RAF squadron drops Crusaders nickname

Shadow R1 planes, of the type flown by 14 Squadron, over RAF Waddington

An RAF squadron is to drop its nickname following a complaint.

The Lincolnshire-based 14 Squadron was formed in 1915 and was nicknamed the Crusaders after flying missions in the Middle East.

The RAF said the decision to scrap the "unofficial" nickname followed a confidential service complaint, which was partially upheld.

A spokesman added: "Our focus must be on not giving prominence to any offensive term that goes against the values of the Royal Air Force."

"The traditions and informal nicknames used by the RAF in the earliest days of the service have a place in our history, however, some are no longer appropriate in the 21st Century," the spokesman said.

Since 2016, 14 Squadron has operated Shadow R1 planes from RAF Waddington.

During the First World War, the squadron flew missions in Egypt, Gaza and Palestine. Between 2003 and 2011, pilots flew sorties in Iraq.

The RAF said the squadron would maintain its royal crest, which was approved by King George VI in May 1937.

In recent years, a number of organisations have questioned the use of the term crusades and imagery surrounding the medieval religious wars.

In 2022, the anti-discrimination group Kick it Out advised England supporters not to wear crusader and knight costumes inside stadiums during the Qatar World Cup.

In 2019, the New Zealand-based Crusaders rugby team dropped some elements of its logo in the wake of the Christchurch mosque attacks, but chose to retain the team's name.

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