Page 32 - The Constructor A5V24 V1

Our Military Affiliations

NEWS FROM 5001 SQUADRON (RAF)

The past 12 months have been
amongst the busiest since the
Squadron was reformed in
1999 and have seen teams
from the Squadron deployed in
support of every major UK military
operation. At the start of the year
Squadron personnel deployed in support
of the UK contribution to the Baltic Air
Policing mission. Deploying to Lithuania
teams from the Squadron built aircraft
shelters, manned the airfield runway
arrestor system and provided convoy 5001 Squadron at Work – Crown Copyright by kind permission of MOD
support to the Ground Line of
Communication.
This year also saw the Squadron heavily committed to the drawdown of operations in Afghanistan
with multiple teams deploying to recover aircraft shelters in theatre and provide additional facilities
for the ongoing UK mentoring mission. The last team recovered to the UK on Christmas Eve after 3
months of continuous activity.
5001 Squadron has also been committed to Operation SHADER the UK contribution to the fight against
Islamic State, providing critically needed aircraft shelters and additional manpower to assist in the
maintenance of essential Aircraft Support Equipment at the Main Operating Base in Cyprus.
During this period the Squadron has also continued to undertake its standing commitments of
providing specialist engineering support to the RAF’s logistics Air Combat Service Support Units at RAF
Wittering, maintaining all of the UK’s aircraft shelters deployed on operations around the world and
providing Environmental Conditioning support to both the UK’s military Radar network and RAF
overseas operations.
5001 Squadron has told the Constructor “We are exceedingly proud of our affiliation with the
Company as it recognises our unique position as a specialist construction Squadron with the Royal
Air Force. Being affiliated with such a prestigious organisation within the construction fraternity
provides a clear indication of the high regard in which we are held.”

NEWS FROM HMS LANCASTER
HMS LANCASTER sailed from Portsmouth on 21 March 2015 and since has visited eleven different
ports in eight countries. So far the visits have been to Lisbon, The Azores, Bermuda, Key West, New
Orleans, Mexico, Columbia, Panama, Chile and both Stanley and the East Coast Military Port in The
Falkland Islands. In each, the Ship has been extremely busy; representing UK interests overseas,
strengthening international relationships by hosting various dignitaries, politicians and military

32 | Autumn 2015 | The Journal of the Worshipful Company of Constructors