No. 1312 Flight RAF
No. 1312 Flight Royal Air Force, commonly abbreviated to 1312 Flt RAF, is an independent flight of the Royal Air Force (RAF). Currently based at RAF Station Mount Pleasant (more commonly known as RAF Mount Pleasant, and also known as Mount Pleasant Complex)[3][4] in East Falkland, 1312 Flt are supporting at present the defence of the Falkland Islands and other nearby British Overseas Territories.[3]
| No. 1312 Flight Royal Air Force | |
|---|---|
1312 Flt C-130K Hercules taking-off from RAF Stanley | |
| Active | 19 Apr 1944 – 21 Jul 1944 14 Sep 1954 – 01 Apr 1957 20 Aug 1983 – present[1][2] |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Air Force |
| Type | Independent flight |
| Role | Transport (1944; 1954–1957) Aerial refueling and transport (1983–present) |
| Size | Two support aircraft |
| Part of | British Forces South Atlantic Islands |
| Based at | RAF Mount Pleasant, Falkland Islands[3] |
| Motto(s) | 'Uphold the Right'[1] |
| Website | 1312 Flight |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Transport | Airbus A400M Atlas C1[3] |
| Tanker | Airbus Voyager KC2/KC3[3] |
The Royal Air Force contribution to British Forces South Atlantic Islands is based at Mount Pleasant; the primary frontline component is No. 1435 Flight, with its four Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4[4] advanced multi-role combat aircraft. 1312 Flight provides aerial refuelling, air transport, search and rescue, and maritime patrol.[3] The latter is an important mission to the Falkland Islands government, as the Lockheed C-130K Hercules verifies that all fishing vessels are licensed; at £1,000 per licence per season - an important source of income. The flight motto is 'Uphold the Right'; the motto of the Falkland Islands is 'Desire the Right'.
No. 1312 Flight history
No 1312 (Transport) Flight was first formed on 19 April 1944, at RAF Llandow,[1] south Wales. It originally operated six Avro Ansons to collect and deliver aircrew involved in the ferrying replacement aircraft to operational squadrons. After June 1944, it was involved in transporting wounded serviceman back to England from France, until it was disbanded on 21 July 1944.[1][5][6]
1312 was re-formed on 14 September 1954, at RAF Abingdon, as No 1312 (Transport Support) Flight;[1] operating the Handley Page Hastings, and later the Vickers Valetta, disbanding on 1 April 1957.[1][2][6]
No 1312 (In Flight Refuelling) Flight re-formed again on 20 August 1983 at RAF Stanley,[1] before moving to the newly opened RAF Mount Pleasant in 1986, where it remains current.[1][3][7] The original task was to operate the Lockheed C-130K Hercules C1K on air-to-air refuelling missions, but this was later replaced by Vickers VC10 K4[8] (borrowed from 101 Squadron) and C-130K Hercules C1s from the Lyneham Wing.[6] On 31 August 2013, the VC10 was replaced by a Lockheed TriStar K1 from 216 Squadron.
Presently, 1312 Flt utilise aircraft and crew from RAF Brize Norton. Specifically, No. 70 Squadron provide an Airbus A400M Atlas C1, whilst No. 10 and 101 Squadron provide an Airbus Voyager KC2 or KC3.
Unit badge
Whilst it is common for RAF stations and RAF flying squadrons to be authorised to display an official heraldic badge following Royal approval, historically, it was extremely rare for RAF Flights to be granted authority for such. However, in recent times, the Royal Air Force has been more accommodating in granting Flights with their own unit badge such as the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
The quest for an official heraldic badge for 1312 Flight began sometime 2000. No 1435 Flight's badge contained a Cassin's Falcon (a Peregrine falcon, common in the Falklands), so in keeping with the larger transport aircraft operated by 1312, a larger bird, the Upland Goose was chosen. 'Uphold the Right' was selected as the official motto, in keeping with other MPA units, and the Falkland Island's own motto, 'Desire the Right'.[1] The badge was eventually awarded August 2002, and received its Royal approval in 2003.[1]
Aircraft operated
| From | To | aircraft | Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 April 1944 | 21 July 1944 | Avro Anson | MkI MkX |
| 14 September 1954 | 01 April 1957 | Handley Page Hastings | C1 C2 |
| February 1955 | 01 April 1957 | Vickers Valetta | C1 |
| 20 August 1983 | 31 March 1996 | Lockheed C-130K Hercules | C1K |
| 31 March 1996 | 31 August 2013 | Vickers VC10[4] Lockheed C-130K Hercules[4] | K4[8] C1 |
| 31 August 2013 | February 2014 | Lockheed TriStar Lockheed C-130K Hercules | K1 C1[9] |
| February 2014 | March 2018 5 April 2018 | Airbus Voyager Lockheed C-130J Hercules[10] | KC2/KC3[11] C4/C5 |
| March 2018 | present | Airbus Voyager[3] Airbus A400M Atlas[3] | KC2/KC3 C1 |
Flight bases
| Name | Period | Station | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| No 1312 (Transport) Flight | 19 April 1944 - 21 July 1944 | RAF Llandow | Glamorgan, Wales |
| No 1312 (Transport Support) Flight | 14 September 1954 - 1 April 1957 | RAF Abingdon | Oxfordshire, England |
| No 1312 (In Flight Refuelling) Flight | 20 August 1983 - 1986 | RAF Stanley[3] | Stanley, Falkland Islands |
| 1986 - present | RAF Mount Pleasant[3] | East Falkland, Falkland Islands |
See also
References
- Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "No. 1312 Flight — image and description of No. 1312 Flight Royal Air Force unit badge". www.RAFHT.co.uk. RAF Heraldry Trust. 27 June 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
- ^ a b c d Lake 1999, pp. 84–85.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "1312 Flight – Mount Pleasant Complex". www.RAF.MoD.uk. Royal Air Force – Ministry of Defence. 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Falklands Garrison still going strong". www.GOV.uk. Ministry of Defence – HM Government. 13 October 2011. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
- ^ Lake 1999, p. 84.
- ^ a b c d e Sturtivant and Hamlin 2007, p. 118.
- ^ Lake 1999, p. 85.
- ^ a b Kingsley-Jones, Max (10 July 2012). "RAF squadron commander details VC10 retirement plans". www.FlightGlobal.com. Flight Global. from the original on 1 January 2020. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
- ^ "House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 28 Nov 2013 (pt 0002)". publications.parliament.uk.
- ^ "The C-130 Hercules leaves Falkland Islands after 36 years – RAF Brize Norton". www.RAF.MoD.uk. Royal Air Force – Ministry of Defence. 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
- ^ Pocock, Chris. "RAF Retires TriStar Tankers As Voyager Fleet Grows". Aviation International News.
- Bibliography
- Lake, Alan (1999). Flying Units of the RAF. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-84037-086-6.
- Sturtivant, Ray, ISO; Hamlin, John (2007). RAF Flying Training And Support Units since 1912. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-365-X.
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