No. 600 (City of London) Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force is a squadron of the RAF Reserves. It was formed in 1925 and operated as a night fighter squadron during the Second World War with great distinction. After the war, 600 Squadron went on to operate jet fighters until 1957. Reactivated in 1999, 600 Squadron is the only RAF Reserve unit within the M25. It is a Headquarters Support Squadron and provides trained part-time reservists to support RAF operations around the world.
| No. 600 (City of London) Squadron RAuxAF | |
|---|---|
| Active | 14 October 1925 – 21 August 1945 10 May 1946 – 10 March 1957 1 October 1999 – present |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Air Force |
| Part of | Royal Auxiliary Air Force |
| Base | RAF Northolt, London |
| Nickname(s) | City of London |
| Motto(s) | Latin: Praeter sescentos (Translation: "More than six hundred")[1][2] |
| Post 1950 Squadron markings |  |
| Battle honours | France and Low Countries, 1940* Battle of Britain, 1940* Home defence, 1940–42* North Africa, 1942–43* Sicily, 1943* Italy, 1943–45* Salerno* Anzio & Nettuno* Gustav Line Gothic Line The honours marked with an asterisk* are those emblazoned on the Squadron Standard |
| Commanders | |
| Officer Commanding | Wing Commander |
| Honorary Air Commodore | Hugh Trenchard, 3rd Viscount Trenchard |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge heraldry | No 600 is the only squadron in the RAF to have two official badges[3] In front of an increscent, a sword on bend[2][4] The crescent moon represents the squadron's night-fighter activities whilst the sword commemorates the connection with the city of London[1] The City of London arms, overflown by an eagle Also known as 'the dust-cart crest'[5] |
| Squadron Codes | MV (Jan 1939 – Sep 1939)[6][7] BQ (Sep 1939 – Aug 1943)[8][9] 6 (Aug 1943 – Jul 1944)[10] RAG (May 1946 – 1949)[11][12] LJ (1949 – Apr 1951)[13] |
History
editFormation
editNo. 600 (City of London) Squadron RAuxAF was formed at RAF Northolt on 14 October 1925 as a unit of the Auxiliary Air Force,[4] equipped with Avro 504 trainers and Airco DH.9A day bombers.[14] It moved to RAF Hendon at the end of 1926, replacing its DH.9As, veterans of the First World War, with more modern Westland Wapitis in 1929.[15] It was designated a fighter squadron in July 1934. On the outbreak of war day and night patrols were flown, experiments with airborne radar beginning in December 1939. When the Germans invaded The Netherlands, the squadron flew patrols over the Low Countries but in view of the inadequacy of Blenheims for daylight operations, 600 Sqn was allocated to night defence only a few days later.
Second World War
edit
In September 1940, the first Bristol Beaufighter was received, conversion being completed early in 1941. In October 1940 the squadron moved to Yorkshire and in March 1941 to south-west England, where it remained until September 1942. In November 1942, 600 Sqn moved to North Africa to provide night cover for Allied bases and shipping. It was transferred to Malta in June 1943, and in September, to Italy where it spent the rest of the war on night defence and intruder missions. Re-equipment with Mosquitoes began in January 1945 and on 21 August 1945 the squadron disbanded, having become the highest scoring night fighter squadron in the RAF.[16]
Post-war
editOn 10 May 1946, 600 Sqn reformed at RAF Biggin Hill, as a day fighter squadron of the Auxiliary Air Force with Spitfires. It began to recruit during June and received its first operational aircraft in October. After receiving a De Havilland Vampire in October 1949 for jet conversion, it was allotted Meteors in March 1950 and flew these until the Royal Auxiliary Air Force disbanded this squadron and many others on 10 March 1957.
