Buffalo is back

More than 80 years after its formation, the Buffalo call sign has returned home to 12SQN at RAAF Base Edinburgh.

The Buffalo emblem will now appear on the squadron’s P-8A Poseidons, linking the unit’s heritage with its modern maritime mission.

The call sign was returned during a ceremony at RAAF Base Townsville on February 16, and the Buffalo tail flash was unveiled on a 12SQN P-8A Poseidon at RAAF Base Edinburgh on February 26.

The call sign dates back to the squadron’s early operations during WWII, when it flew Hawker Demon biplane fighters and Avro Anson general and maritime reconnaissance aircraft in the defence of Australia’s north, alongside offensive operations in the former Dutch New Guinea region.

12SQN flew the CH-47 Chinook between 1973 and 1989, after which it disbanded with the transfer of rotary wing aviation to the Army. The call sign passed to the Army’s 5th Aviation Regiment from 1995 when it began flying the CH-47 Chinook. Its return to Air Force restores a diverse operational heritage for the next chapter of Buffalo.

Today, 12SQN delivers P-8A Poseidon multi-mission maritime aviation to the integrated force, including maritime patrol, anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare and maritime strike.

For CO 12SQN WGCDR James Best, the return of Buffalo ties the unit’s history to his team’s standard of professionalism and readiness.

“The call sign carries the reputation of the squadron and is the most important part of our identity,” WGCDR Best said.

“It represents our mateship and history. This handover meant carrying forward that tradition, tied directly to the unit’s motto Erramus Et Impugnamus, translated from Latin as ‘we roam and we charge’.”

CO 5th Aviation Regiment LTCOL Richard Bremner said returning the call sign was a privilege.

“For Army aviation, it is an honour to return the Buffalo call sign,” LTCOL Bremner said.

“It is an important symbol for the unit, and we look forward to continuing to work alongside 12SQN.”

For those working on the flightline, the tail flash is a daily reminder of the squadron’s legacy.

LAC Benjamin Bradshaw, an aeronautical life support technician with 12SQN, said the Buffalo emblem reinforced expectations.

“The tail flash gives us a reputation to live up to. When we deploy on exercises or operations, people will expect a professional and highly skilled crew dedicated to the success of the mission,” LAC Bradshaw said.

“It’s exciting to be continuing the 12SQN’s legacy while forming our own identity into the future. I’m proud to be part of this next chapter of the unit’s history.”