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RAF Rapier - Defending Falkland Skies By Flt.Sgt. 'Stoney' Wanbon On May 2, 1982, No.63 Squadron Royal Air Force Regiment, a Rapier Field Standard A equipped squadron, sailed from Southampton, on board the Cunard Liner QE2, as the main RAF Regiment contribution to Corporation Corporate; thus starting a 20 year involvement of RAF Rapier defending the Falkland Islands. On May 24, 1982 the Squadron cross-shipped near South Georgia onto four vessels, including the Canberra and the Norland, and landed at San Carlos three days later. The Squadron was tasked with the Low Level Air Defence of Port San Carlos, taking over from T Battery Royal Artillery. After a hectic month the Squadron embarked to sea once again, this time on the damaged LSL Sir Lancelot to be transported to Stanley, coming ashore at the Stanley Sea Plane Jetty. The Squadron immediately deployed to defend Stanley Airfield and positioned its camp on the northern slope of Canopus Hill on July 4, 1982, overlooking the ravaged airfield. The camp was to become Black Eagle Camp - named after the centrepiece of 63 Squadron's crest. The Squadron was the first to occupy what was to become RAF Stanley and between July-August 1982 the Base became fully manned and operational. Initially a roulemont of four months was established between the four Rapier squadrons based in Germany. Numbers 16y, 26, 37 and 63 Squadrons RAF Regiment, in turn defended RAF Stanley for four months in every sixteen-month period, and when in theatre they became known as the Resident Rapier Squadron (RRS). Finally, having defended RAF Stanley for three years and nine months, the RRS re-deployed to Mount Pleasant with the upgraded Rapier Field Standard B equipment. Since April 1986 the RRS has continued to provide Ground Based Air Defence of the Mount Pleasant Complex. Many changes have continued to take place over the years; of prominent importance was the upgrade to Rapier Field Standard C equipment in 1996 and the decision to reduce the manning of the RRS from a full squadron compliment to its present day 38 men. This could be achieved because of the greater capability of the new Standard C equipment, compared to its old derivative. Also, as RAF Germany began to draw down, the burden of supporting the RRS fell to all available RAF Rapier squadrons, with 27 and 48 Squadrons from Scotland taking their turn in the roster, and also 19 Squadron RAF Regiment, the last of the USAF Rapier Squadrons, taking its turn in the roulemont. And so to the present day. Twenty-two years after the conflict the four remaining RAF Regiment Field Standard C Rapier Squadrons (15, 16, 26 and 37 Squadrons RAF Regiment) continue to augment the Air Defence of Mount Pleasant. Changes have occurred. Currently each squadron is responsible for supporting the RRS for an eight month period - although no individual on the Squadron should be detached for more than four months - and facilities have improved greatly since the days of residing in tents throughout the year at Black Eagle Camp. However, as it has done since 1982, the RRS still remains at high readiness so that, if necessary, it can respond to an increased air threat at any time. 15 Squadron are the current Resident Rapier Squadron. Commanded by Sqd Ldr Lee Taylor, among the currently deployed members are Flight Sergeant 'Stoney' Wanbon and Sergeant 'Wham' Pearce, both of whom served with 63 Squadron in 1982 and 1983 respectively. This article first appeared in the Penguin News on 14 January 2005, and is reproduced with the kind permission of the Editor.
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Introduction, Brief
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