Present
editSince 1999, the Squadron has provided initial and professional training to part-time reservists in a variety of RAF ground trades – Operations, Intelligence, Personnel Support, Nursing, Medical & Logistics among others. Many 600 Squadron reservists have had the privilege of literally making the headlines – from exercises in Africa, the Middle East and Malaysia, to front-line operations in Iraq, Afghanistan the Falkland's and further afield. Their involvement has run the gamut of the RAF's More recently, our reservists mobilised from their civilian lives to assist in the planning, and on the front-lines of the response to the global pandemic – and there is likely to be more opportunities for our reservists to make a mark on history just as their predecessors did.
In the UK, Reservists from 600 Squadron have served on RAF stations, flying squadrons, at HQ Air Command, in joint operations rooms, with RAF Regiment Squadrons and in posts within the Ministry of Defence. Indistinguishable from full-time colleagues, part-time personnel have led change and success in the traditions of the unit, often gaining awards and commendations – or transferring into successful RAF Regular careers.
Meanwhile, 600 Squadron is the only RAF Reserve presence within Greater London, and with “Privileged Regiment Status” within the City of London, is regularly involved in high-profile ceremonial events there, or on the national stage.
600 Squadron still actively seeks to recruit and train motivated men and women who live within a 50-mile radius of RAF Northolt, with or without prior armed forces experience, and who have an interest in supporting the RAF in their spare-time.[17]
Aircraft operated
edit| From | To | Aircraft | Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 1925 | October 1929 | Avro 504 | K |
| October 1925 | October 1929 | De Havilland DH9 | A |
| August 1929 | January 1935 | Westland Wapiti | Mk.IIa |
| August 1929 | January 1935 | Avro Tutor | |
| January 1935 | May 1937 | Hawker Hart | |
| February 1937 | April 1939 | Hawker Demon | |
| January 1939 | October 1941 | Bristol Blenheim | Mk.If |
| November 1939 | June 1940 | Bristol Blenheim | Mk.IV |
| September 1940 | June 1941 | Bristol Beaufighter | Mk.If |
| April 1941 | April 1942 | Bristol Beaufighter | Mk.IIf |
| March 1942 | February 1945 | Bristol Beaufighter | Mk.VIf |
| December 1944 | August 1945 | de Havilland Mosquito | Mk.XIX |
| October 1946 | November 1947 | Supermarine Spitfire | F.14e |
| April 1947 | November 1950 | Supermarine Spitfire | F.21 |
| September 1948 | March 1950 | Supermarine Spitfire | F.22 |
| March 1950 | April 1952 | Gloster Meteor | F.4 |
| November 1951 | March 1957 | Gloster Meteor | F.8 |
Commanding officers
edit| From | To | Name |
|---|---|---|
| October 1925 | 1926 | W/Cdr. A.W.H. James, MC |
| 1926 | 1931 | S/Ldr. the Hon. F.E. Guest |
| 1931 | July 1934 | S/Ldr. S.B. Collett |
| July 1934 | June 1937 | S/Ldr. P.G. Stewart |
| June 1937[23] | December 1939 | S/Ldr. G.L.S. Dawson – Damer, the Viscount Carlow |
| December 1939 | May 1940 | S/Ldr. J.M. Wells |
| May 1940 | September 1940 | F/Lt. de B. Clarke |
| September 1940 | November 1940 | S/Ldr. H.L. Maxwell, DSO |
| November 1940 | January 1941 | S/Ldr. C.A. Pritchard[24] |
| January 1941 | December 1941 | W/Cdr. George Stainforth, AFC |
| December 1941 | May 1942 | W/Cdr. H.M. Pearson, DFC |
| May 1942 | November 1942 | W/Cdr. A.G. Miller, DFC, Order of Lenin |
| November 1942 | December 1942 | W/Cdr. J.R. Watson |
| December 1942 | March 1944 | W/Cdr. Patrick Green, DSO, DFC |
| March 1944 | December 1944 | W/Cdr. L.H. Styles, DFC |
