Formed as No 2721 Squadron at Mildenhall in July 1941, having been unnumbered from the previous April and absorbed into the RAF Regiment on 1 Feb 1942. Numbered, it moved to RAF Kenley in 1942, converting to a Field Squadron in October 1942.
The lack of political cohesion in the region made the South Arabian scene very confused, with fragmented, rival groups contending for power in the Yemen. Some tribes such as the Upper Yafai were out of reach of any power block. Consequently, members of the Yafai tribe were highly valued members of the Aden Protectorate Levies (APL) predominantly for their reliability and independence.
Between April – June 1941, the Iraqis led by Rashid Ali, and with the backing of the Axis powers, rose againt the British in what became known as the “Iraqi Revolt”.
During an air raid on RAF Kenley 18 Aug 1940, Aircraftman 2nd Class Roberts was in charge of a unit of the ground defences and, although under heavy fire, succeeded in destroying one enemy aircraft and causing damage to another. It was one of the hardest days fighting during the Battle of Britain.
On 15 June 1955, Squadron Leader Archibald Alexander “Jock” Stewart, RAF Regiment was the second in command of a force of Aden Protectorate Levies operating in Wadi Hatib, a disturbed tribal area of the Western Aden Protectorate.
Operation MANNA was the introduction of British forces into Athens, with the strategic intention of re-establishing the Greek Government. On 19 Oct 1944 “Pompforce” was under command of Lieutenant Colonel Jellicoe. No 2903 Squadron RAF Regiment along with Corporal Wingate contributed one troop of Otter Armoured Fighting Vehicles, two 3-tonners, two 6-pounders and one 3-inch mortar to that force.
Between 1972 – 1978 a number of RAF Regiment Officers served on secondment to the Sultan of Oman’s Armed Forces, during the Dhofar campaign against Communist rebels operating from neighbouring Yemen. Six of these Officers were recognised for their service. Sqn Ldr Jones was the only one who received the Oman Distinguished Service Medal for Gallantry.
No 2942 Field Squadron RAF Regiment, was one of a dozen RAF Regiment units deployed in the Arakan to defend airstrips and radar units. By the beginning of 1944, these units were concentrated on the Imphal Plain and in the Surma Valley.
In September 1944, RAF Regiment Squadrons had disembarked in Normandy and were moving against Antwerp, Eindoven and Volkel. September brought hard winter weather condtions that suited the German defenders. Victory in Europe was still far from certain, by September the Germans had begun to launch the powerful V2 rockets to very great effect from around the Leopold Canal area.
He is commemorated and remembered at each Trainee Gunner Graduation Parade in the award of the Corporal Bradfield Trophy. This is awarded to the JNCO instructor who has been voted by the Trainee Gunners as the most inspirational JNCO throughout their training.