No. 2 Squadron SLAF
Encyclopedia
No. 2 "Heavy Transport" Squadron is a squadron
of the Sri Lanka Air Force. It currently operates the C-130 Hercules
and Antonov 32
from SLAF Ratmalana.
s, de Havilland Dove
s, Westland Dragonfly
helicopters and later Scottish Aviation Pioneer
s. The Squadron was based at RAF Negombo. It was the only operational squadron when the 1971 Insurrection began, carrying out air operations for the first time under combat conditions. Newer aircraft were acquired during the insurrection.
With the escalation of the Sri Lankan Civil War
, air operations intensified. In 1985 the squadron received new aircraft Hawker Siddeley HS 748 and Beechcraft 200
for transport. The same year it took on the close air support
after gaining SIAI Marchetti SF.260TPs. The squadron was moved to SLAF Ratmalana in 1985 . During the Vadamarachchi Operation
the squadron deployed 1 AVRO, 2 Y-12s and 1 Heron as improvised bombers. Harbin Y-12
aircraft were equipped with bomb racks that had been fitted to carry up to 1,000 kilograms of fragmentation and antipersonnel bombs were used against LTTE locations with success.
In 1994 the No. 2 Squadron's aircraft were divided between the No. 201 and No. 202 squadrons. The No. 201 squadron came to operate the lager transport aircraft Hawker Siddeley HS 748s and the newly acquired Antonov An-32
s. The No. 201 was later renamed the No. 2 Heavy Transport Squadron and the No. 202 squadron was renamed the No. 8 Light Transpor Squadron
and operated the lighter aircraft of the air force. Throughout the civil war, since the early 1990s the squadron played a major role in maintaining the air passage to Jaffna
till 2009, when the land route was opened.
The squadron relief missions during the 2004 tsunami and the Pakistan earthquake of 2005.
In March 2009, the squadron was presented with the President’s Colours
.
Squadron (aviation)
A squadron in air force, army aviation or naval aviation is mainly a unit comprising a number of military aircraft, usually of the same type, typically with 12 to 24 aircraft, sometimes divided into three or four flights, depending on aircraft type and air force...
of the Sri Lanka Air Force. It currently operates the C-130 Hercules
C-130 Hercules
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...
and Antonov 32
Antonov An-32
The Antonov An-32 is a twin-engined turboprop military transport aircraft.-Design and development:The An-32 is basically a re-engined An-26. The launch customer was the Indian Air Force, which ordered this aircraft partly due to good relations between then USSR leader Leonid Brezhnev and then...
from SLAF Ratmalana.
History
The No. 2 Squadron was formed with in 1955 to provide transport for the newly formed Royal Ceylon Air Force with Airspeed OxfordAirspeed Oxford
The Airspeed AS.10 Oxford was a twin-engine aircraft used for training British Commonwealth aircrews in navigation, radio-operating, bombing and gunnery during the Second World War.-Design and development:...
s, de Havilland Dove
De Havilland Dove
The de Havilland DH.104 Dove was a British monoplane short-haul airliner from de Havilland, the successor to the biplane de Havilland Dragon Rapide and was one of Britain's most successful post-war civil designs...
s, Westland Dragonfly
Westland Dragonfly
|-See also:-External links:* Westland entry in the helis.com database*...
helicopters and later Scottish Aviation Pioneer
Scottish Aviation Pioneer
-External links:* *...
s. The Squadron was based at RAF Negombo. It was the only operational squadron when the 1971 Insurrection began, carrying out air operations for the first time under combat conditions. Newer aircraft were acquired during the insurrection.
With the escalation of the Sri Lankan Civil War
Sri Lankan civil war
The Sri Lankan Civil War was a conflict fought on the island of Sri Lanka. Beginning on July 23, 1983, there was an on-and-off insurgency against the government by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam , a separatist militant organization which fought to create an independent Tamil state named Tamil...
, air operations intensified. In 1985 the squadron received new aircraft Hawker Siddeley HS 748 and Beechcraft 200
Beechcraft Super King Air
The Beechcraft Super King Air family is part of a line of twin-turboprop aircraft produced by the Beech Aircraft Corporation . The King Air line comprises a number of model series that fall into two families: the Model 90 series, Model 100 series , Model 200 series and Model 300 series...
for transport. The same year it took on the close air support
Close air support
In military tactics, close air support is defined as air action by fixed or rotary winged aircraft against hostile targets that are close to friendly forces, and which requires detailed integration of each air mission with fire and movement of these forces.The determining factor for CAS is...
