Edwards AFB News

British reserve squadron celebrates 100 years

The Royal Air Force 17 (Reserve) Squadron recently celebrated their centenary Feb. 9, 2015 with a parade and parade review by RAF Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford. The centenary comes on the cusp of the joint squadron, comprised of Royal Navy and RAF personnel, receiving the United Kingdom’s first F-35B Lightning II, known as BK-1, on Jan. 13 for operational testing and evaluation here at Edwards. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jet Fabara)

British reserve squadron celebrates 100 years

The Royal Air Force 17 (Reserve) Squadron recently celebrated their centenary Feb. 9, 2015. The centenary comes on the cusp of the joint squadron, comprised of Royal Navy and RAF personnel, receiving the United Kingdom’s first F-35B Lightning II, known as BK-1, on Jan. 13 for operational testing and evaluation here at Edwards. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jet Fabara)

British reserve squadron celebrates 100 years

Royal Air Force Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford takes the salute during the RAF 17 (Reserve) Squadron centenary parade held at Edwards on Feb. 9, 2015. During the ceremony, attendees were treated to a World War II-era Spitfire fly-over and an F-35 fly-over to recognize the squadron’s rich flying past and the squadron’s current standing up of F-35B operations out of Edwards. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jet Fabara)

British reserve squadron celebrates 100 years

Royal Air Force Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford reviews the parade during the RAF 17 (Reserve) Squadron centenary parade held at Edwards AFB on Feb. 9, 2015. Prior to the ceremony’s commencement, band members from the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing were invited to be a part of the centenary parade, which was held in front of the squadron’s hangar and those in attendance, which included Air Force Test Center and 412th Test Wing leadership amongst many others, were also able to witness the parade general salute and parade review by the RAF Chief of the Air Staff. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jet Fabara)

British reserve squadron celebrates 100 years

To crown the centennial celebration, the Royal Air Force 17 (Reserve) Squadron was honored with a designated exhibit Feb. 9 inside the Air Force Flight Test museum to recognize and display the squadron’s rich history, since it will now become part of Edwards AFB’s test history. (U.S. Air Force photo by Rebecca Bullock)

British reserve squadron celebrates 100 years

Published Feb. 12, 2015
By Jet Fabara
412th Test Wing Public Affairs

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- For a squadron with heraldry dating as far back as 1915 and being stationed out of multiple foreign locations during World War I and WWII, the Royal Air Force 17 (Reserve) Squadron recently celebrated their centenary Feb. 9, 2015.

The centenary comes on the cusp of the joint squadron, comprised of Royal Navy and RAF personnel, receiving the United Kingdom's first F-35B Lightning II, known as BK-1, on Jan. 13 for operational testing and evaluation here at Edwards.

"Today is an important day for both the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy. The start of U.K. operational testing on the Lightning II aircraft is a significant milestone for us; although our relationship with the United States as partners on the Joint Strike Fighter Program remains as strong as ever. Our collaboration with the U.S. Armed Forces on the world's largest and most advanced defense project is a clear demonstration of our enduring close military partnership with the United States," said Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford. "I am delighted to be here at Edwards Air Force Base today to celebrate the centenary of Number 17 (Reserve) Squadron. Their new role in developing and testing the U.K.'s fifth-generation fighter aircraft will be an exciting new chapter in the squadron's rich and proud history."

Prior to the ceremony's commencement, band members from the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing were invited to be a part of the centenary parade, which was held in front of the squadron's hangar and those in attendance, which included Air Force Test Center and 412th Test Wing leadership amongst many others, were also able to witness the parade general salute and parade review by the RAF Chief of the Air Staff.

During the ceremony, attendees were treated to a World War II-era Spitfire fly-over and an F-35 fly-over to recognize the squadron's rich flying past and the squadron's current standing up of F-35B operations out of Edwards.

"We're here to mark two things, the 100th anniversary of the 17 Squadron since it was formed, and to mark the fact that the U.K. is now commencing organic operations of the F-35B. We're maintaining it and flying it independently under U.K. regulations with minimum assistance from the U.S. It truly is a two-fold celebration," said Squadron Leader Frankie Buchler, 17 (R) Squadron evaluator pilot for the joint operational test team. "The 17 (R) Squadron has been here for several years now as part of the Joint Operational Test Team. We're working with the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps and international partners from the Netherlands and Australia who are also going to participate in operational test here."

According to Buchler, the U.K. aircraft have been at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, for the last two years, where initial pilot and maintenance crew training was being held.
With the arrival of the squadron's first F-35B model, Buchler noted that the squadron will now prepare for future acquisition of two additional F-35B models for test and evaluation within the next year.

To crown the centennial celebration, the squadron was also honored with a designated exhibit inside the Air Force Flight Test museum to recognize and display the squadron's rich history, since it will now become part of Edwards AFB's test history.

For more information about the RAF 17 (R) Squadron exhibit, contact the AFFT museum at 661-277-8050 or visit their website at http://afftcmuseum.org/.