No. 600 Squadron RAF

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No. 600 (City of London) Squadron RAuxAF
Active14 October 1925 – 21 August 1945
10 May 1946 – 10 March 1957
1 October 1999 – present
Country Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
Branch Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg 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 RAF 600 sqn.svg
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 CommandingWing Commander
Honorary Air Commodore Lord Trenchard
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldryNo 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 CodesMV (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]

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.

Contents

History

Formation

No. 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

600 Squadron's World War 2 scoreboard, displayed at the RAF Air Defence Radar Museum, 2019 600SquadronScoreboard.png
600 Squadron's World War 2 scoreboard, displayed at the RAF Air Defence Radar Museum, 2019

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

On 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

Since 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

Aircraft operated by no. 600 Squadron RAF, data from [2] [18] [19] [20]
FromToAircraftVersion
October 1925October 1929 Avro 504 K
October 1925October 1929 De Havilland DH9 A
August 1929January 1935 Westland Wapiti Mk.IIa
August 1929January 1935 Avro Tutor
January 1935May 1937 Hawker Hart
February 1937April 1939 Hawker Demon
January 1939October 1941 Bristol Blenheim Mk.If
November 1939June 1940Bristol BlenheimMk.IV
September 1940June 1941 Bristol Beaufighter Mk.If
April 1941April 1942Bristol BeaufighterMk.IIf
March 1942February 1945Bristol BeaufighterMk.VIf
December 1944August 1945 de Havilland Mosquito Mk.XIX
October 1946November 1947 Supermarine Spitfire F.14e
April 1947November 1950Supermarine SpitfireF.21
September 1948March 1950Supermarine SpitfireF.22
March 1950April 1952 Gloster Meteor F.4
November 1951March 1957Gloster MeteorF.8

Commanding officers

Officers commanding no. 600 Squadron RAF [21] [22]
FromToName
October 19251926 W/Cdr. A.W.H. James, MC
19261931 S/Ldr. the Hon. F.E. Guest
1931July 1934S/Ldr. S.B. Collett
July 1934June 1937S/Ldr. P.G. Stewart
June 1937 [23] December 1939S/Ldr. G.L.S. Dawson – Damer, the Viscount Carlow
December 1939May 1940S/Ldr. J.M. Wells
May 1940September 1940 F/Lt. de B. Clarke
September 1940November 1940S/Ldr. H.L. Maxwell, DSO
November 1940January 1941S/Ldr. C.A. Pritchard [24]
January 1941December 1941W/Cdr. George Stainforth, AFC
December 1941May 1942W/Cdr. H.M. Pearson, DFC
May 1942November 1942W/Cdr. A.G. Miller, DFC, Order of Lenin
November 1942December 1942W/Cdr. J.R. Watson
December 1942March 1944W/Cdr. Patrick Green, DSO, DFC
March 1944December 1944W/Cdr. L.H. Styles, DFC
December 1944August 1945W/Cdr. A.H. Drummond
July 1946July 1948S/Ldr. T.N. Hayes, DFC
July 1948August 1950S/Ldr. D.E. Proudlove
August 1950October 1953S/Ldr. J.P. Meadows, DFC, AFC
October 1953March 1957S/Ldr. J. McCormack, AFC

Honorary air commodores

Honorary Air Commodores of No. 600 Squadron RAF
FromToName
19311937The Rt Hon Frederick Guest [25]
19371941 George Lloyd, 1st Baron Lloyd
19421949 Sir Archibald Sinclair
19491957 HM The Queen (The Queen Mother from 1952) [26]
19992002 Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother
2006present Hugh Trenchard, 3rd Viscount Trenchard [27]

