Number 23 Squadron - Disbanded 2 October 2009

Welcome to Number 23 Squadron. The following pages are designed to give you information on Number 23 Squadron and to give you a flavour of what it’s like to be a part of an operational Squadron within the modern, agile and expeditionary Royal Air Force.

Role

The day-to-day role of the men and women serving on Number 23 Squadron was to defend the airspace of both the United Kingdom and fellow NATO countries. In the Sentry Airborne Early Warning aircraft, personnel flew daily missions over the United Kingdom and throughout Europe. The on-board sensors, which included radar and Ident Friend or Foe (IFF), were used to build a Recognised Air Picture (RAP). The RAP was then fed through data-links to ground units. If we were operating in the United Kingdom, we contributed to the United Kingdom Air Surveillance and Control System (UK ASACS), which is a highly advanced computer-based system. It generates vital information on all aircraft flying in the United Kingdom air defence region. We used this information to assess any possible threat and follow the situation as it developed. If an aircraft was flying without permission we needed to decide how to deal with it quickly. If the threat was real, we may well  have needed to direct fighter aircraft to intercept it.

The Squadron also participated in overseas deployments in support of national tasking. Number 23 Squadron had been involved in most recent conflicts, including the Balkans, Afghanistan and Iraq. On these operations, the aircraft was used as a command and control platform. We made use of on-board sensors and a sophisticated package of radios to deliver effective air power.

Lifestyle

The RAF is becoming a smaller, more dynamic, and more flexible force. There are, and will continue to be, fewer bases, but they will be larger and better equipped. With the Cold War over and the emerging threat of global terror, we are ready to meet new challenges. Number 23 Squadron was based at Royal Air Force Waddington, which is a station with a truly bright future. Waddington is fast becoming a hub for Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) aircraft. Waddington is a superbly well-equipped station, with excellent social and sporting facilities.

Although personnel on Number 23 Squadron worked a normal five-day week, most of the time we were not nine-to-fivers. We took on challenges and we had to be ready for anything, anytime. It could be providing air defence for a special event such as the Olympic Games or assisting in the evacuation of British citizens from war zones such as the Lebanon. To succeed in our missions took more than planes and pilots - there was a whole team of people behind every aircraft that took to the skies. When lives are at stake, you want to be with people you trust, people you can rely on. All of us were well trained and frequently assessed. Teamwork isn’t something that exists in every working environment. But here in the Royal Air Force, it exists in abundance. And we thrived on it.

The Sentry is a strategic asset capable of deploying anywhere in the world. Personnel on Number 23 Squadron regularly found themselves deployed on operations and exercises to many different locations around the globe: from Malaysia to India or California. Accommodation varied wildly: sometimes it would be a hotel in a city, sometimes a tent in the desert.

Charity

Personnel on Number 23 Squadron were frequently referred to as The Red Eagles, because of the eagle that features on the Squadron Crest. Number 23 Squadron proudly sponsored a red eagle at the Raptor Foundation in Cambridgeshire. The Bateleur Eagle was affectionately called Captain Scarlet.

Much charitable work was carried out by the Squadron in support of local charities and schools. We believed that we were not just members of the Armed Forces, but that we had a wider social role to play within the community as well.Endeavors  included a sponsored non-stop motorcycle ride from Lands End to John O’Groats and a sponsored weight-loss challenge.

Social

Number 23 Squadron was a closely-knit team. We all had to work together to achieve our objectives, often under strenuous and challenging circumstances. Everyone was made to feel welcome. That was because all the individuals that made up our team had a unique contribution to make, and everyone was respected for their specialist skills, whatever their role. We cared greatly about all our personnel, and they cared about what they did and about each other.

We frequently arranged team-building events. These could be anything from formal training on a ‘low ropes’ course to a Squadron golf day. Other activities  included paint balling, karting and hiking. Some personnel had even travelled as far as Yosemite National Park in the USA to participate in adventurous training.

Throughout the year, there were also many less energetic social functions  and these often involved families. The families of Squadron personnel formed a fundamental support element of our team. Annual social events included the Air Show, the Squadron Families’ Day, the Christmas Party and the Squadron Reunion.

Summary

Number 23 Squadron was a vibrant, exciting place to work. On a professional level, we worked all around the world with sophisticated aircraft and equipment. We contributed to the defence of United Kingdom airspace and protected our fellow NATO countries. Ultimately, we fulfilled our role, which was to act as a force for good. On a personal level, there was a wealth of sporting, educational and social opportunities available to us. We worked extremely hard, but, in return, were looked after very well. 

Semper aggressus!