No. 613 Squadron RAF

Last updated

No. 613 (City of Manchester) Squadron RAuxAF
Active1 February 1939 – 7 August 1945
10 May 1946 – 10 March 1957
Country Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
Branch Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg Royal Auxiliary Air Force
Part of RAF Army Cooperation Command (39–43)
RAF Bomber Command (43–45)
RAF Reserve Command (46–50)
RAF Fighter Command (50–57)
Nickname(s)City of Manchester
Motto(s) Latin: Semper parati
(Translation: "Always ready") [1]
post 1953 squadron markings RAF 613 Sqn.svg
Commanders
Honorary Air Commodore Sir Roy Dobson
Notable
commanders		 Percy "Laddy" Lucas
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldryIn front of two wings conjoined at base, a black fleur de lis [1]
The badge is based upon the badge of the Manchester Regiment [2]
Squadron CodesZR (Oct 1939 – Apr 1942) [3]
SY (Apr 1942 – Aug 1945) [4]
RAT (May 1946 – Mar 1950) [5]
Q3 (Mar 1950 – Dec 1953) [6]

No. 613 (City of Manchester) Squadron was an Auxiliary Air Force later Royal Auxiliary Air Force squadron formed on 1 February 1939 [7] at the then new municipal airport at Ringway, nine miles south of Manchester. The squadron served at first in the army cooperation role, and later during the Second World War became a tactical bomber unit. After the war the squadron reformed as a fighter unit and as such flew until its last disbandment in March 1957.

Contents

History

Formation and early years

The squadron was formed at RAF Ringway on 1 February 1939 in the army cooperation role as part of No. 22 (Army Co-Operation) Group. It was initially intended that the title 'East Lancashire' Squadron would be used, but this could have been confused with No. 611 Squadron RAF, named 'West Lancashire', based at Liverpool's airport at Speke. The link with the City of Manchester was therefore created. The squadron was initially equipped with Hawker Hinds. On 2 October 1939, the squadron moved from RAF Ringway to RAF Odiham near Basingstoke and Hawker Hectors were delivered to the unit during November to replace the Hinds. From 2 April 1940, Westland Lysanders served alongside the Hectors. The Hectors and Lysanders were used to dive-bomb German positions and drop supplies to friendly troops near Calais during the late May 1940 Dunkirk evacuation. [8] [9]

Tactical reconnaissance operations

In August 1941 the squadron became a tactical reconnaissance unit and it began re-equipping with the faster Curtiss Tomahawk. It re-equipped with the early Allison V-1710 powered Mark I version of the North American Mustang in April 1942, continuing to operate within RAF Army Cooperation Command. [1] During Spring and Summer 1943 the Mustangs were flown on "Lagoon" low level shipping reconnaissance flights over the North Sea to near the Dutch Coast, calling in heavy Coastal Command strike aircraft when enemy shipping was located. [10]

Mosquito operations

613 Squadron Mosquito FB.VI NS898 'SY-Z' at RAF Lasham wearing 'D-Day' stripes in June 1944 613 Squadron Mosquito FB.VI at RAF Lasham June 1944.jpg
613 Squadron Mosquito FB.VI NS898 'SY-Z' at RAF Lasham wearing 'D-Day' stripes in June 1944

On 15 October 1943 the squadron moved to RAF Lasham, Hampshire and began to equip with the de Havilland Mosquito when it joined No. 2 Group as a day and night tactical strike unit. [10] The squadron mainly flew night intrusion sorties, but also took part in daylight precision actions such as that against the Dutch Central Population Registry building on 11 April 1944, where the Germans held their Dutch Gestapo records. [11] [12] The squadron disbanded at Cambrai-Epinoy, France, on 7 August 1945 by being renumbered to No. 69 Squadron. [9] [13]

Postwar operations

No. 613 Squadron Spitfire F.14s outside their Hangar No. 7 at RAF Ringway in 1947. Note the squadron's 'RAT' Reserve Command codes 613 Squadron Spitfire F.14s at RAF Ringway in 1947.jpg
No. 613 Squadron Spitfire F.14s outside their Hangar No. 7 at RAF Ringway in 1947. Note the squadron's 'RAT' Reserve Command codes

The squadron reformed on 10 May 1946 at RAF Ringway (now Manchester Airport), as a fighter squadron within Reserve Command. [13] The unit's home was in Ringway's Hangar No.7, which had been completed for the squadron in spring 1940, a few months after leaving the airport for wartime service elsewhere. [13] No. 613 Squadron was initially equipped with Supermarine Spitfire FR.14s, replacing these in November 1948 by the higher performance Mark F.22s. [1] North American Harvard aircraft were used in the dual training role. The Spitfires and their volunteer flying and ground crews were frequently detached to RAF Horsham St Faith, Norfolk, and other RAF stations, for weekend exercises alongside regular RAF squadrons. [13] [14]