after gaining SIAI Marchetti SF.260TPs. The squadron was moved to SLAF Ratmalana in 1985 . During the Vadamarachchi Operation
Vadamarachchi Operation
The Operation Liberation or Vadamarachchi Operation, the military offensive carried out by the Sri Lankan military during May to June 1987, to re-gain the territory of Vadamarachchi in Jaffna peninsula from the LTTE control...
the squadron deployed 1 AVRO, 2 Y-12s and 1 Heron as improvised bombers. Harbin Y-12
Harbin Y-12
-See also:-Bibliography:* Taylor, John W R. . Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1988-89. Coulsdon, Surrey, UK: Jane's Information Group, 1988. ISBN 07106-0867-5....
aircraft were equipped with bomb racks that had been fitted to carry up to 1,000 kilograms of fragmentation and antipersonnel bombs were used against LTTE locations with success.
In 1994 the No. 2 Squadron's aircraft were divided between the No. 201 and No. 202 squadrons. The No. 201 squadron came to operate the lager transport aircraft Hawker Siddeley HS 748s and the newly acquired Antonov An-32
Antonov An-32
The Antonov An-32 is a twin-engined turboprop military transport aircraft.-Design and development:The An-32 is basically a re-engined An-26. The launch customer was the Indian Air Force, which ordered this aircraft partly due to good relations between then USSR leader Leonid Brezhnev and then...
s. The No. 201 was later renamed the No. 2 Heavy Transport Squadron and the No. 202 squadron was renamed the No. 8 Light Transpor Squadron
No. 8 Squadron SLAF
No. 8 "Light Transpor" Squadron is a squadron of the Sri Lanka Air Force. It currently operates the Harbin Y-12 from SLAF Ratmalana. Its roles include light transport, reconnaissance and pilot training for twin engine aircraft.-History:...
and operated the lighter aircraft of the air force. Throughout the civil war, since the early 1990s the squadron played a major role in maintaining the air passage to Jaffna
Jaffna
Jaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna district located on a peninsula of the same name. Jaffna is approximately six miles away from Kandarodai which served as a famous emporium in the Jaffna peninsula from classical...
till 2009, when the land route was opened.
The squadron relief missions during the 2004 tsunami and the Pakistan earthquake of 2005.
In March 2009, the squadron was presented with the President’s Colours
Colours, standards and guidons
In military organizations, the practice of carrying colours, standards or Guidons, both to act as a rallying point for troops and to mark the location of the commander, is thought to have originated in Ancient Egypt some 5,000 years ago...
.
Aircraft operated
Year of introduction- C-130 HerculesC-130 HerculesThe Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...
- 2000 - Antonov 32Antonov An-32The Antonov An-32 is a twin-engined turboprop military transport aircraft.-Design and development:The An-32 is basically a re-engined An-26. The launch customer was the Indian Air Force, which ordered this aircraft partly due to good relations between then USSR leader Leonid Brezhnev and then...
- 1995 - Shaanxi Y-8Shaanxi Y-8The Shaanxi Y-8 or Yunshuji-8 aircraft is a medium size medium range transport aircraft produced by Shaanxi Aircraft Company in China, based on the Soviet Antonov An-12. It has become one of China's most popular military and civilian transport/cargo aircraft, with many variants produced and exported...
- 1987 - Harbin Y-12Harbin Y-12-See also:-Bibliography:* Taylor, John W R. . Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1988-89. Coulsdon, Surrey, UK: Jane's Information Group, 1988. ISBN 07106-0867-5....
- 1986 - Hawker Siddeley HS 748 - 1985
- Beechcraft 200Beechcraft Super King AirThe Beechcraft Super King Air family is part of a line of twin-turboprop aircraft produced by the Beech Aircraft Corporation . The King Air line comprises a number of model series that fall into two families: the Model 90 series, Model 100 series , Model 200 series and Model 300 series...
- 1985 - SIAI Marchetti SF.260TP - 1985
- Douglas DakotaC-47 SkytrainThe Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota is a military transport aircraft that was developed from the Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remained in front line operations through the 1950s with a few remaining in operation to this day.-Design and...
- 1975 - de Havilland HeronDe Havilland HeronThe de Havilland DH.114 Heron was a small, propeller-driven British airliner that first flew on 10 May 1950. It was a development of the twin-engine de Havilland Dove, with a stretched fuselage and two more engines. It was designed as a rugged, conventional low-wing monoplane with tricycle...
- 1959 - Westland DragonflyWestland Dragonfly|-See also:-External links:* Westland entry in the helis.com database*...
- 1955 - Airspeed OxfordAirspeed OxfordThe Airspeed AS.10 Oxford was a twin-engine aircraft used for training British Commonwealth aircrews in navigation, radio-operating, bombing and gunnery during the Second World War.-Design and development:...
