No. 1312 Flight RAF

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy datesTemplate:Use British English Template:Infobox military unit No. 1312 Flight Royal Air Force, commonly abbreviated to 1312 Flt RAF, is an independent aircraft flight of the Royal Air Force (RAF). Currently based at Royal Air Force Station Mount Pleasant (more commonly known as RAF Mount Pleasant, and also known as Mount Pleasant Airport, MPA, and Mount Pleasant Complex)<ref name=RAF>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=GOV.uk>Template:Cite web</ref> in East Falkland, 1312 Flt are supporting at present the defence of the Falkland Islands and other nearby British Overseas Territories.<ref name=RAF/>

The Royal Air Force contribution to British Forces South Atlantic Islands (BFSAI) is based at Mount Pleasant; the primary frontline component is No. 1435 Flight, with its four Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4<ref name=GOV.uk/> advanced multi-role combat aircraft. 1312 Flight provides aerial refuelling, air transport, search and rescue, and maritime patrol.<ref name=RAF/> The latter is an important mission to the Falkland Islands government, as its Airbus A400M Atlas C1 (and its precessor 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 Template:Start date and age, at RAF Llandow,<ref name=RAFHT/> 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 Template:End date and age.<ref name=RAFHT/><ref name="Lake1999p84">Lake 1999, p. 84.</ref><ref name="SturtivantHamlin2007p118">Sturtivant and Hamlin 2007, p. 118.</ref>

1312 was re-formed on Template:Start date and age, at RAF Abingdon, as No 1312 (Transport Support) Flight;<ref name=RAFHT/> operating the Handley Page Hastings, and later the Vickers Valetta, disbanding on Template:End date and age.<ref name=RAFHT/><ref name="Lake1999pp84-85"/><ref name="SturtivantHamlin2007p118"/>

No 1312 (In Flight Refuelling) Flight re-formed again on Template:Start date and age at RAF Stanley,<ref name=RAFHT/> before moving to the newly opened RAF Mount Pleasant in 1986, where it remains current.<ref name=RAFHT/><ref name=RAF/><ref name="Lake1999p85">Lake 1999, p. 85.</ref> The original task was to operate the Lockheed C-130K Hercules C1K on air-to-air refuelling missions, but this was later replaced by a Vickers VC10 K4<ref name=FlightGlobal>Template:Cite web</ref> (borrowed from 101 Squadron) and C-130K Hercules C1s from the Lyneham Wing.<ref name="SturtivantHamlin2007p118"/> 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 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'.<ref name=RAFHT/> The badge was eventually awarded August 2002, and received its Royal approval in 2003.<ref name=RAFHT/>

Aircraft operated

Mount Pleasant Complex, current home to No 1312 Flight RAF.

aircraft operated by No. 1312 Flight RAF<ref name="Lake1999pp84-85"/><ref name="SturtivantHamlin2007p118"/>

from	to	aircraft	version
19 Apr 1944	21 Jul 1944	Avro Anson	MkI MkX
14 Sep 1954	1 Apr 1957	Handley Page Hastings	C.1 C.2
Template:0Feb 1955	1 Apr 1957	Vickers Valetta	C.1
20 Aug 1983	31 Mar 1996	Lockheed C-130K Hercules	C1K
31 Mar 1996	31 Aug 2013	Vickers VC10<ref name=GOV.uk/> Lockheed C-130K Hercules<ref name=GOV.uk/>	K4<ref name=FlightGlobal/> C1
31 Aug 2013	Template:0 Feb 2014	Lockheed TriStar Lockheed C-130K Hercules	K1 C1<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:0Feb 2014	Template:0Mar 2018 5 Apr 2018	Airbus Voyager Lockheed C-130J Hercules<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	KC3<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> C4/C5
Template:0Mar 2018	present	Airbus Voyager<ref name=RAF/> Airbus A400M Atlas<ref name=RAF/>	KC3 C1

Flight bases

bases and airfields used by No. 1312 Flight RAF<ref name=RAFHT/><ref name="Lake1999pp84-85"/><ref name="SturtivantHamlin2007p118"/>

name	from	to	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<ref name=RAF/>	Stanley, Falkland Islands
	1986	present	RAF Mount Pleasant<ref name=RAF/>	East Falkland, Falkland Islands

See also

• No. 1453 Flight RAF
• List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons
• List of Royal Air Force independent flights

References

Notes

Bibliography

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