The early service of 3 Armoured Car Company began on formation at Basra on 3 November 1922, when together with three further Armoured Car Companies (4, 5, 6) they formed a new Wing Headquarters under the command of Wg Cdr W H Primrose DFC. The Wing was formed to carry out a training/reconnaissance role in the deserts of Southern Iraq, and when required to help in policing the area against Kurdish rebels. The first CO was a Squadron Leader F H W Guard CMG CBE DSO who commanded the Squadron during the period in Iraq. The Sqn was equipped with Rolls Royce Silver Ghost and Lancia Armoured Cars, and each of the three sections, A, B and C consisted of nine armoured cars.

On 2 July 1923, an exercise was carried out where six armoured cars were loaded on barges and ferried across the Shatt-ai-Arab to demonstrate the feasibility of transhipping armoured cars at very short notice. On the 17th a special reconnaissance was carried out by 16 Armoured cars to the area of Safran where the attitude of local tribesmen had caused some alarm to the political authorities. Throughout the operation, communication between the cars and aircraft of No 84 Squadron was maintained by means of Popham Panel and Aidis lamp. Apart from much valuable information regarding the routes in the area being obtained, the presence of armoured cars and aircraft working in cooperation together had a marked effect on the attitude of the local population.

Owing to the instability of the situation on the Iraqi-Akhwan boundary, "A" and "C" Section proceeded by rail to an advanced base established at Djalibah on 3 March 1924. Daily armoured car patrols were carried out from this base, the operational zone extending north to Ur ad Khamisiyah, West to the sandhills at Abu Ghar, south to the sand belt near Bir Shagra, and east to Shabda. Aircraft from 84 Sqn co-operated with he armoured cars during these reconnaissance’s. On the 25th "B" Section proceeded to Djalibah to reinforce "A" and "C" Sections, due to the possible threat of fighting between rival-tribes.

In view of the possibility of unfriendly activity on the part of the Akhwan, one section of armoured cars remained at Djalibah throughout the month of April. On the 2nd of April "B" Section was withdrawn from Djalibah and proceeded to Shaibah, where a secondary manifestation of the Akhwan situation had developed. No action was however, necessary and the section returned to Basrah on 15th April 1924. On the 17th "C" Section was relieved at Djalibah, by "B" Section who in turn returned to Basrah on 9th May. On 2nd June the final stage of the Basrah/Baghdad reconnaissance was completed. Five of the Company's armoured cars were sent to Basrah by rail on the 5th, with another four being retained at Baghdad in the event of any political disturbances among the civilian population during the signing of the "Iraq Treaty". These four armoured cars returned to Basrah on the 20th.

Throughout its time in Iraq, No 3 Armoured Car Company not only worked in closest harmony with flying Squadrons, but also guarded forward airfields in hostile tribal territory. The unit was also given the extra task of supplying no 8 and 84 Squadrons with new aircraft engines, which it successfully carried on the chassis of its Armoured Cars. On 9th November 1924, the wing Headquarters was disbanded and the operational control of the companies came under the command of Air Headquarters. These companies continued to operate from Basrah, Baghdad, Mosul and Kirkup, respectively, until lst April 1925 when No 3 Armoured Car Company was disbanded and its personnel and vehicles were distributed among the remaining Armoured Car Companies.

SECOND WORLD WAR

During the Second World War the Squadron reformed at Nutts Corner, County Antrim, under the new title of 757 RAF Defence Squadron. No 757 Squadron was renumbered No 2757 Squadron on 19th December 1941 and on lst February 1942 became part of the newly formed RAF Regiment. The Squadron carried out a large number of training courses and defence exercises while based at Nutts Corner and acquired a mobile defence role.

The Squadron in its new role carried out a number of exercises in field training at RAF Eglington. On 30th June 1942, Their Majesties the King and Queen visited Nutts Corner and met members of the Squadron. For the next few months, free from its static defence duties at Nutts Corner, the Squadron carried out its intensive training programme. On 9th July 1943 it embarked in Landing Craft(Tank) from Wymess Bay for Castle Toward, Dunon where it took part in the 17th Combined Operations Course, before returning to Wymess Bay on the 17th. It then proceeded by special train to West Lavington Camp arriving on the 18th. On the 23rd, the Sqn proceeded from Lavington Down Camp to Nytimber Camp, Pagham, near Bognor Regis. During the next few months the Squadron was continually on the move, to Rye, Bracknell, Catterick, Merston and eventually in June 1944 to Aston Down.

