No.2625 Squadron was formed at RAF St Mawgan on the 1st of November 1982 to provide ground defence for its home station.
The Squadron remained at St Mawgan when in 1990 its role was changed to provide augmentation and sustainment to the regular RAF Regiment
Very High Readiness Squadrons. In this role the Unit was established for 130 personnel the vast majority of which were Auxiliaries recruited
from all of Cornwall and parts of Devon. An enthusiastic permanent staff of Regulars and Full Time Reservists supported these Auxiliaries.
The Squadron personnel were trained in standard infantry techniques, which were adapted to meet the particular requirements of airfield defence.
The training encompassed a broad spectrum of military skills, which included personal and specialist weapons, minor tactics, fieldcraft, nuclear,
biological and chemical defence and combat first aid techniques. All members of the unit were also trained in the use of signals equipment and surveillance devices.
In 1988 the Squadron was accorded the rare privilege of the Freedom of Newquay, and on several occasions exercised the right to Parade through the Town with bayonets fixed,
the last time on 4th October 2006.
The Badge of 2625 Squadron that received Royal Approval in 1989 shows a bayonet superimposed on the cross of St Piran, the patron saint of Cornwall. The Squadron motto was Onen Hag
Ol (One and All).
From 1996 many Squadron members volunteered for operational deployments with Regular Units and served in Bosnia, Cyprus, Kuwait,
Macedonia, Sierra Leone and also in the UK with RAF Mountain Rescue Service.
During 1999, the Squadron deployed 14 personnel (over 10% of its established strength) on operational sustainment duties in Kuwait.
The Squadron also provided half of the RAF Regiment's requirement for a Hunter Guard Force to support aircrew combat survival training,
giving the unit a valuable role in UK Operations.
In 2003 the whole Squadron was mobilised as part of OP TELIC to fulfil their commitment to the Royal Auxiliary Air Force.
Their primary role as augmentees for the RAF Regiment Squadrons was fulfilled with Gunners joining both No.1 and No.34 Squadrons
in theatre after a 10 day work up training package. A small number of Squadron members remained in the UK attending further training
and were then deployed to other units at numerous locations in the Middle East. During OP TELIC, 22 members of 2625 Squadron were
attached to No.1 Sqn RAF Regiment, which defended RAF Ali Al Salem in Kuwait during the opening stages of the Iraq War.
The airbase suffered numerous missile attacks during this period.
No.1 Sqn then moved into Iraq were the unit protected vital oil installations.
All deployed personal received outstanding reports from the Regular units they served with and all Squadron members returned safe and well.
Between June 2005 and November 2006 a further 15 Squadron members volunteered to, and served in Iraq.
The Squadron regularly entered teams in Military Skills Competitions and were winners of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force Strickland Trophy 4 times.
The Squadrons Skills team also won the UK Reserve Forces Association International Military Skills Competition on 6 occasions.
On 7th July 2005 the then Defence Secretary, Dr. John Reid, announced in parliament that 2625 Squadron was to be disbanded on 1st November 2006.
The Squadron stopped recruiting but continued to train and send volunteers on operations.
To mark the demise of the Squadron after 24 years of service the following events took place.
The Squadron held a Freedom of Newquay Parade followed later by a Civic Reception in the Officers Mess at St. Mawgan for Squadron members, ex-members,
families and invited Dignitaries on 8th October. To end the day a Sunset Ceremony was carried out, fittingly in drizzle and failing light when the 2625 Sqn Flag was lowered for the last time.
On the 27th October a formal Dining Out Night took place in the Officers Mess St Mawgan attended by serving and past Officers and SNCO's.
A Party for all serving and ex members was held in the Atlantic Club St Mawgan on 28th October when 200 plus attended.
The day after, a remembrance service was held at
St.Clements Dane
in London, as recorded in The Times. Slate replicas of each of the squadrons’ badges were installed into the marble floor of the church.
In Truro Cathedral on 4th March 2007 a wooden craved
Boss, depicting the Squadron Badge was Dedicated and set in the fabric of the Cathedral as a permanent record of the Unit's achievements.
During the disbandment process the Squadron continued to send personnel on Operations and on
2nd November 2006 the day after disbandment,
8 members were still training for, or deployed with regular units in Iraq.
Onen Hag Ol
