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Welcome to the 30 Squadron RAF Association website
Whether you have served under the palm tree or are just an interested visitor, we hope that you find our site useful and informative.
The Badge at top-left of any page links to the official 30 Sqn website
No 30 Squadron was officially formed at Ismailia, Egypt, on 24 March 1915 and went on to become the longest-serving overseas Squadron of the RAF. Adopting the C130K Hercules in 1968 at RAF Fairford, 30 Sqn moved to RAF Lyneham in 1971 where it remains to this day, now flying the C130J. By virtue of continuity it remains the senior Squadron at Lyneham (traditionally disputed by 24 Sqn who formed on 1 Sep 1915). It is one of the few surviving RAF Squadrons that has taken an active part in every major British conflict since WW1, although it is not believed to have started any of them.
The Squadron motto, Ventre A Terre, is derived from a French horse-racing expression literally meaning, Bellies To The Ground. Colloquially this translates as, Flat Out, which is also the title of our official history by John Hamlin, published by Air Britain. Needless to say, those serving in Mesopotamia (Iraq) in the 1920s devised an equally colloquial English translation which is predictable, but unsuitable for a public website. Bottoms Up is a polite alternative!
The 30 Sqn RAF Association holds a lively Annual Reunion Weekend, usually in April, and hosted by the Squadron at Lyneham. It is keen to add new members from those who have served on the Squadron. If you fit that hat, and would like to join and meet up with old buddies, click the link in the left margin.
For details of the next Annual Reunion, click the Reunions & News link in the left margin.
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