On Tuesday 26th November 2024, Club Vice-President Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford received the Badge of Royal Air Force Tactical Supply Wing (TSW) on behalf of The Club. The Badge was funded by retired and serving officers of the Wing, many of whom joined Sir Andrew and other guests for lunch in The Library. TSW is a force multiplier support unit of the RAF which specialises in refuelling helicopters in the field, extending their range and enabling operations from remote locations.

Nicknamed “Tiswas”, a word meaning a state of nervous agitation or confusion, physical disorder or chaos”, the Wing first deployed detachments to Northern Ireland in January 1971 and since then has been continuously operational for 54 years, a record that few RAF units can equal. It has been involved in both Gulf Wars, the Falklands War, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Kosovo, Mali and almost every other operational theatre where the RAF has been present. The Wing also supports Special Forces and is one of the few RAF units with a parachute capability.

The Badge, awarded in 1992, features a Peregrine Falcon in flight, against a background of a three-arched bridge and a body of water, with the motto “Support to Strike”. The falcon with its wings outstretched resonates with “Supply Wing”, whilst the bridge signifies communication and its three arches refer to the Wings main clients – all three services of the Armed Forces.

TSW members were particularly pleased that Sir Andrew responded to their invitation to receive The Badge because he was a distinguished support helicopter pilot during his RAF service, having flown, amongst other aircraft, Wessex and Chinook helicopters, including on operations in Northern Ireland, the South Atlantic and Iraq, during which he would have been supported by The Wing. Other parts of the rotary-wing world were represented by another guest and Club Silver Member, Squadron Leader Geoffrey Day, a former Search and Rescue pilot with some 23,000 helicopter flying hours in his log book and two Queen’s Commendations for Valuable Service in the Air to his name.

TSW was conceived in the Old Shades pub in Whitehall in the 1960s, so it is entirely appropriate that the Badge has been positioned just outside the Running Horse, albeit 54 years after the Wing was founded.

Below is a selection of photos from the squadron badge presentation.

Gp Capt Alan Matthews RAF Ret