Squadron bases

Bases and airfields used by no. 600 Squadron RAF [2] [18] [28] [29]
FromToBaseRemark
14 October 192518 January 1927 RAF Northolt, Middlesex
18 January 19271 October 1938 RAF Hendon, Middlesex
1 October 19383 October 1938 RAF Kenley, Surrey
3 October 193825 August 1939RAF Hendon, Middlesex
25 August 19392 October 1939RAF Northolt, Middlesex
2 October 193916 October 1939 RAF Hornchurch, Essex Det. at RAF Manston, Kent
16 October 193920 October 1939 RAF Rochford, Essex
20 October 193927 December 1939RAF Hornchurch, Essex
27 December 193916 May 1940RAF Manston, Kent
16 May 194020 June 1940RAF Northolt, Middlesex
20 June 194022 August 1940RAF Manston, Kent
22 August 194012 September 1940RAF Hornchurch, Essex
12 September 194012 October 1940 RAF Redhill, Surrey
12 October 194014 March 1941 RAF Catterick, North Yorkshire Dets. at RAF Drem, East Lothian, Scotland; RAF Acklington, Northumberland and RAF Prestwick, Ayrshire
14 March 194127 April 1941RAF Drem, East Lothian, ScotlandDet. at RAF Prestwick, Ayrshire
27 April 194118 June 1941 RAF Colerne, Wiltshire
18 June 194127 June 1941 RAF Fairwood Common, Gower, Wales Det. at RAF Predannack, Cornwall
27 June 19416 October 1941RAF Colerne, WiltshireDet. at RAF Predannack, Cornwall
6 October 19412 September 1942RAF Predannack, Cornwall
2 September 194214 November 1942 RAF Church Fenton, North Yorkshire
14 November 194218 November 1942 RAF Portreath, Cornwall
18 November 19427 December 1942 RAF Blida, Algeria
7 December 19423 January 1943 RAF Maison Blanche, Algeria
3 January 194325 June 1943Setif, AlgeriaDets. at Souk-el-Khemis; 'Paddington'. Tunisia; Bone, Tunisia; Tingley, Algeria and Monastir, Tunisia
25 June 194326 July 1943 RAF Luqa, Malta
26 July 194330 September 1943Cassibile (Sicily), Italy
30 September 19432 February 1944 Montecorvino Airfield, ItalyDets. at Brindisi, Tortorella, Gaudo and Lago, all Italy
2 February 194422 March 1944 Marcianise, Italy
22 March 19441 April 1944 Pomigliano, Italy
1 April 194413 June 1944Marcianise, Italy
13 June 194419 June 1944 La Banca, Italy
19 June 19445 July 1944 Voltone, Italy
5 July 194429 July 1944 Follonica, Italy
29 July 194425 August 1944 Rosignano, ItalyDet. at Falconara, Italy
25 August 194415 December 1944Falconara, ItalyDets. at Rosignano, Iesi and Bellaria, all in Italy
15 December 194424 May 1945 Cesenatico, Italy
24 May 194526 July 1945 Campoformido, Italy
26 July 194521 August 1945 Aviano, Italy
10 May 194610 March 1957 RAF Biggin Hill

See also

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References

Notes

    1. 1 2 Rawlings 1978, p. 468.
    2. 1 2 3 4 Halley 1988, p. 416.
    3. ↑ Barrass, MB (2015). "No. 600–604 Squadron Histories". Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
    4. 1 2 "600 Squadron". Royal Air Force. 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
    5. ↑ Hunt 1972, p. 66.
    6. ↑ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 14.
    7. ↑ Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 50.
    8. ↑ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 23.
    9. ↑ Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 65.
    10. ↑ Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 55.
    11. ↑ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 138.
    12. ↑ Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 184.
    13. ↑ Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 153.
    14. ↑ Yoxall 1949 , p. 579.
    15. ↑ Yoxall 1949 , p. 580.
    16. ↑ "600 (City of London) Reserves". Royal Air Force. 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
    17. ↑ "Royal Air Force". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
    18. 1 2 Jefford 2001 , p. 99.
    19. ↑ Onderwater 1997 , p. 424.
    20. ↑ Rawlings 1978 , pp. 470–472.
    21. ↑ Onderwater 1997 , p. 423.
    22. ↑ Rawlings 1978 , p. 472.
    23. ↑ Hunt 1972 , p. 46.
    24. ↑ Hunt 1972 , p. 52.
    25. ↑ Yoxall 1949, p. 586.
    26. ↑ "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.
    27. ↑ "Lord Trenchard Reappointed Honorary Air Commodore of 600 Squadron". Royal Air Force. 12 April 2011. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
    28. ↑ Onderwater 1997 , p. 425.
    29. ↑ Rawlings 1978 , pp. 469–470.

    Bibliography

    • 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.

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