THE proud history of RAF Lyneham's 30 Squadron came full circle when it received battle honours for its role in Iraq, the country where it flew its first missions nearly a century ago.

On Thursday, Air Marshal Clive Loader presented the squadron with a new standard, emblazoned with its motto Flat Out, its military honours and palm tree symbol, for only the third time in its long history.

The squadron's first ever missions were flown in the Middle East and Iraq in the First World War, and now, 90 years later, 30 Squadron is once again flying in Basrah and Baghdad.

Standards have not been carried into battle by British forces for centuries. But in what could be the last time, a new standard was given to a squadron at the RAF base, which is due to close.

The significance was not lost on the air marshall who pointed out the enduring importance of the occasion.

"These emblems have played a critical part in the combat effectiveness of military units for a great many years," he said.

"They constitute a record of service and a strong reminder of the principles with which we are expected to conduct ourselves.

"It was in Iraq that the squadron first cut its teeth and established its fine reputation. It is perhaps ironic that 90 years on 30 Squadron has come full circle and finds itself back in deployment in the Middle East."

The 60 men and women of the squadron's two flights marched with medals gleaming past an audience of family, RAF officers and 30 Squadron Association members, proudly displaying their old colours.

But before the air marshall arrived the parade was briefly forced to break ranks to allow several servicemen to retrieve their caps, which were blown off as they marched on to the aircraft servicing platform outside the base's air terminal.

As the air marshall took his place on the dais, the two flights, now with chinstraps tightly secured, presented arms as four Hercules transport planes flew overhead in tight formation.

The old standard was marched away and the new one placed on the drums, where it was consecrated by the RAF's chaplain-in-chief The Venerable Ron Hesketh.

In the short service the chaplain told the squadron: "Remember always that this standard, which we have dedicated to our God, represents unto us our bounden duty to our Queen and country, which is to serve her, her realm and our fellow citizens to the utmost of our power."

The squadron's emblem incorporates a palm tree, which harks back to its service origins in the Middle East.

In Egypt in 1915 the squadron was given the task of preventing the Turks from blowing up the banks of the Suez Canal.

Between the two world wars the squadron remained in Iraq, where it was charged with keeping peace among the warring tribes.

In the Second World War the squadron was at first equipped with Bristol Blenheims and then Hurricanes when it moved its base to Ceylon.

On Easter Sunday 1942 the 26 pilots of 30 Squadron and 258 Squadron scrambled to meet a Japanese invasion force.

They accounted for 14 of the 18 enemy aircraft, destroyed at a cost of eight British lives.

In 1947 it became a transport squadron for the first time, and was equipped with Dakota IVs and in 1948 played a vital role in the Berlin Airlift.

In just one month it flew 444 sorties into the stricken city and by the end of the lift, all the flying members of the squadron had flown at least 200 missions.

Since then 30 Squadron has flown countless relief, emergency and aid operations across the world.

It flew supplies to British forces operating in the Falklands, Afghanistan and more recently Iraq.

The presentation of a standard is a rare occurrence, taking place approximately once every 25 years.

The squadron's first standard was presented in 1954 by Air Marshall Sir James Robb and the second standard was given to the squadron by the Princess Royal, Princess Anne, in 1978.