DOWN on one knee, Flight Lieutenant Jamie Anderson proudly received the new standard of his squadron from Prince Michael of Kent.

The light blue silk standard replaces 33 Squadron’s previous icon. Embroidered across it are the battle honours representing its long history.

Yesterday, a ceremony to consecrate the standard and retire its predecessor took place at the squadron’s home, RAF Benson.

Eighty members of the squadron, along with the Central Band of the Royal Air Force, paraded in front of His Royal Highness.

Flt Lt Anderson said: “It was an honour to be out on the parade and to be carrying the squadron’s standard.

“It is probably a once-in-a-career opportunity.”

As the squadron performed a Royal Salute and the central band played the national anthem, a Puma Mk2 helicopter soared over the ceremony.

Later, the squadron gave three hurrahs for the Queen and a Hurricane from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight performed acrobatics across the sky.

The consecration service was performed by The Venerable Ray Pentland, the Chaplain in Chief of the Royal Air Force.

Prince Michael of Kent, the base’s Honorary Air Marshall, said: “It is a time of great change for the squadron and you its personnel – you will have a very impressive new aircraft and I believe that this new standard is highly fitting.

“I look forward to seeing 33 Squadron rise to every challenge you may face, as did your forbearers.”

His Royal Highness is the Queen’s cousin.

33 Squadron’s Puma Mk1 was retired in December and the airmen are preparing for 24 revamped Puma Mk2s to arrive later this year.

Wing Commander Shane Anderson, Officer Commanding 33 Squadron, said: “It has been a fantastically proud moment.

“The standard ties our ethos and history and brings them together in a physical representation, something that evidences the emotion to all members of the squadron.

“For us it is almost a religious item in that it holds the battle honours and remembers those who have fallen and the courageous acts of the past. To have a member of the Royal family to present our standard was fantastic. It really ties the special relationship we have with the Royal family.”

Air Commodore Paul Lyall, who was squadron commander in 2003/04, said: “To see the squadron in robust health is an enormous privilege.

“They are engineers, they wield spanners and yet they can turn themselves out like that when required.”

The History of 33 Squadron

The squadron was formed in Filton, Gloucestershire, in 1916 and, equipped with Bristol F2b aircraft, became the world’s first dedicated night fighter force.

It was disbanded after the First World War, but was reformed as a day bomber unit with Hawker Hart aircraft in Wiltshire.

In 1935, it was deployed to Egypt to protect the Suez Canal and in 1940 it worked in North Africa against the Italian Royal Air Force.

During the Second World War the squadron was equipped with Hurricanes and Spitfires to fight the Luftwaffe across Europe.

33 Squadron has operated Puma helicopters since 1971 and moved from RAF Odiham in Hampshire to RAF Benson in 1997. It has operated or provided humanitarian support in Belize, Zimbabwe, Ascension Island, Venezuela, the Gulf War, Yugoslavia and Bosnia.