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
Active19 Apr 1944 – 21 Jul 1944
14 Sep 1954 – 01 Apr 1957
20 Aug 1983 – present[1][2]
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
TypeIndependent flight
RoleTransport
(1944; 1954–1957)
Aerial refueling and transport
(1983–present)
SizeTwo support aircraft
Part ofBritish Forces South Atlantic Islands
Based atRAF Mount Pleasant, Falkland Islands[3]
Motto(s)'Uphold the Right'[1]
Website1312 Flight
Aircraft flown
TransportAirbus A400M Atlas C1[3]
TankerAirbus 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 (1944-04-19), 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 (1944-07-21).[1][5][6]

1312 was re-formed on 14 September 1954 (1954-09-14), 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 (1957-04-01).[1][2][6]

No 1312 (In Flight Refuelling) Flight re-formed again on 20 August 1983 (1983-08-20) 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
Mount Pleasant Complex, current home to No 1312 Flight RAF
Aircraft operated by No. 1312 Flight RAF[2][6]
FromToaircraftVersion
19 April 194421 July 1944Avro AnsonMkI
MkX
14 September 195401 April 1957Handley Page HastingsC1
C2
February 195501 April 1957Vickers ValettaC1
20 August 198331 March 1996Lockheed C-130K HerculesC1K
31 March 199631 August 2013Vickers VC10[4]
Lockheed C-130K Hercules[4]		K4[8]
C1
31 August 2013February 2014Lockheed TriStar
Lockheed C-130K Hercules		K1
C1[9]
February 2014March 2018
5 April 2018		Airbus Voyager
Lockheed C-130J Hercules[10]		KC2/KC3[11]
C4/C5
March 2018presentAirbus Voyager[3]
Airbus A400M Atlas[3]		KC2/KC3
C1

Flight bases
Bases and airfields used by No. 1312 Flight RAF[1][2][6]
Name Period StationLocation
No 1312 (Transport) Flight19 April 1944 - 21 July 1944RAF LlandowGlamorgan, Wales
No 1312 (Transport Support) Flight14 September 1954 - 1 April 1957RAF AbingdonOxfordshire, England
No 1312 (In Flight Refuelling) Flight20 August 1983 - 1986RAF Stanley[3]Stanley, Falkland Islands
1986 - presentRAF Mount Pleasant[3]East Falkland, Falkland Islands

See also

References
Notes
  1. "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.
  2. Lake 1999, pp. 84–85.
  3. "1312 Flight – Mount Pleasant Complex". www.RAF.MoD.uk. Royal Air Force – Ministry of Defence. 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  4. "Falklands Garrison still going strong". www.GOV.uk. Ministry of Defence – HM Government. 13 October 2011. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  5. Lake 1999, p. 84.
  6. Sturtivant and Hamlin 2007, p. 118.
  7. Lake 1999, p. 85.
  8. Kingsley-Jones, Max (10 July 2012). "RAF squadron commander details VC10 retirement plans". www.FlightGlobal.com. Flight Global. Archived from the original on 1 January 2020. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  9. "House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 28 Nov 2013 (pt 0002)". publications.parliament.uk.
  10. "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.
  11. 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.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

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