'Iraq 2003' Battle Honour for RAF Squadrons

The initial award of Battle Honours to units which participated in the major combat phase of operations in Iraq has been announced by the Ministry of Defence following approval by Her Majesty the Queen.

Battle Honours are recommended by the Ministry of Defence Service Honours Committee. They represent official acknowledgement of the part played in a successful campaign or engagement by ships, units and squadrons. They serve as a permanent record of achievement and are intended to foster esprit de corps. They also encourage service personnel to take a personal interest in the operational history of their ship, squadron or Regiment, and units of the same name that may have distinguished themselves in the past.

The Honours relate to operations between 19 March and 30 April, 2003 . While all of the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force units which have been awarded honours have been named, the only Army unit to be announced at this stage is the Irish Guards. This will allow the unit to display the Battle Honour during the Trooping of the Colour on June 11 th, 2005 as they are unlikely to have the opportunity to do this again for up to eight years. The announcement of other Army units will follow in due course.

RAF squadrons which were required to operate under constant threat of attack and had demonstrated gallantry and spirit under fire during the campaign over Iraq and Kuwait or on the ground in the same territories have been awarded the Battle Honour ‘IRAQ 2003�?with the right to emblazon the honour on their Standards. Other squadrons which participated in the air and ground campaigns, albeit at a slightly lower level of danger, have been awarded the honour ‘IRAQ 2003�?without the right to emblazon the honour on their Standards. The RAF awards are as follows:

With the Right to Emblazon ‘IRAQ 2003�?on Squadron Standards

• No 1 (Fighter) Squadron
• No II (Army Co-operation) Squadron
• No 3 Squadron
• No IV (Army Co-opration) Squadron
• No 7 Squadron
• No IX (Bomber) Squadron
• No 12 (Bomber) Squadron
• No 31 Squadron
• No 47 Squadron
• No 617 Squadron
• No 51 Squadron RAF Regiment

Without the Right to Emblazonment

• No 8 Squadron
• No 10 Squadron
• No 18 (Bomber) Squadron
• No 23 Squadron
• No 33 Squadron
• No 39 Squadron
• No 43 (Fighter) Squadron
• No 51 Squadron
• No 101 Squadron
• No 111 (Fighter) Squadron
• No 120 Squadron
• No 201 Squadron
• No 206 Squadron
• No 216 Squadron
• No 1 Squadron RAF Regiment
• No II Squadron RAF Regiment
• No 16 Squadron RAF Regiment
• No 27 Squadron RAF Regiment
• No 34 Squadron RAF Regiment