| December 1944 | August 1945 | W/Cdr. A.H. Drummond |
| July 1946 | July 1948 | S/Ldr. T.N. Hayes, DFC |
| July 1948 | August 1950 | S/Ldr. D.E. Proudlove |
| August 1950 | October 1953 | S/Ldr. J.P. Meadows, DFC, AFC |
| October 1953 | March 1957 | S/Ldr. J. McCormack, AFC |
Honorary air commodores
edit| From | To | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1931 | 1937 | The Rt Hon Frederick Guest[25] |
| 1937 | 1941 | George Lloyd, 1st Baron Lloyd |
| 1942 | 1949 | Sir Archibald Sinclair |
| 1949 | 1957 | HM The Queen (The Queen Mother from 1952)[26] |
| 1999 | 2002 | Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother |
| 2006 | present | Hugh Trenchard, 3rd Viscount Trenchard[27] |
Squadron bases
edit| From | To | Base | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 October 1925 | 18 January 1927 | RAF Northolt, Middlesex | |
| 18 January 1927 | 1 October 1938 | RAF Hendon, Middlesex | |
| 1 October 1938 | 3 October 1938 | RAF Kenley, Surrey | |
| 3 October 1938 | 25 August 1939 | RAF Hendon, Middlesex | |
| 25 August 1939 | 2 October 1939 | RAF Northolt, Middlesex | |
| 2 October 1939 | 16 October 1939 | RAF Hornchurch, Essex | Det. at RAF Manston, Kent |
| 16 October 1939 | 20 October 1939 | RAF Rochford, Essex | |
| 20 October 1939 | 27 December 1939 | RAF Hornchurch, Essex | |
| 27 December 1939 | 16 May 1940 | RAF Manston, Kent | |
| 16 May 1940 | 20 June 1940 | RAF Northolt, Middlesex | |
| 20 June 1940 | 22 August 1940 | RAF Manston, Kent | |
| 22 August 1940 | 12 September 1940 | RAF Hornchurch, Essex | |
| 12 September 1940 | 12 October 1940 | RAF Redhill, Surrey | |
| 12 October 1940 | 14 March 1941 | RAF Catterick, North Yorkshire | Dets. at RAF Drem, East Lothian, Scotland; RAF Acklington, Northumberland and RAF Prestwick, Ayrshire |
| 14 March 1941 | 27 April 1941 | RAF Drem, East Lothian, Scotland | Det. at RAF Prestwick, Ayrshire |
| 27 April 1941 | 18 June 1941 | RAF Colerne, Wiltshire | |
| 18 June 1941 | 27 June 1941 | RAF Fairwood Common, Gower, Wales | Det. at RAF Predannack, Cornwall |
| 27 June 1941 | 6 October 1941 | RAF Colerne, Wiltshire | Det. at RAF Predannack, Cornwall |
| 6 October 1941 | 2 September 1942 | RAF Predannack, Cornwall | |
| 2 September 1942 | 14 November 1942 | RAF Church Fenton, North Yorkshire | |
| 14 November 1942 | 18 November 1942 | RAF Portreath, Cornwall | |
| 18 November 1942 | 7 December 1942 | RAF Blida, Algeria | |
| 7 December 1942 | 3 January 1943 | RAF Maison Blanche, Algeria | |
| 3 January 1943 | 25 June 1943 | Setif, Algeria | Dets. at Souk-el-Khemis; 'Paddington'. Tunisia; Bone, Tunisia; Tingley, Algeria and Monastir, Tunisia |
| 25 June 1943 | 26 July 1943 | RAF Luqa, Malta | |
| 26 July 1943 | 30 September 1943 | Cassibile (Sicily), Italy | |
| 30 September 1943 | 2 February 1944 | Montecorvino Airfield, Italy | Dets. at Brindisi, Tortorella, Gaudo and Lago, all Italy |
| 2 February 1944 | 22 March 1944 | Marcianise, Italy | |
| 22 March 1944 | 1 April 1944 | Pomigliano, Italy | |
| 1 April 1944 | 13 June 1944 | Marcianise, Italy | |
| 13 June 1944 | 19 June 1944 | La Banca, Italy | |
| 19 June 1944 | 5 July 1944 | Voltone, Italy | |
| 5 July 1944 | 29 July 1944 | Follonica, Italy | |
| 29 July 1944 | 25 August 1944 | Rosignano, Italy | Det. at Falconara, Italy |
| 25 August 1944 | 15 December 1944 | Falconara, Italy | Dets. at Rosignano, Iesi and Bellaria, all in Italy |
| 15 December 1944 | 24 May 1945 | Cesenatico, Italy | |
| 24 May 1945 | 26 July 1945 | Campoformido, Italy | |
| 26 July 1945 | 21 August 1945 | Aviano, Italy | |
| 10 May 1946 | 10 March 1957 | RAF Biggin Hill |
See also
editReferences
editNotes
edit- ^ a b Rawlings 1978, p. 468.
