Northern Ireland Universities Air Squadron

Northern Ireland Universities Air Squadron
Active1941-1996, 2015–present
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force Ensign Royal Air Force
RoleTraining, Recruiting
Part ofNo. 6 Flying Training School
Garrison/HQAldergrove Flying Station
MottosLatin: Novos Finis Usque Petentes
"Always Seeking New Horizons"
EquipmentGrob Tutor T1

Northern Ireland Universities Air Squadron is a University Air Squadron connected to the Queen’s University Belfast and Ulster University, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.[1]

History

Queens university Air Squadron (QUAS) the predecessor organization to Northern Ireland Universities Air Squadron was set up in January 1941 following a large loss of airman during the Battle of Britain.[2] QUAS undertook the training of 587 Officer Cadets during The Second World War.[3]

QUAS had flown out of RAF Sydenham since 1941. However, in the 1970s, Sydenham transitioned away from an active RAF airfield into a heavy aircraft servicing base, ceasing being an active duty base in 1973. QUAS maintain flight operations at RAF Sydenham throughout the 1980s relocating to RAF Aldergrove in 1992 and operating there until disbandment in 1996.

Member of Parliament John Wilkinson (British politician) asked Minister of State for the Armed Forces (Hon) Nicholas Soames about the closure of the University Air Sqns in Northern Ireland in parliament at a debate 25th Oct 1995. The Secretary of state argued that "The Department has proposed the closure of Queen's university air squadron at the end of the 1995–96 academic year" and should Queens close No. 13 Air Experience Flight, which shares accommodation with the UAS, would also close. [4]

Previous to this the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) alongside some Labour members had tabeled a motion supported by new leader of the UUP David Trimble. The motion demanded that "this House calls upon Her Majesty's Government to retain the Queen's University Air Squadron to afford equality of opportunity to all regions within the United Kingdom"[5] . Despite the Confidence and Supply agreement the UUP had with John Major the appeal was unsuccessful. The squadrons closed in July 1996. This meant a pause in UAS coverage of Northern Ireland for nearly 20 year's, until the squadron was re-founded in 2015.

Aircraft

Historic Aircraft used: - Moth, Tutor, Tiger Moth II, Harvard T Mk 2b, Oxford, Provost T Mk 1, Chipmunk T Mk 10, Anson T Mk 21, Prentice T Mk 1, Bulldog T Mk 1.[6]

Current Aircraft used: Grob 115E (Tutor) [7] The Squadron has a fleet of 3 Grob Tutor aircraft based at RAF Aldergrove Flying Station.[8] Any Officer Cadet (Off Cdt) who completes the flying syllabus will be awarded Preliminary Flying Badge or Wings known as Budgie wings.[9]

Incidents

  • On Sunday 5 March 1950, 1.25pm, Proctor 'NP389' crashed at Sydenham, with Flying Officer Sidney Thomas Bryans, aged 30, of 84 Northland Road, Derry, who attended Foyle College, with William Angus Lister Morrison, aged 21, of Killowen, and Ernest Harold Porter, aged 21, studied engineering, of 418 Lisburn Road, Belfast, who died in the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast after five minutes, who attended the Methodist College Belfast[10][11][12]
  • On Sunday 30 May 1954 at Loughgall at 4.25pm, Harvard 'KF751' crashed, with Brian McClay, aged 24, of White Lodge on Balmoral Avenue, who gained a Mechanical Engineering degree in 1953[13][14]
  • On Wednesday 3 March 1976 XX612 crashed at Balloo, County Down, after taken off from RAF Sydenham[15][16][17]
  • Squadron Leader Robert John Burge was killed on Friday 16 October 1992; he had been the commanding officer for only two weeks. Burge had taken off on a training flight from Belfast City Airport with a female student aboard. The aircraft crashed at Comber during a forced landing. The occupants were taken to Ulster Hospital. The student occupant sustained major injuries but survived.[18][19][20] Burge was the son of John and Brenda Burge of Birkdale.

Alumni

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Northern Ireland Universities' Air Squadron". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  2. ↑ "Queen's honours 85 years of University Air Squadron". News. Queen's University Belfast. 2026-05-31. Retrieved 2026-07-16.
  3. ↑ "The Queen's University of Belfast War Record 1939–1947". Lennon Wylie Street Directories. Retrieved 2026-07-16.
  4. ↑ "RAF Units (Northern Ireland)". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Vol. 264. Commons. 25 October 1995. col. 919. Retrieved 15 July 2026.
  5. ↑ "Early Day Motion 10425: Queen's University Air Squadron". UK Parliament. 1995-03-09. Retrieved 2026-07-15.
  6. ↑ Barrass, Malcolm B. "Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation". Air of Authority. Retrieved 2026-07-15.
  7. ↑ "Northern Ireland University Air Squadron (NIUAS)". Queen's Students' Union. Retrieved 2026-07-15.
  8. ↑ Black, Rebecca (2020-02-25). "Aspiring young airmen and airwomen welcome delivery of training planes". Belfast Telegraph. PA. Retrieved 2026-07-15.
  9. ↑ Air of Authority (2025-03-17). "RAF Flying Badges - Current". A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 2026-07-15.
  10. ↑ Times Monday March 6 1950, page 4
  11. ↑ Liverpool Daily Post Monday 6 March 1950, page 1
  12. ↑ March 1950 incident
  13. ↑ May 1954 incident
  14. ↑ Belfast Telegraph Monday 31 May 1954, page 5
  15. ↑ Belfast Telegraph Wednesday 3 March 1976, page 1
  16. ↑ BBC Rewind
  17. ↑ 1976 accident
  18. ↑
    • Liverpool Echo Saturday 17 October 1992, p. 4
    • Belfast Newsletter Saturday 17 October 1992, p. 1
  19. ↑ Ranter, Harro. "Scottish Aviation Bulldog T1 XX613, Friday 16 October 1992". Aviation Safety Network FlightSafety.org.
  20. ↑ "Aircraft Accident to Royal Air Force Bulldog TMK1 XW 613" (PDF), Military Aircraft Accident Summary, Ministry of Defence, retrieved 12 December 2024
  21. ↑ Times obituary, Friday September 4 2009, page 74
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