No. 31 Squadron RAF
Encyclopedia
No. 31 Squadron of the Royal Air Force
, known as the 'Goldstars', currently operates the Tornado GR4 from RAF Marham
, Norfolk
.
on October 11, 1915. Its first deployment was to Risulpur, India
with its BE2Cs and Farmans, and during this time it took part in operations in the Third Anglo-Afghan War
and on the North-West Frontier
. In September 1919 BE2s were replaced by Bristol Fighters.
In April 1939 the Squadron changed to the bomber transport role. During 1941, the Squadron began to concentrate on transport duties with seconded DC-2s. Returning to India the squadron re-equipped with the Dakota
. After the Japanese invasion of Burma, it flew missions between Calcutta and Rangoon dropping supplies for the XIVth Army. After World War II the squadron moved to Java. In 1946 the Squadron was disbanded in Java and reformed at Mauripur
, India.
At the end of 1947 it was again disbanded, but reformed in July 1948. In 1955, the unit reverted to its previous identity, and No. 31 Squadron moved to Laarbruch
in Germany with Canberra PR7
s. The squadron flew Canberras until 1971 when they were replaced by Phantoms
.
The Phantoms were replaced in 1976 when the squadron re-equipped with twelve Jaguar
strike aircraft, and assigned to SACEUR, were declared operational at RAF Bruggen
with conventional weapons and eight British WE.177
nuclear bombs from 1977 to 1984. where their role was in support of land forces in a high-intensity European war using conventional weapons initially, and tactical nuclear weapons if a conflict escalated.
The squadron took delivery of Tornado GR1s
in 1984. The squadron's assignment to SACEUR and its war role did not change, although the squadron's allocation of WE.177
weapons increased to eighteen to account for the greater capacity of the Tornado, which could each carry two nuclear weapons, and the ratio of weapons to aircraft at full strength increased to 1.5 : 1. The apparent mismatch between aircraft numbers and WE.177 numbers is explained thus: RAF staff planners expected up to one third attrition in a conventional European high-intensity war, and some aircraft were to be held back in reserve to ensure that if a conflict escalated to use of tactical nuclear weapons, there were sufficient aircraft surviving to deliver the squadron's full stockpile of eighteen nuclear weapons. The squadron's nuclear strike role continued at RAF Bruggen until 1994. and ended with retirement of the WE.177 weapon in the period 1994–98.
In 1991, No 31 Sqn was the lead Squadron of the Dhahran Tornado GR1/GR1A detachment during Op Granby
(Gulf War 1). Under the overall command of Wing Commander Jeremy (Jerry) Witts, the composite squadron was principally comprised from 31 Sqn with elements of Nos IX, 14 and 17 Sqns together with a reconnaissance flight formed from elements of Nos II (AC) and 13 Sqns. Aircrew from Nos 12 and 617 Sqns were also attached. Wg Cdr Witts was subsequently awarded the Distinguished Service Order
(DSO) for his actions.
31 Sqn was the last RAF Squadron to be based at RAF Bruggen in Germany, before returning to the UK to be based at RAF Marham in August 2001.
In 2003, within Operation Telic, during the Iraq War, No. 31 Squadron was the lead Squadron that formed the Ali Al Salem Combat Air Wing in Kuwait
; an amalgamated Composite squadron of 31, 9, 617 and II Squadron crews under the overall command of Wing Commander Paddy Teakle (OC 31 Squadron at the time). His actions in command of the Squadron earned him the DSO.
) role equipped with the Air Launched Anti Radiation Missile ALARM
Anti Radiation Missile. During 1999 the Squadron re-equipped with the Tornado GR4 . 1999 also saw 31 Sqn participate in Operation Engadine, NATO operations over the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
. For the latter part of this operation the Squadron was temporarily based in Corsica.
In 2001 No 31 Squadron moved to RAF Marham, and in 2003 formed the core of the Ali Al Salem Air Combat Wing, operating over Iraq during Operation Resinate South and Operation Telic
.
While all Tornado GR.4s are capable of carrying the ALARM
Anti Radiation Missile, only 31 and IX Sqns specialise in the role. In this role they are known as "Pathfinder" squadrons.
31 Squadron became the lead RAF Tornado GR4 unit on the Brimstone anti-tank missile
, accepting the weapon into RAF service at its home base, RAF Marham
, on April 7, 2005.
The Squadron has recently completed a 3 month tour of Afghanistan on Operation Herrick
providing fast air support to ground troops in contact. They achieved a 100% sortie success rate, the first Tornado squadron to achieve this milestone on an operational detachment. They recently received their Operation Herrick
service medals from the Air Officer Commanding 1 group Air Vice-Marshal G J Bagwell CBE.
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
, known as the 'Goldstars', currently operates the Tornado GR4 from RAF Marham
RAF Marham
Royal Air Force Station Marham, more commonly known as RAF Marham, is a Royal Air Force station; a military airbase, near the village of Marham in the English county of Norfolk, East Anglia....
, Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
.
History
The squadron was formed at FarnboroughFarnborough, Hampshire
-History:Name changes: Ferneberga ; Farnburghe, Farenberg ; Farnborowe, Fremborough, Fameborough .Tower Hill, Cove: There is substantial evidence...
on October 11, 1915. Its first deployment was to Risulpur, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
with its BE2Cs and Farmans, and during this time it took part in operations in the Third Anglo-Afghan War
Third Anglo-Afghan War
The Third Anglo-Afghan War began on 6 May 1919 and ended with an armistice on 8 August 1919. It was a minor tactical victory for the British. For the British, the Durand Line was reaffirmed as the political boundary between the Emirate of Afghanistan and British India and the Afghans agreed not to...
and on the North-West Frontier
North-West Frontier (military history)
The North-West Frontier was the most difficult area, from a military point of view, of the former British India in the Indian sub-continent. It remains the frontier of present-day Pakistan, extending from the Pamir Knot in the north to the Koh-i-Malik Siah in the west, and separating the...
. In September 1919 BE2s were replaced by Bristol Fighters.
In April 1939 the Squadron changed to the bomber transport role. During 1941, the Squadron began to concentrate on transport duties with seconded DC-2s. Returning to India the squadron re-equipped with the Dakota
C-47 Skytrain
The 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...
. After the Japanese invasion of Burma, it flew missions between Calcutta and Rangoon dropping supplies for the XIVth Army. After World War II the squadron moved to Java. In 1946 the Squadron was disbanded in Java and reformed at Mauripur
Masroor Airbase
PAF Base Masroor is the largest airbase of Pakistan Air Force. It is located in the Mauripur area of Karachi, Sindh. It was originally known as RPAF Station Mauripur and after 1956, as PAF Station Mauripur.-Name origin:...
, India.
At the end of 1947 it was again disbanded, but reformed in July 1948. In 1955, the unit reverted to its previous identity, and No. 31 Squadron moved to Laarbruch
RAF Laarbruch
The former Royal Air Force Station Laarbruch, more commonly known as RAF Laarbruch ICAO EDUL was a Royal Air Force station, a military airbase, located in Germany on its border with the Netherlands...
in Germany with Canberra PR7
English Electric Canberra
The English Electric Canberra is a first-generation jet-powered light bomber manufactured in large numbers through the 1950s. The Canberra could fly at a higher altitude than any other bomber through the 1950s and set a world altitude record of 70,310 ft in 1957...
s. The squadron flew Canberras until 1971 when they were replaced by Phantoms
F-4 Phantom II
The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is a tandem two-seat, twin-engined, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor fighter/fighter-bomber originally developed for the United States Navy by McDonnell Aircraft. It first entered service in 1960 with the U.S. Navy. Proving highly adaptable,...
.
The Phantoms were replaced in 1976 when the squadron re-equipped with twelve Jaguar
SEPECAT Jaguar
The SEPECAT Jaguar is an Anglo-French jet ground attack aircraft, originally used by the British Royal Air Force and the French Armée de l'Air in the close air support and nuclear strike role, and still in service with several export customers, notably the Indian Air Force and the Royal Air Force...
strike aircraft, and assigned to SACEUR, were declared operational at RAF Bruggen
RAF Bruggen
The former Royal Air Force Station Brüggen, more commonly known as RAF Brüggen, in Germany was a major station of the Royal Air Force until 15 June 2001. It was situated next to the village of Elmpt, approximately west of Düsseldorf near the German-Netherlands border. The base was named after...
with conventional weapons and eight British WE.177
WE.177
WE.177 was the last air-delivered tactical nuclear weapon of the British Armed Forces. There were three versions; WE.177A was a boosted fission weapon, while WE.177B and WE.177C were thermonuclear weapons...
nuclear bombs from 1977 to 1984. where their role was in support of land forces in a high-intensity European war using conventional weapons initially, and tactical nuclear weapons if a conflict escalated.
The squadron took delivery of Tornado GR1s
Panavia Tornado
The Panavia Tornado is a family of twin-engine, variable-sweep wing combat aircraft, which was jointly developed and manufactured by the United Kingdom, West Germany and Italy...
in 1984. The squadron's assignment to SACEUR and its war role did not change, although the squadron's allocation of WE.177
WE.177
WE.177 was the last air-delivered tactical nuclear weapon of the British Armed Forces. There were three versions; WE.177A was a boosted fission weapon, while WE.177B and WE.177C were thermonuclear weapons...
weapons increased to eighteen to account for the greater capacity of the Tornado, which could each carry two nuclear weapons, and the ratio of weapons to aircraft at full strength increased to 1.5 : 1. The apparent mismatch between aircraft numbers and WE.177 numbers is explained thus: RAF staff planners expected up to one third attrition in a conventional European high-intensity war, and some aircraft were to be held back in reserve to ensure that if a conflict escalated to use of tactical nuclear weapons, there were sufficient aircraft surviving to deliver the squadron's full stockpile of eighteen nuclear weapons. The squadron's nuclear strike role continued at RAF Bruggen until 1994. and ended with retirement of the WE.177 weapon in the period 1994–98.
