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| No. 4626 (County of Devon) Squadron RAF Regiment | |
|---|---|
| Unit name | No. 4626 (County of Devon) Squadron RAF Regiment |
| Dates | 1940s–present |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Air Force |
| Type | RAF Regiment squadron |
| Role | Force protection, ground defence |
| Garrison | Exeter, Devon |
No. 4626 (County of Devon) Squadron RAF Regiment is a specialist ground defence squadron within the Royal Air Force, raised to provide force protection for air assets and installations. The squadron has historical links to the County of Devon and has served in home defence, expeditionary operations and support to joint and allied formations. It maintains traditions associated with the Royal Air Force, the RAF Regiment, and local civic institutions in Exeter and Devon.
Formed amid wartime expansion and Air Ministry reorganisation, the squadron traces origins to Second World War-era RAF Regiment units responding to Luftwaffe raids and coastal threats in the Western Approaches, linking to RAF and Air Ministry mobilisation. Post-war restructuring under the United Kingdom defence reviews and the Options for Change programme influenced its transition into a peacetime force protection role alongside other RAF Regiment squadrons such as those at RAF Honington and RAF Regiment Depot. During the Cold War era the squadron adapted to North Atlantic Treaty Organization commitments and interoperability standards developed by NATO, while later defence reshapes under the Strategic Defence and Security Review and the Future Reserves 2020 programme affected reservist and auxiliary elements. In recent decades the squadron has integrated with joint force protection doctrines promulgated by the Ministry of Defence and has contributed to expeditionary operations coordinated with British Army units, Royal Navy task groups, and coalition partners including United States Air Force elements.
The squadron's primary responsibilities encompass static and mobile airfield defence, close protection of air mobility assets such as Lockheed C-130 Hercules and Airbus A400M Atlas, and protection of critical aviation infrastructure at RAF stations and expeditionary airfields. It undertakes counter-IED and patrol tasks in support of wider counterinsurgency and stabilisation missions aligned with doctrines from Joint Expeditionary Force planning and Defence Equipment and Support guidance. The unit provides training and augmentation for operations under contingency frameworks such as Op Herrick and Op Shader, and supports civil contingencies alongside organisations like Devon and Cornwall Police and local authorities during emergency response.
Organised within the command arrangements of the RAF Regiment and the Royal Air Force Air Command, the squadron comprises operational flights, support elements, and an administration cadre reporting to a parent wing based at an RAF station. Its structure mirrors RAF Regiment lineage with flight commanders, section commanders and specialist teams for CBRN, patrol, and tactical vehicle operations, coordinating with logistics overseen by Defence Infrastructure Organisation policies. Liaison relationships exist with RAF station command, No. 2 Group RAF, and joint headquarters elements to enable rapid force projection and tasking.
The squadron retains local and RAF heraldic links reflected in badges, standards and insignia granted under College of Arms customs and Royal Air Force insignia regulations, echoing Devon civic heraldry and county motifs seen in other units from Devon. Ceremonial practices include participation in co-located civic events such as the Lord Lieutenant of Devon investitures and remembrance parades at war memorials in Exeter Cathedral. Traditions incorporate RAF Regiment drill, standards of dress governed by Queen's Regulations for the Royal Air Force and honours associated with collective service alongside units like the Parachute Regiment and Royal Engineers.
The squadron has contributed to deployments in support of Operation Telic, Operation Herrick, and Operation Shader, operating at forward operating bases and main operating bases in theatres where the RAF has supported coalition air operations. It has conducted homeland defence tasks during periods of heightened threat alongside Metropolitan Police Service protective security operations and provided force protection detachments to expeditionary airstrips used by NATO and partner air forces. Training deployments have included exercises with Royal Netherlands Air Force, German Air Force, and United States Air Force units to ensure interoperability and collective defence readiness.
Personnel include regulars, reservists and specialist cadres selected under RAF recruitment and selection standards, trained in weapons, tactics and fieldcraft according to RAF Regiment doctrine and Defence Medical Services support provisions. Commanding officers have been substantively appointed from RAF Regiment senior officers with experience at wing and station command levels, coordinating with higher headquarters such as RAF Waddington and Air Command. Career progression and leadership development follow pathways similar to those promulgated by RAF Personnel Management Agency and professional military education at establishments like the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom.
Equipment issued includes light support weapons such as the L85A2 rifle family, vehicle platforms comparable to the Land Rover Wolf and protected mobility vehicles used across RAF Regiment units, communications systems interoperable with Joint Service Signal Unit standards, and specialist CBRN detection kits. Uniforms follow Royal Air Force patterns with RAF Regiment identifiers, dress items regulated by Queen's Regulations for the Royal Air Force and insignia aligned with heraldry overseen by the College of Arms.
Category:Royal Air Force Regiment squadrons Category:Military units and formations in Devon