British Military Aviation in 1964

4 January
The merger of Aden into the existing Federation of Emirates of the South, renamed the Federation of South Arabia, heightens tensions within Aden and the surrounding countryside and between Aden and Yemen. This culminated with the declaration of a state of emergency following a grenade attack on the High Commissioner at Khormaksar.

During 1964 attention was particularly focused on the Radfan area, where the Qutebibi tribe were attacking traffic on the Dhala road. The Royal Air Force (RAF) and Fleet Air Arm provided air support to Army units during a major intervention in the Radfan, Operation Nutcracker, which began on this date.

20-25 January
Driven by poor conditions of service and the continued employment of British officers and Non Commissioned Officers, men of the 1st and 2nd Battalions, Tanganyika Rifles, the 1st and 2nd Battalions, Uganda Rifles, and the 11th Battalion, Kenya Rifles, mutiny in Tanganyika, Uganda and Kenya. Following requests for assistance from the leaders of the nations in question, on 25 January two Bristol Belvedere HC1s of No.26 Squadron RAF, embarked upon the carrier HMS Centaur, flew in Marines from No.45 Commando, Royal Marines, to Colito Barracks in Tanganyika. The mutineers were taken by surprise and rounded up.

On the afternoon of 25 January, an air strike by Fleet Air Arm de Havilland Sea Vixens and Buccaneers on the barracks at Tabora is aborted ten minutes from the target when the mutineers surrendered. Meanwhile, Blackburn Beverleys of No.30 Squadron flew 450 infantrymen into Entebbe from RAF Eastleigh in Kenya, to suppress the mutiny in Uganda. Mutineers in Kenya surrendered to British troops stationed in the country.

28 March
On 13 March, a raid was conducted across the border from Yemen by armed helicopters, supported by MiG17 fighters, against the village of Bulaq and a Frontier Guard post. In response, Royal Air Force Hawker Hunters attacked and destroyed a Yemen Republic fort at Harib.

1 April
A Unified Ministry of Defence is established. The Air Ministry became the Air Force Department, the Air Council became the Air Force Board of the Defence Council and the Secretary of State for Air, the Minister of Defence for the Royal Air Force (RAF).

29 April - 10/11 June
In an effort to suppress continued attacks on the Dhala road, Radfan Force 'Radforce' is established with a brief to end the activities of dissidents in the Radfan, to stop the spread of revolt and to hold the Dhala road open.

During this period, Radforce fought a major campaign to take control of key areas of the Radfan, supported by all Royal Air Force (RAF) units in the region. RAF Hawker Hunters played a key role in the campaign and in May and June they flew 642 sorties and fired 2,508 rockets and 183,900 rounds of 30mm Aden cannon ammunition.

Avro Shackletons also conducted night attacks on dissident positions. RAF Blackburn Beverley transport aircraft and Bristol Belvedere helicopters, together with Fleet Air Arm Westland Whirlwinds, provided airlift and tactical transport for ground troops and supplies.

July
The British Government announces its intention to grant independence to Aden, while retaining a military base in the country. This resulted in further fighting within Aden, both between the various nationalist groups and between the latter and the security forces.

3 July
The Queen's Colour for the Royal Air Force in the United Kingdom was presented by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.

September
A Westland Whirlwind helicopter of No.110 Squadron carries equipment for a new radio station to a site 9,000 feet up Mount Kinabalu in Borneo.

October
A Tripartite Squadron, comprised of United Kingdom, United States and West German forces, is established at RAF West Raynham to evaluate the Hawker P1127 (Kestrel) Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) strike fighter aircraft.

October
Technician and Craft Apprentice Schemes replace those for (Aircraft) Apprentices, initiated in February 1920, and Boy Entrants, initiated in September 1934, respectively.