1996 Children's Television RAF FDC signed by Wing Commander ROUTLEDGE Officer Commanding 29 Squadron Cover bears 1997 Children's Television stamps (depicting Dangermouse, The Clangers, Stingray, Sooty and Muffin the Mule) cancelled on 1st Day of Issue with BFPS 2540 depicting 29 Squadron's crest. Cover also depicts the Squadron Badge of 29 squadron and a Tornado which is the aircraft flown by 29 Squadron.
Cover has been flown in Tornado F3 ZE732 BB of 29 Squadron the lead aircraft of a four ship formation flypast on the occasion of the Royal Visit by HRH Princess Margaret to RAF Coningsby on 26 September 1996.
Cover has been signed by Wing Commander M J Routledge Officer Commanding 29 Squadron
29 Squadron
No 29 Squadron was formed at Gosport on 7 November 1915 from a nucleus supplied by No 23 Squadron and after training moved to France in March 1916 as the third squadron to be fully equipped with fighters. Its DH2s were engaged in escort duties to protect the slow and vulnerable reconnaissance aircraft over the Western Front and in March 1917, it re-equipped with Nieuport Scouts. In April 1918 these were replaced by SE5As which were used for the rest of the war on fighter and ground attack missions. After a short period in Germany, the squadron was reduced to a cadre and returned to the UK in August 1919 where it was disbanded on 31 December 1919.
On 1 April 1923, No 29 reformed as a fighter squadron at Duxford with Snipes, re-equipping with Grebes in January 1925. In turn, these were replaced by Siskins in March 1928 and Bulldogs in June 1932. In March 1935, No 29 became a two-seat fighter squadron with the arrival of Demons which it took in October to Egypt during the Abyssinian crisis, a few Gordons being used for night patrols at this time. Returning to the UK a year later, it converted to Blenheims in December 1938. On the outbreak of World War Two these were used for patrols over shipping and early trials with airborne radar. When German night bombers began operating in strength in June 1940, No 29 became fully involved in night fighting, beginning to receive Beaufighters in November though it was February 1941 before the squadron was fully equipped. Its defensive role remained after conversion to Mosquitoes in May 1943 but in May 1944 intruder missions began to be flown which continued until February 1945. Conversion to Mosquito 30s began but few operations with these were flown before the end of the war. In October 1945 the squadron moved to West Malling to become part of the peace-time night fighter force in the UK.
The Mosquitoes continued to serve until replaced by Meteors in August 1951 at Tangmere. In January 1957 the squadron moved north, first to Northumberland and then in July 1958 to Scotland, conversion to Javelins taking place in November 1957. In February 1963, No 29 was moved to Cyprus and in December 1965 went to Zambia for nine months on detachment. In May 1967 the squadron returned to the UK to become a Lightning squadron, disbanding on 31 December 1974. No 29 reformed at Coningsby as a Phantom squadron on 1 January 1975. A detachment was provided for the defence of the Falklands as soon as the airfield at Stanley was capable of operating Phantoms at the end of 1982. This became No 23 Squadron on March 1983.
Aircraft: Eurofighter Typhoon Motto: Impiger et acer - 'Energetic and keen'. Badge: An eagle in flight preying on a buzzard - symbolising air combat.
Tornado
The Tornado GR4 is the latest version of the RAF's primary attack aircraft. Capable of supersonic speeds and flight at low-level, the aircraft is one of the most potent in the world today.
First deliveries to the RAF of the original GR1 version were made in 1980 where it replaced a number of older RAF aircraft including the Buccaneer and Vulcan as low-level attack aircraft. A major feature is the Tornado's 'swing wings' (or 'variable geometry' to give it its correct title). With the wings swept fully forward, the aircraft can fly very slowly - ideal for landing on short, unprepared runways. With the wings swept to their full 68°, the aircraft can fly supersonically, whilst at the intermediate position the manoeuvrability is greatly increased - useful should the aircraft need to undertake rapid action during an attack. Another innovative feature of the Tornado is the ability to use thrust-reverse to shorten landings.
GR4 Specifications
Engines:
Two Turbo-Union RB199s
Length:
54ft 10in (16.70m)
Wingspan:
45ft 7in (13.90m) at 17° sweep; 28ft 2in (8.60m) at 68° sweep
Top Speed:
1,452mph (2,336km/h, Mach 2.2) at 36,000ft (11,000m); 710mph (1,140km/h) at sea-level
Crew:
Pilot and Weapons Systems Operator
A programme to update many of the Tornado's weapons and navigation systems was completed in 2003 and these updated aircraft are known as Tornado GR4s. As well as the existing weapons carried by Tornados (such as the Paveway family of laser- and GPS-guided bombs and the ALARM anti-radar missile) a number of new weapons can now be used. These include the Storm Shadow stand-off (or 'cruise') missile and the RAPTOR reconnaissance pod - both of which were used for the first time during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 and the forthcoming Brimstone anti-tank missile. Other improvements include GPS navigation and changes to the cockpit to allow the use of night-vision goggles.
Roles
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Air Interdiction (AI). Low- or medium-level attacks using precision-guided, freefall or retarded bombs.
Suppression of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD - pronounced 'see-add'). Attacks on enemy air defence systems such as surface-to-air missile positions with ALARM missiles.
Reconnaissance (using an externally mounted pod).
Armament
One Mauser 27mm cannon and up to 18,000lb of ordnance. Available weapons include Paveway 2 or 3 laser-guided bombs, ballistic or retarded "dumb" 1000lb bombs, Cluster Bomb Units (CBU), Storm Shadow cruise missiles, Brimstone anti-tank missiles, Air Launched Anti-Radiation Missile (ALARM) anti-radar missiles. For self-defence, Sidewinder missiles are carried