On 20th August 1944 the Squadron loaded onto 3 LST's at Southampton; disembarked in France on 21st, and proceeded to No 123 Wing. On the 25th, Nos 1, 2 and 4 Flights were despatched to airfields B.17, B.3, and B.8 respectively, but on the 26th No 1 Flight was attached to "R Force" moving to Rouen and thereafter the movements of R Force were controlled by 2nd Tactical Air Force. No 2 Flight under the Command of Flt Lt Greenhill moved to Le Thel Nolent on 27th and on the 28th, HQ Flight, together with No g-Flight moved from Martragny to Fresne, France. As a result of this move, the Squadron HQ was detached from 123 Wing. On the same date, No 4 Flight also moved to Bernay. On 2nd September the Squadron was concentrated (less one flight) at Voisney together with 1 Flight from No 2777 Squadron, in readiness for a move to Quincampoix. This move was carried out on 213 September. No 2 Flight made a reconnaissance of storage depots and V.1 flying bomb site. No 3 Flight escorted an Air Technical Intelligence Officer on a tour examination of rocket installations in the area of Cleres. No 4 Flight proceeded to a rocket site 1 mile NW of Monville and thence to Fontaine-leBourg, 4 miles east of Monville.

No 3 Flight inspected a further two flying bomb sites on 5th September 1944 and proceeded to RV at St Pol. On the same day No 4 Flight together with a rifle Flight of No 2816 Squadron split into 2 parties, one inspected radar installations at Dieppe while the second party proceeded to Tocqueville. No 2 Troop of 4 Flight moved to St Valerie en Caux and St Martin Aux Buneux on 6th September and discovered a Radar site previously unknown. The following day a radio station at Greny was located and a semaphore station and radar site at Le Treport was also inspected. A visit was paid to Recamp and the largest site of the tour was located. This was an important find as a plotting table was found intact and photographs taken. The Squadron was moved from Quincampoix to Wisques on the 12th and on the same day moved on to Devres. A Ground Controlled Interception station was visited by No 2 Flight on 15th, while No 4 Flight acted as escort to Air Technical Intelligence Officers on visits to radar stations at Boisier, Courtecourne and Clerques. No 1 Troop on 5 Flight accompanied Fit Lt Paimer, Air Technical Intelligence Officer to Dunkerque, to inspect more Radar Sites (17.9.44). On the 19th the Squadron left Devres for Antwerp, arriving on 20th.

The following day a guard was mounted on radio equipment at the Marconi buildings, Antwerp. A Troop of No 3 Flight went to Huls and Terneuzen on 9th October to inspect a Radar site, while one troop of No 4 Flight went to Arendonck but returned after being unable to find the Ground Controlled interception Station. The Squadron HQ, together with No 1 Flight were moved to Ursel on 14th, were airfield patrols were carried out. Two days later No 2 Flight acted as Guard of Honour to the Crown Prince of Norway. On 22nd, the Squadron HQ and No 1 Flight was transferred from Ursel to Bellem, while No 1 Flight moved to Giize, Holland on 13 November, being joined by the Squadron HQ on the 25th.

On the 29th, a Guard was provided by the Squadron for the Supreme Allied Commander, General Eisenhower. The 9th December saw the Squadron being concentrated, less No 1 Flight, at Wolvenbosch in readiness for a move to Waspik, No 1 Flight joining the remainder of the Squadron on the 13th. During the 16th four of the Squadron's gunners were killed in the Rex Cinema in Antwerp, when the building was hit by a German V.1 flying bomb. The Sqn HQ, and all flight moved to Goirle on the 20th and the following day proceeded to Waspik to hold a sector of the line. A new outpost came under fire from German artillery, but no casualties were sustained. At 0420 hrs on 24th December 1944 part of the Squadron on the right flank came under fire, and with other attacks expected from a large enemy force the Squadron was reinforced by five platoons of Belgian infantry.

