A RAF Hawk gets a new special tail.
A RAF 208(R) Squadron Hawk TMk1 has been adorned with a special centenary painted tail fin to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the unit.
The tail of the aircraft features the Squadron’s distinctive blue and yellow colors which represent the sky and the sands of the desert respectively.
This color scheme was used during the inter-war years and reflects the unit’s long association with the Middle East where the Squadron operated until the British armed forces withdrew from Persian Gulf in 1971. The unit crest depicting the sphinx at Gizeh in Egypt and the Squadron motto “Vigilant” are also painted on the fin.
The unit was established on Oct. 25, 1916 as No. 8 (Naval) Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service. Today 208(R) Squadron is based at RAF Valley and flies BAE Hawk TMK1 aircraft in the advanced flying training and tactical weapons role, training pilots from RAF, Royal Navy and foreign air forces to front line operational conversion unit input standard.
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Image credit: Crown Copyright
