wessex) Transport Regiment (Volunteers), HMS Vivid (Plymouth) Royal Naval Reserve and as instructors with units of the ACF and ATC.

Onen Hag Ol

See also

Royal Auxiliary Air Force

References

2625 Squadron website