On Christmas Day armoured car patrols were sent out looking for German patrols known to be in the area but no contact was made. However, at 2050 hrs the Squadron opened fire on two dimmed lights on the Oude Maas. At 2245 hrs a patrol of 20 Germans and one assault boat were sighted and were dispersed by fire from the Squadron. A number of the Squadron personnel based at a forward outpost were able to direct fire on the enemy from their exposed positions. The Squadron was later relieved by Polish Infantry at 1430 hrs on the 26th. The Squadron HQ No's 1 and 3 Flights proceeded to Giize and No's 2 and 4 Flights to Woensdrecht. Whilst at Giize, the Squadron provided armoured car escorts for the moves of Headquarters No 84 Group to Grave (6th March), No 35 Wing to Mill Hatert (9th March), and finally two Flights providing escort to 308 Mobile Signal Servicing Unit on their move to Hatert on 31 March/lst April.

On 2nd April 1945 a composite Flight commanded by Fit Lt J Budd left the unit to form an escort for No 84 Group (Rear) recce party and in the first day's movement escorted the party over the Rhine to Coesfeld. On the 3rd many enemy pockets, all in defensive roles, were spotted, and information was padded on by the Squadron to the Army. A recce of airfields and installations in the area proceeded without undue incident to Enschede and the party of men moved on to Nordhorn where the Squadron took a number of prisoners on the 6th. The Flight continued carrying out escort/recce duties but were delayed in moving to Quakenbrak on the llth due to heavy fighting, and were re-tasked with a reconnaissance mission of the area of Furstemare instead.

A recce was made of Drops on the 12th and two members of the Luftwaffe wearing civilian clothes were taken prisoner. The Flight waited until the area of Alhorn was cleared of enemy forces before proceeding onto the airstrip on the 16th April. The Headquarters with No 1 and 2 Flights moved from Mill to Plantlunne, Germany on 21st April, and on 2nd June 1945, the Squadron HQ and No 1 Flight moved to Wunsdorf, North West of Hannover, and from there to RAF Station Hildesheim on 28th September 1945.

POST-WAR

1946 found the Squadron at Dortmund, Bonn and Gutersloh. On 18th May Sqn Ldr A A Halliday assumed command of 2757 Sqn from Sqn Ldr B BensonBrown. On 22nd May a troop from the Squadron commanded by WO Bell were sent to the British Camp at Hochst (near Frankfurt) to escort 60 German prisoners believed responsible for the murder of RAF Officers at Stalag Luft III and deliver them to camp 101 at Esterwegan. On 18th September the detachment at Handorf under the command of Pit Off Oldfield moved from its present location to BAFO Headquarters at Buckeburg. During the 17th October the entire Squadron moved from Bonn to Gutersloh.

August 1947 the Squadron still at Gutersloh, was renamed No 3 Armoured Car Squadron and in the October moved to Celle and on lst December to Fassberg. As part of the General renumbering of RAF Regiment Squadrons in August 1947, this Squadron was given the new title No 3 Squadron RAF Regiment. The numbering of these Squadrons was carried out for administration purposes and because of this a precedent was established that these units could use their wartime histories to continue their lineage, and the service so gained could count towards qualifying for their Standard.

On 6th October Sqn Ldr W R M Smith assumed command of the Squadron from Sqn Ldr A A Halliday. On 15th October one flight moved from RAF Sundern to RAF Gatow to take over guard duties from No 4 Armoured Car Company. Seven days later the remainder of the Squadron had arrived at its new accommodation at RAF Celle. On 20th November Flt Lt Stewart and thirty-three other ranks proceeded to Hannover to perform a celebration parade for the wedding of Princess Elizabeth. On 4th December the Squadron moved again to its new Headquarters at RAF Fessberg. On 16th January 1948 the Squadron was visited by the Commandant General of the RAF Regiment Major General A E Robinson and Brigadier James VC.

Sqn Ldr W R M Smith left to join No 16 Sqn RAF Regt on the 29th January and the Squadron came under the temporary command of Fit Lt Manning, who handed over to Sqn Ldr A W Gordon on 15 March. Marshal of the Royal Air Force Lord Tedder arrived at Fassberg and inspected the Squadron before watching a display of the armoured cars. Major General A E Robinson and Brigadier James VC revisited the Squadron with an inspection of No 3 Flight at RAF Gatow on 15th April, then travelling to Fassberg came to see the remainder of the Squadron on the 23rd.