In 1991, No 31 Sqn was the lead Squadron of the Dhahran Tornado GR1/GR1A detachment during Op Granby
Granby
-Places:*Granby, Quebec, Canada*Granby, Connecticut, US*Granby, Colorado, US*Granby, Massachusetts, US*Granby, Missouri, US*Granby, New York, US*Granby, Vermont, US*Granby Street, a historic commercial corridor in Norfolk, Virginia, US...
(Gulf War 1). Under the overall command of Wing Commander Jeremy (Jerry) Witts, the composite squadron was principally comprised from 31 Sqn with elements of Nos IX, 14 and 17 Sqns together with a reconnaissance flight formed from elements of Nos II (AC) and 13 Sqns. Aircrew from Nos 12 and 617 Sqns were also attached. Wg Cdr Witts was subsequently awarded the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
(DSO) for his actions.
31 Sqn was the last RAF Squadron to be based at RAF Bruggen in Germany, before returning to the UK to be based at RAF Marham in August 2001.
In 2003, within Operation Telic, during the Iraq War, No. 31 Squadron was the lead Squadron that formed the Ali Al Salem Combat Air Wing in Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
; an amalgamated Composite squadron of 31, 9, 617 and II Squadron crews under the overall command of Wing Commander Paddy Teakle (OC 31 Squadron at the time). His actions in command of the Squadron earned him the DSO.
Current role
Now part of the Marham Wing, 31 Squadron's aircraft and crews were part of the RAF Tornado force in the 1991 Gulf War and the Squadron has continued to fly on regular operations over Iraq. On Jan 1, 1995 the Squadron was declared operational in the Suppression of Enemy Air Defences (SEADSEAD
Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses , also known as "Wild Weasel" and "Iron Hand" operations in the United States, are military actions to suppress enemy surface-based air defenses , primarily in the first hours of an attack.One fourth of American combat sorties in recent conflicts have been SEAD...
) role equipped with the Air Launched Anti Radiation Missile ALARM
ALARM
ALARM is a British anti-radiation missile designed primarily to destroy enemy radars for the purpose of Suppression of Enemy Air Defense...
Anti Radiation Missile. During 1999 the Squadron re-equipped with the Tornado GR4 . 1999 also saw 31 Sqn participate in Operation Engadine, NATO operations over the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia and Montenegro was a country in southeastern Europe, formed from two former republics of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia : Serbia and Montenegro. Following the breakup of Yugoslavia, it was established in 1992 as a federation called the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia...
. For the latter part of this operation the Squadron was temporarily based in Corsica.
In 2001 No 31 Squadron moved to RAF Marham, and in 2003 formed the core of the Ali Al Salem Air Combat Wing, operating over Iraq during Operation Resinate South and Operation Telic
Operation Telic
Operation TELIC was the codename under which all British military operations in Iraq were conducted between the start of the Invasion of Iraq on 19 March 2003 and the withdrawal of the last remaining British forces on 22 May 2011...
.
While all Tornado GR.4s are capable of carrying the ALARM
ALARM
ALARM is a British anti-radiation missile designed primarily to destroy enemy radars for the purpose of Suppression of Enemy Air Defense...
Anti Radiation Missile, only 31 and IX Sqns specialise in the role. In this role they are known as "Pathfinder" squadrons.
31 Squadron became the lead RAF Tornado GR4 unit on the Brimstone anti-tank missile
Brimstone missile
Brimstone is an air-launched anti-tank missile developed by MBDA for Britain's Royal Air Force. It was originally intended for "fire and forget" use against mass formations of enemy armour, using a millimetre wave seeker to ensure accuracy even against moving targets...
, accepting the weapon into RAF service at its home base, RAF Marham
RAF Marham
Royal Air Force Station Marham, more commonly known as RAF Marham, is a Royal Air Force station; a military airbase, near the village of Marham in the English county of Norfolk, East Anglia....
, on April 7, 2005.
The Squadron has recently completed a 3 month tour of Afghanistan on Operation Herrick
Operation Herrick
Operation Herrick is the codename under which all British operations in the war in Afghanistan have been conducted since 2002. It consists of the British contribution to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force and support to the US-led Operation Enduring Freedom...
providing fast air support to ground troops in contact. They achieved a 100% sortie success rate, the first Tornado squadron to achieve this milestone on an operational detachment. They recently received their Operation Herrick
Operation Herrick
Operation Herrick is the codename under which all British operations in the war in Afghanistan have been conducted since 2002. It consists of the British contribution to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force and support to the US-led Operation Enduring Freedom...
service medals from the Air Officer Commanding 1 group Air Vice-Marshal G J Bagwell CBE.
Notable members
- Bomber Harris was a former Goldstar.
- John Peters of Gulf War 1 fame was a former Goldstar.