HRH The Princess Royal visits RAF Brize Norton

HRH The Princess Royal attended the stand down parade of Number 47 Squadron and the retirement of the C-130 Hercules.

The Princess Royal, who is Honorary Air Commodore to RAF Brize Norton, reviewed members of the Squadron on parade in front of invited guests, to mark their proud history.

Those attending, including past and present members of the Squadron, were able to witness the Hercules carry out one of its last spectacular flypasts. The Hercules will retire from RAF service on 30 June, and concurrently No.47 Squadron will be stood down and its Standard laid up for a period at RAF College Cranwell, until reformed.

Formed in Yorkshire in 1916, the Squadron was initially designated for home defence. During its 107-year history, the Squadron has operated across the globe and has been equipped with a number of different aircraft; becoming a C-130 Hercules Squadron in 1968. The C-130 fleet has been an integral part of air power for the RAF for nearly six decades, contributing to nearly every British conflict since it was brought into service in the 1960’s, providing airlift/airdrop capabilities and having the flexibility to operate in austere areas around the world. The aircraft has played an essential role as part of the air mobility fleet, supporting UK military and humanitarian relief operations, as demonstrated during Operation PITTING, the evacuation of entitled personnel from Afghanistan. More recently in Sudan, having left nearly 82 years ago, 47 Squadron returned to Khartoum with three Hercules in April and May 2023 where, apart from RAF Lyneham, 47 Squadron has called home the longest. Unable to access Khartoum airport (established by 47 Squadron in 1927) Hercules evacuated over 2000 Embassy staff and British passport holders from a degrading concrete strip North of the city.