No. 1435 Flight RAF
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| No. 1435 Flight | ||
|---|---|---|
 RAF Tornado F3 | ||
| Information | ||
| Role | Air Defence | |
| Aircraft Operated | Panavia Tornado F3 | |
| Home Station | RAF Mount Pleasant | |
| Motto | None | |
| History | ||
| Date Founded | 4 December 1941 (Flight) 2 August 1942 (Squadron) | |
| Badge | None | |
| Notable Battle Honours | ||
While the UK officially does not foresee any threat to the Falkland Islands, it maintains significant military forces as a deterrent against any aggressor. However Argentina is the only other country to claim ownership of the Islands. These forces also protect South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.
The Royal Air Force contribution to this deterrent is based at RAF Mount Pleasant, the primary component of which is No. 1435 Flight, with its four Tornado F3s providing air defence. The aircraft are drawn from any of the UK squadrons as required and are deployed for around 12 months. Likwise the aircrew from the UK are cycled through 1435 flight, with the only limitation being the necessary weather flying qualifications. While there they provide a 365 day, 24 hour alert.
1435 Flight was formed in Malta on 4 December 1941, its status raised to No. 1435 Squadron in 1942, becoming the only RAF squadron to be given a four figure number. The squadron flew Spitfires, and was disbanded in May 1945. In 1988, when the F3 assumed the responsibities of 23 Sqn, 1435 Flight was revived. The Flight has maintained its Maltese connections, its aircraft sporting the Maltese Cross. The practice of naming the four-aircraft presence on the islands has also been maintained, they are called Faith, Hope, Charity and Desperation.
1435 Flight will be the last to receive the Eurofighter Typhoon around 2012.
| Contents |
RAF Tornado squadrons
F3
- No. XI Squadron - RAF Leeming
- No. 25 Squadron - RAF Leeming
- No. 43 Squadron - RAF Leuchars
- No. 56 (Reserve) Squadron - RAF Leuchars
- No. 111 Squadron - RAF Leuchars
- No. 1435 Flight - RAF Mount Pleasant
GR4
- No. 9 Squadron - RAF Marham
- No. 12 Squadron - RAF Lossiemouth
- No. 14 Squadron - RAF Lossiemouth
- No. XV (Reserve) Squadron - RAF Lossiemouth
- No. 31 Squadron - RAF Marham
- No. 617 Squadron - RAF Lossiemouth
GR4A
- No. II Squadron - RAF Marham
- No. 13 Squadron - RAF Marham