1969

Administrator

On 1st January 1969, the squadron was posted to RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus as part of the UK’s commitment to CENTO

It operated as a medium bomber squadron throughout 1969

Stationed at:

  • RAF Akrotiri (Cyprus), using Delta [or Echo] Dispersal

Role

  • Medium bomber squadron, equipped for low level strategic bombing (providing bomber support in the near east, in accordance with the UK’s 1956 commitment to the Central Treaty Organisation [CENTO])

Command

  • NEAF (Near East Air Force).

Squadron Command

  • Commanding Officer:
    • Wing Commander HS Carver MVO
    • 02/09/1969: Handed over to Wing Commander RK Hepburn

Strength

Note: When the Squadron moved to Akrotiri from Cottesmore, crews were given staggered tourex dates at Akrotiri varying from eighteen months to three and a half years to keep a level of experience on the squadron while replacement crews came in. This staggered approach continued until all crews could do the standard 3 year tour.

No 35 Squadron October 1969 [Courtesy of Cyprus Years 69-71 Group]

Activities

Air Crew

  • Ground Training (on station and off station)
    • Lectures / Courses in subjects such as Intelligence, Weapons and Aircraft Systems
    • Emergency, Escape, Dinghy and Survival Drills
    • “Trade” related Refresher Courses
  • Flying Training
    • As per Basic Training Requirement (BTR) Programme
  • Ongoing Assessments, Checks and Classifications
  • Station readiness and dispersal, Cross Country, Bombing, Air Defence and Fighter Affiliation Exercises
    • Calabria (Regular)
    • Early Affair (March 1969)
    • Springclip (April 1969)
    • Pedigree (April 1969)
    • Dawn Patrol (April 1969)
    • Malta ADEX (May 1969)
    • May Generation (May 1969)
    • Shahin 7 (September 1969)
    • Deep Furrow (October 1969)
    • Ranular (October 1969)
  • Rangers:
    • Tengah
    • UK
    • Island
    • Malta
    • Tehran
    • Ankara
    • Nairobi
  • Displays / Flypasts
    • Firepower Demonstration (October 1969)
    • Scramble Demonstration (October 1969)

Ground Personnel

  • Administrative Duties

Note: A Vulcan Flight Simulator, Air Electronics Trainer and a Bombing Navigation Systems Trainer were installed at RAF Akrotiri during 1969

Events

Dispersal at RAF Akrotiri

The first five crews (Bayliss, Dorrington, Carver, Tench and Wood) departed for RAF Akrotiri (from RAF Cottesmore) on 15th January 1969.

[Courtesy of "Cyprus Years 69-71 Group"]

Newspaper article on squadron open day

The Cheshire Children’s Home in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia was adopted by the squadron in April 1969. Fund raising activities were organised and an annual donation was made to the home

Aircraft

The squadron was equipped with the following aircraft types (from a station pool):

AVRO VULCAN B2

Profile © Malcolm Barrass

Entrance Door

It is worth noting that whilst in Akrotiri, aircraft were on charge of the station, with Centralised Servicing in place. As such, the squadron badge did not appear on the tailplane, although it was displayed on the entrance door, along with the Station Badge and the badges of the other squadron(s) stationed at Akrotiri

The following link provides more detail on the aircraft that were available to the squadron from the Akrotiri Pool, along with information on known losses and incidents: