Gunners marked the landmark birthday of II Squadron, RAF Regiment with a ten mile route march around their base at RAF Honington, near Thetford.

Current and former members of II Squadron took part in the march this morning, carrying heavy rucksacks.

The squadron was formed in 1922 as Number 2 Armoured Car Company to protect British air bases and assets and became part of the RAF Regiment in 1942. It gained its airborne assault role in 1962 and is the only parachute capable squadron in the RAF Regiment.

The squadron, which is made up of 133 men, relocated to Honington in 1994 when the Regiment moved to Suffolk from Catterick.

Personnel returned from an arduous seven month tour of Afghanistan in May and helped out with Olympics and Paralympics security during London 2012.

Personnel from the parachute-trained field squadron had also planned to carry out a parachute jump today, which had to be cancelled because of the windy weather conditions. The march was followed by a families day in the afternoon.

Squadron Leader Jules Weekes, officer commanding of II Squadron said: 'It is a great privilege and honour to be officer commanding on this momentous year. All of us on the squadron continue to work hard to remember our heritage and the professionalism and resilience those before us have shown during previous conflicts.'

'The exceptional level of professionalism and conduct seen during our recent tour of Afghanistan is testament to this and highlights the Squadron's robustness and ability to operate in the most testing of circumstances.'

See Saturday's EDP for more.