- 1953
Notable members
- Air Vice Marshal E. R. AmarasekaraEdward AmerasakeraAir Vice-Marshal Ekanayake Edward Rohan Amerasekera DFC & BAR, RCyAF third Commander of the Royal Ceylon Air Force and World War II Royal Air Force Navigator.-Early life and education:...
, DFCDistinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
& BAR, RCyAF - former Commander of the Air ForceCommander of the Air Force (Sri Lanka)The Commander of the Air Force is the professional head of the Sri Lanka Air Force. The current Commander of the Air Force is Air Marshal Harsha Abeywickrama since 2011...
(1962-1970) - Air Chief MarshalAir Chief MarshalAir chief marshal is a senior 4-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
DeshamanyaDeshamanyaDeshamanya is the second highest Sri Lankan national honour awarded by the Government of Sri Lanka as a civil honour.It is conventionally used as a title or prefix to the awardee's name....
Paddy MendisPaddy MendisAir Chief Marshal Deshamanya Paddy Mendis MBIM, idc, psc, SLAF was the fourth Commander of the Royal Ceylon Air Force from 1971 to 1976.-Early life and education:...
, MBIM, IDC, psc, SLAF - former Commander of the Air ForceCommander of the Air Force (Sri Lanka)The Commander of the Air Force is the professional head of the Sri Lanka Air Force. The current Commander of the Air Force is Air Marshal Harsha Abeywickrama since 2011...
(1971-1976) - Air Chief MarshalAir Chief MarshalAir chief marshal is a senior 4-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
Harry GoonatilakeHarry GoonatilakeAir Chief Marshal W.D. Harry Goonetileke USP, ndc, psc, SLAF was the fifth Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force from November 1, 1976 to April 30, 1981.-Early life:...
, USPUttama Seva PadakkamaThe Uttama Seva Padakkama is presented to all ranks of the Regular Forces of the Sri Lankan military for valuable service and dedication to duty with the outstanding ability, merit and excellent conduct, given that they count not less than 15 years continuous and uninterrupted service and possess...
, ndc, psc, SLAF - former Commander of the Air ForceCommander of the Air Force (Sri Lanka)The Commander of the Air Force is the professional head of the Sri Lanka Air Force. The current Commander of the Air Force is Air Marshal Harsha Abeywickrama since 2011...
(1976-1981) - Air Chief MarshalAir Chief MarshalAir chief marshal is a senior 4-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
Jayalath WeerakkodyJayalath WeerakkodyAir Chief Marshal Jayalath Weerakkody RWP, VSV, USP, ndc, psc, SLAF is a retired Sri Lanka Air Force air officer who served as commander of the Air Force from 1998 to 2002....
, RWPRana Wickrama PadakkamaThe Rana Wickrama Padakkama medal and bar are presented to Sri Lankan military officers and other ranks as a reward for individual or allied acts of heroism in facing the enemy and performed of their own accord.-How medal awarded:It is ordained that the decoration shall be granted to all ranks of...
, VSVVishista Seva VibhushanayaThe Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya medal and bar are presented to Sri Lankan senior military officers of three services, given that their loyal service is of not less than 25 years and possess a perfectly flawless record of moral and military conduct, will be appropriate for the award...
, USPUttama Seva PadakkamaThe Uttama Seva Padakkama is presented to all ranks of the Regular Forces of the Sri Lankan military for valuable service and dedication to duty with the outstanding ability, merit and excellent conduct, given that they count not less than 15 years continuous and uninterrupted service and possess...
, ndc, psc, SLAF - former Commander of the Air ForceCommander of the Air Force (Sri Lanka)The Commander of the Air Force is the professional head of the Sri Lanka Air Force. The current Commander of the Air Force is Air Marshal Harsha Abeywickrama since 2011...
(1998-2002) - Air Chief MarshalAir Chief MarshalAir chief marshal is a senior 4-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
G. Donald Perera, VSVVishista Seva VibhushanayaThe Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya medal and bar are presented to Sri Lankan senior military officers of three services, given that their loyal service is of not less than 25 years and possess a perfectly flawless record of moral and military conduct, will be appropriate for the award...
, USPUttama Seva PadakkamaThe Uttama Seva Padakkama is presented to all ranks of the Regular Forces of the Sri Lankan military for valuable service and dedication to duty with the outstanding ability, merit and excellent conduct, given that they count not less than 15 years continuous and uninterrupted service and possess...
, ndc, psc, SLAF - former Commander of the Air ForceCommander of the Air Force (Sri Lanka)The Commander of the Air Force is the professional head of the Sri Lanka Air Force. The current Commander of the Air Force is Air Marshal Harsha Abeywickrama since 2011...
(2002-2006)