Military Wiki
Register
Advertisement
No. 505 (Wessex) Squadron RAuxAF
Royal Auxiliary Air Force badge
Active 2015–Present
Country Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Ensign of the Royal Air Force Royal Air Force
Role General Support
Size Squadron
Part of <templatestyles src="Tree list/styles.css" />
Garrison/HQ RAF St Mawgan
Website 505 Squadron RAuxAF

No. 505 (Wessex) Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force (RAuxAF) is a general support unit of the Royal Air Force's reserve component, the Royal Auxiliary Air Force.

Formation[]

No. 505 (Wessex) Squadron was formed in June 2015 as the only RAF reserve squadron in South West England based at the recently re-commissioned RAF Saint Mawgan in Devon. The squadron's formation was highlighted in the 'Future Reserves 2020 paper' announced in 2013, which would see the RAuxAF expand its trained strength by around 1,800.[1][2][3][4]

In 2016 the squadron began recruiting, which by this time had became the newest reserve unit in the RAuxAF alongside another seven new squadrons being formed.[4][5][6][7][8][9]

Role[]

Today the squadron recruits a wide range of specialists from South West England. Squadron personnel include direct entrants with no previous military experience, ex-Regular personnel (from any Service), and those with skills directly transferable from civilian life. The last reserve squadron based in the South-West was No. 2625 (County of Cornwall) Squadron RAuxAF which disbanded in 2016.[2][6][7][8][9][10]

Roles available in the squadron include: intelligence analysts, drivers, chefs, suppliers, RAF police, and human resources specialists.[6][7][8][10]

The squadron's current role is as a general support squadron to deploy reservists to support the RAF at home and worldwide. Sitting under No. 2 Group RAF, the squadron is the only unit directly subordinated to the group.[2][6][8][9]

In 2021, as part of a reorganisation of the Royal Air Force's top-down structure, the squadron was moved from No. 2 Group control to the Battlespace Management Force.[11]

The squadron's first commanding officer was Squadron Leader David Mann.[10][12]

Notes[]

  1. Future Reserves 2020 paper, p. 17.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 "505 SQUADRON RAUXAF". https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/squadrons/505-r-squadron/. 
  3. "RAF ST MAWGAN". https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/stations/raf-st-mawgan/. 
  4. 4.0 4.1 "White Paper FR20 and Defence Reform Act |" (in en-GB). https://www.wessex-rfca.org.uk/reserve-forces/white-paper-fr20/. 
  5. "@505Sqn is the new Reserve Sqn @RAFStMawgan weekends couldn't get more exciting, it's what you've been waiting for Smiling face with smiling eyes". https://twitter.com/AFCORedruth/status/674478939276976128. 
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 at 4:54pm, Rebecca Ricks 5th December 2018. "Countess Of Wessex Makes First Visit To 505 Squadron" (in en). https://www.forces.net/news/countess-wessex-makes-first-visit-505-squadron. 
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 "Royal Air Force Regular & Reserve 505 (Wessex) Squadron". http://www.pcw-aircadets.co.uk/JobsCourses/Final%2020150311-505%20Squadron%20Leaflet-O.pdf. 
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 "RAF Reserve recruiting again as 505 Squadron moves into RAF St Mawgan". http://www.pcw-aircadets.co.uk/JobsCourses/505Sqn_recruitdrive.pdf. 
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 "Barwy jednostek - RAF". https://www.jednostki-wojskowe.pl/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1000&Itemid=26. 
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 "RAF Reserves recruiting again as 505 Squadron moves into St Mawgan |" (in en-GB). https://www.wessex-rfca.org.uk/raf-reserves-recruiting-again-as-505-squadron-moves-into-st-mawgan/. 
  11. "Freedom of Information Request regarding the assignment of Royal Air Force Reserve Squadrons and Wings". 8 June 2021. https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/754787/response/1807742/attach/4/Annex%20to%20FOI%202021%205123.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1. 
  12. "RAF Reservists being recruited in Cornwall" (in en). https://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/14204690.raf-reservists-being-recruited-in-cornwall/. 

References[]

External links[]


Advertisement