No. 505 (Wessex) 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.

No. 505 (Wessex) Squadron RAuxAF
Active2015–Present
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
TypeGeneral support
RoleTo provide general support to the wider RAF
SizeSquadron
Part ofNo. 2 Group RAF
Garrison/HQRAF St Mawgan
Website505 Squadron RAuxAF

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 St Mawgan in Cornwall. 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]

In 2016, the squadron began recruiting, which by this time had become the newest reserve unit in the RAuxAF alongside another seven new squadrons being formed.[2][3][4][5][6][7]

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.[4][5][6][7][8]

Roles available in the squadron include: intelligence analysts, drivers, chefs, suppliers, RAF police, and human resources specialists.[4][5][6][8]

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.[4][6][7] According to a FOI(A) request responded to on 8 June 2021, the squadron has shifted to No. 1 Group.[9]

The squadron's first commanding officer was Squadron Leader David Mann.[8][10]

Footnotes
  1. Future Reserves 2020 paper, p. 17.
  2. "White Paper FR20 and Defence Reform Act |". Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  3. "@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". Twitter. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  4. Rebecca Ricks (5 December 2018). "Countess Of Wessex Makes First Visit To 505 Squadron". Forces Network. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  5. "Royal Air Force Regular & Reserve 505 (Wessex) Squadron" (PDF). Plymouth and Cornwall Wing Air Cadets. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  6. "RAF Reserve recruiting again as 505 Squadron moves into RAF St Mawgan" (PDF). Plymouth and Cornwall Air Wing Air Cadets. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  7. "Barwy jednostek - RAF". www.jednostki-wojskowe.pl. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  8. "RAF Reserves recruiting again as 505 Squadron moves into St Mawgan |". Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  9. "FOI(A) regarding current RAF Reserve and RAuxAF Squadrons" (PDF). What do they know?. 8 June 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  10. "RAF Reservists being recruited in Cornwall". Falmouth Packet. Retrieved 13 January 2021.

References

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