No. 903 Expeditionary Air Wing

903 Expeditionary Air Wing (903 EAW) is an Expeditionary Air Wing of the Royal Air Force (RAF). It is currently based at RAF Akrotiri on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, and is tasked with conducting operations against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Iraq and Syria.

It was activated during 2003 in its current form as part of a modernisation package to make the RAF more deployable on an expeditionary basis. It was stationed at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan controlling RAF operations at the airbase there between Summer 2009 and November 2014. It used to report to No. 83 Expeditionary Air Group (83 EAG).

Second World War

The wing was active from 1 December 1944; 79 years ago (1944-12-01) to 31 October 1945 as a tactical wing, part of No. 224 Group RAF, Third Tactical Air Force. It was formed at Chittagong Airfield from RAF HQ Patenga. In December 1944, it was temporarily at Comilla with No. 67 Squadron RAF (Supermarine Spitfire);

In May 1945, the wing provided close support to ground forces as they recaptured Rangoon before being redeployed to attack concentrations of Japanese forces remaining in Burma. On 12 September, No. 903 Wing was stationed at Kallang, the old civil airport of Singapore City when Lord Louis Mountbatten accepted the formal surrender of all Japanese forces in south-east Asia. It included No. 31 Squadron RAF (Douglas Dakota). On 31 October 1945; 78 years ago (1945-10-31), No 903 Wing was disbanded, becoming Station Headquarters Kallang.

Operation Telic

903 EAW Badge (2018)
https://twitter.com/BattleBackGolf/status/989938521342464001/photo/1

The wing was re-commissioned into service during 2003, and sent to Contingency Operating Base Basra as part of Operation Telic.

The wing stayed at Basra until May 2009.

Operation Herrick

During mid-2009, the wing was moved to Camp Bastion in Afghanistan as part of Operation Herrick. It consisted of:

• Westland Sea Kings operated by 845, 846, 854 & 857 Naval Air Squadrons.
• An RAF Force Protection Wing
• Thales Watchkeeper WK450s operated by 32nd Regiment Royal Artillery and 47th Regiment Royal Artillery.

It also supported the following:

• Joint Helicopter Force (Afghanistan) that consisted of:
  • AgustaWestland Apaches operated by 3 and 4 Regiments Army Air Corps.
  • Chinooks operated by No. 1310 Flight RAF.
  • Merlin HC2s operated by 28(AC) and 78 Squadrons RAF.
  • Elements of Tactical Supply Wing.
• Visiting Air Mobility aircraft including:
  • Airbus Voyager KC2 and KC3 operated by No. 10 Squadron RAF and 101 Squadron RAF.
  • Lockhead TriStars aircraft operated by 216 Squadron RAF.
  • Boeing C-17A Globemaster IIIs operated by No. 99 Squadron RAF.
  • Hercules C-130Js operated by 24, 30, 47 & 70 Squadrons RAF.

Camp Bastion was transferred to the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) when the United Kingdom withdrew from Afghanistan, and 903 EAW was stood down in November 2014; 9 years ago (2014-11).

In December 2015; 8 years ago (2015-12), the wing reformed at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus to replace No 140 EAW as part of Operation Shader. It consists of:

• Elements of the RAF Typhoon Force (9 x Typhoon FGR4 multi-role combat aircraft (6 active, 3 reserve))
• Elements of the RAF Air Mobility Force:
  • 2 x Hercules C5 tactical transport aircraft (1 withdrawn during 2014; all C-130 Hercules aircraft withdrawn from RAF service in 2023; replaced by Airbus A400M Atlas)
  • 2 x Voyager KC3 multi-role tanker transport aircraft
• Elements of the RAF ISTAR Force

RAF aircraft have been using RAF Akrotiri as their home base whilst carrying out these operations. In February 2019, the Tornado GR4 force (previously involving up to ten strike aircraft on rotation) returned to RAF Marham for the types' retirement. The Tornado role in theatre is being undertaken by the Typhoon FGR4 detachment. Sentry AEW1 AEW&C aircraft from No. 8 Squadron were previously employed on operations. However, the aircraft was withdrawn from RAF service in 2021. The previously employed Sentinel R1 ISTAR aircraft from No. V(AC) Squadron was similarly retired in March 2021.

In early 2024, in response to attacks launched against international shipping by Houthi rebels in Yemen, RAF Typhoon fighters, supported by Voyager tanker aircraft, carried out strikes against Houthi forces. Four Cyprus-based Typhoons, carrying Paveway IV laser-guided bombs, and 2 Voyager aircraft were reportedly employed in the strikes.

• Group Captain Paul Burt (Op TELIC, 9/10 May – Nov 2007)
• Group Captain Mike Wigston (Nov 2007 – Apr 2008)
• Group Captain Andrew (during 2008)
• Wing Commander Ian Richardson (during 2009).
• Wing Commander Mark Flewin (2014)
• Group Captain Charles Dickens (2019)
• Group Captain Andrew Coope (Oct 2018 – Mar 2019)
• Group Captain Jonathon Moreton (Apr 2019 – Oct 2019)
• Group Captain Ian Townsend (Oct 2019 – Feb 2020)
• Wing Commander Calvin Bailey (Feb 2020 – Jul 2020)
• Wing Commander Dutch Holland (Jul 2021 – Jan 2022)

• Operation Herrick aerial order of battle
• International Security Assistance Force (ISAF)