- ^ a b c d Halley 1988, p. 416.
- ^ Barrass, MB (2015). "No. 600–604 Squadron Histories". Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
- ^ a b "600 Squadron". Royal Air Force. 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
- ^ Hunt 1972, p. 66.
- ^ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 14.
- ^ Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 50.
- ^ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 23.
- ^ Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 65.
- ^ Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 55.
- ^ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 138.
- ^ Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 184.
- ^ Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 153.
- ^ Yoxall 1949, p. 579.
- ^ Yoxall 1949, p. 580.
- ^ "600 (City of London) Reserves". Royal Air Force. 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
- ^ "Royal Air Force". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
- ^ a b Jefford 2001, p. 99.
- ^ Onderwater 1997, p. 424.
- ^ Rawlings 1978, pp. 470–472.
- ^ Onderwater 1997, p. 423.
- ^ Rawlings 1978, p. 472.
- ^ Hunt 1972, p. 46.
- ^ Hunt 1972, p. 52.
- ^ Yoxall 1949, p. 586.
- ^ "The Queen's Appointment". Flight. Vol. LVI, no. 2120. 11 August 1949. p. 179. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
- ^ "Lord Trenchard Reappointed Honorary Air Commodore of 600 Squadron". Royal Air Force. 12 April 2011. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
- ^ Onderwater 1997, p. 425.
- ^ Rawlings 1978, pp. 469–470.
Bibliography
edit- Bowyer, Michael J.F.; Rawlings, John D.R. (1979). Squadron Codes, 1937–56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 0-85059-364-6.
- Flintham, Vic; Thomas, Andrew (2003). Combat Codes: A Full Explanation and Listing of British, Commonwealth and Allied Air Force Unit Codes since 1938. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-84037-281-8.
- Halley, James J. (1988). The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
- Hunt, Leslie (1972). Twenty-One Squadrons: The History of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, 1925–1957. London: Garnstone Press. ISBN 0-85511-110-0.
- Jefford, C.G. (2001). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912 (2nd ed.). Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
- Onderwater, Hans (1997). Gentlemen in Blue: the History of No. 600 (City of London) Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force and No. 600 (City of London) Squadron Association, 1925–1995. London: Pen & Sword Books Ltd. ISBN 0-85052-575-6.
- Rawlings, John D.R. (1982). Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Jane's Publishing Company Ltd. ISBN 0-7106-0187-5.
- Rawlings, John (1978) [1969]. Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft (Revised ed.). London: Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd. ISBN 0-354-01028-X.
- Robinson, Anthony (1999) [1987]. RAF Squadrons in the Battle of Britain. London: Brockhampton Press. ISBN 1-86019-907-0.
- Yoxall, John (3 November 1949). "The Queen's Squadron: A History of No. 600 (City of London) Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force". Flight. Vol. LVI, no. 2132. pp. 585–592. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
External links
edit
- No. 600 (City of London) Squadron on the RAF web site
- 600 Squadron Association
- Bases of No. 600 Squadron during the Second World War
- History of No.'s 600–604 Squadrons at RAF Web
- Aircraft and markings of No. 600 Squadron