In December patrols were carried out guarding the aerodrome approach lanes and a security patrol maintained around the perimeter in connection with operation "PLAINFARE" (Berlin Airlift). These patrols were suspended in February 1949. On 23rd April 1949 Fit Lt Eisen and twenty-one other ranks took over 56 Squadron RAF Regiment's commitments at RAF Wunsdorf, so that they could take over the camp at Bad Lippspinge.

In June the Squadron received visits from both the Under Secretary of State for Defence (9th June) and the Commandant General of the RAF Regiment (30th June). Sqn Ldr D H D Gillan assumed command of the Squadron on the 21st August form Sqn Ldr A W Gordon. A number of exercises were carried out during August and September which ended on a joint Army and RAF exercise called "BROADSIDE" where the Squadron was tasked with playing a protective role, patrolling the road routes and guarding vulnerable bridges used by the 7th Armoured Division. On 2nd July 1951, Fit Lt Randall and ten airmen went to Berlin to take part in a Guard of Honour for Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal of Buckburg.

During the following autumn and winter the Squadron was engaged on its normal training, until April/May 1952 when it started preparing for the move to its new Headquarters at Jever which took place on the 8th May under the command of Sqn Ldr Gillan. During the remainder of the year the Squadron settled down in its new accommodation and carried out further training exercises on armoured car tactics at Wildenrath.

On the 8th January 1953, the Commandant General, Air Vice Marshal Sir Francis Mallersh visited RAF Jever and inspected the Squadron. Between the months of April to June it was decided that on one day of each week a Squadron exercise would be carried out with the co-operation of the aircraft bases at RAF Jever. Mock attacks were carried out on the recce cars which gave useful training to both RAF Pilots and the recce crews. On the 2nd June, in honour of the Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, a parade was held at RAF Jever, which concluded with the Squadron recce cars driving past in formation. The salute was taken by the Station Commander Group Captain G Powell-Sheddon. On the 15th September. RAF Jever was inspected by Air Commodore H D McGregor AOC No 2 Group who was met by a Guard of Honour mounted by airmen of the Squadron. On his departure the Air Commodore took the salute at a drove past by the Squadron's vehicles.

The Squadron left Javer for Exercise "OLDERHORN 11" on 17th September, during which they were tasked with escorting LAA Squadrons and to carry out a reconnaissance of the various approaches to the airfield at RAF Alhorn. The Squadron then defended the airfield against mock attacks carried out by No 1 (AC) Squadron and 7 Wing based at Wundsdorf. The exercise was completed on 25th September and the Squadron returned to RAF Jever.

On 15th December 1953 the Squadron changed its title from No 3 Armoured Car Squadron RAF Regiment to No 3 Field Squadron RAF Regiment and was issued with Landrovers. On 7th April Squadron Leader A A J Hudson joined the Squadron on posting and assumed command from Squadron Leader D A Bliss. The Squadron was disbanded at Gutersloh on lst November 1955.

On lst January 1956 the Squadron was reformed at Oidenburn from personnel of 168 (LAA) Squadron and was given the new title of No 3(LAA) Squadron, under the command of Squadron Leader W J H Witchell. During the next two months the Squadron was busy carrying out individual training courses. On 8th March the Squadron spent two days at Gutersloh on exercise "NIGHT SKY" before returning to RAF Oidenburg. Two of the Squadron's Flights (A and B) carried out Flight Development exercises at both Luneburg and Achmer training areas during a number of occasions in May. On the 13th September Sqn Ldr W L Hitchcock took over command from Sqn Ldr W J H Witchell, but a year later, on 30th September 1957 at RAF Oidenburg the Squadron was again disbanded.

Nothing if not resilient it reformed again though on Monday 27th July 1987 at RAF Hullavington as No 3 (Field) Sqn RAF Regiment under the command of Sqn Ldr C B Winter. It was deployed to Northern Ireland on lst February 1988 as the resident RAF Regiment Squadron, tasked with the operational responsibility of RAF Aldergrove and RAF Bishops Court tactical areas of responsibility. The latter closed as a base on 4th December 1990 after 47 years service. Sqn Ldr Winter relinquished command of the Squadron to Sqn Ldr B M P Goodwin on 27 July 1990. Today the Squadron has a large tactical area of responsibility and regularly deploys men in other parts of the province, including Belfast in support of the Army and Royal Ulster Constabulary.

Thanks to Chris Smith who put this together for the 3 Sqn intranet and emailed me a copy.