No.613 Squadron Vampire FB.9 WR257 'A', built by Fairey Aviation at Ringway, was flown by the unit's C/O S.Ldr Jack Wales between June 1954 and December 1956 613 Squadron Vampire FB.9 WR257.jpg
No.613 Squadron Vampire FB.9 WR257 'A', built by Fairey Aviation at Ringway, was flown by the unit's C/O S.Ldr Jack Wales between June 1954 and December 1956

In April 1950, No. 613 Squadron was transferred to become a unit within RAF Fighter Command. No. 613 re-equipped during February 1951 with the jet-powered De Havilland Vampire FB.5. [1] The Harvard T.2s were replaced by Gloster Meteor T.7 twin-seat trainers. Initial training with the new jet aircraft was carried out at Avros nearby Woodford Aerodrome, with its longer runway, by courtesy of the squadron's honorary air commodore, Sir Roy Dobson, 613's commanding officer, Squadron Leader Jack Wales DFC, a test pilot for Avros, flew the unit's only Vampire FB.9, WR257 'A' between June 1954 and his death in December 1956 when flight testing the prototype Avro Shackleton MR.3. WR257 had been built by Fairey Aviation at Ringway – the only example of a jet aircraft being both built and based at the airfield. [13]

After six further years of peacetime exercises, often detaching to operational RAF fighter stations, the unit disbanded for the final time at Ringway on 10 March 1957, on the same day as all other Royal Auxiliary Air Force flying units. [13] [15]

Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated by no. 613 Squadron RAF, data from [1] [9] [16] [17]
FromToAircraftVersion
May 1939December 1939 Hawker Hind
November 1939June 1940 Hawker Hector Mk.I
April 1940April 1942 Westland Lysander Mks.I, II
January 1941June 1942Westland LysanderMk.IIIa
August 1941April 1942 Curtiss Tomahawk Mk.IIa
April 1942October 1943 North American Mustang Mk.I
November 1943August 1945 de Havilland Mosquito FB.Mk.VI
December 1946December 1948 Supermarine Spitfire FR.14
November 1948March 1951Supermarine SpitfireF.22
November 1948April 1950 North American Harvard Mk.IIb
September 1949April 1950 de Havilland Vampire F.1
April 1950March 1957 Gloster Meteor T.7
February 1951March 1957de Havilland VampireFB.5
June 1954March 1957de Havilland VampireFB.9

Commanding officers

Officers commanding no. 613 Squadron RAF, data from [9] [18] [19]
FromToName
March 1939January 1940 S/Ldr. E. Rhodes
January 1940July 1940S/Ldr. A.F. Anderson
July 1940September 1940 W/Cdr. J.N.T. Stephenson
September 1940February 1941W/Cdr D.C.R.Macdonald [20]
June 1941September 1942W/Cdr. Viscount Acheson
September 1942December 1942S/Ldr. C.L. Page
December 1942October 1943W/Cdr. C.B.E. Burt-Andrews
October 1943February 1944W/Cdr. K.H. Blair, DFC & Bar [21]
February 1944June 1944W/Cdr. R.N. Bateson, DFC
June 1944December 1944W/Cdr. C. Newman
December 1944August 1945W/Cdr. P.B. Lucas, DSO, DFC
November 1946March 1951S/Ldr. J.S. Morton, DFC & Bar
March 1951December 1956S/Ldr. J.B. Wales
December 1956March 1957None

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 610 Squadron RAF</span> Military unit

No. 610 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was a Squadron of the Auxiliary Air Force. Comprising very high quality pilots, often ex-RAF officers and occasionally locally based company Test pilots from companies such as de Havilland and Airwork, its pilots were initially part timers who would spend their weekends and spare time flying and practising combat manoeuvres. The squadron was named the "County of Chester" and adopted the motto "Alifero tollitur axe ceres"; which translates as "Ceres rising in a winged chariot", Ceres being the Roman Goddess of Wheat, a reference to Chester's Agricultural sector. Its badge contained the image of a garb.

Royal Air Force Ringway or more simply RAF Ringway is a former Royal Air Force satellite station in Ringway, Cheshire, England, near Manchester. It was operational from 1939 until 1957. The site of the station is now occupied by Manchester Airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 609 Squadron RAF</span> Military unit

No. 609 Squadron of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, originally formed as a bomber squadron and in the Second World War active as fighter squadron, nowadays provides personnel to augment and support the operations of the Royal Air Force. The squadron is no longer a flying squadron, but instead has the role of Force Protection. It is currently based at RAF Leeming, North Yorkshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 504 Squadron RAF</span> Military unit

No. 504 Squadron was one of the Special Reserve Squadrons of the Auxiliary Air Force, and today is a reserve force of the RAF Regiment. It was integrated into the AAF proper in 1936. Based at RAF Cottesmore, Rutland, 504 Squadron used a variety of light bombers before being re-tasked to fighters with the Hawker Hurricane in 1939. It subsequently became a Fighter Squadron. Currently No. 504 Squadron no longer has a flying role, but as part of No 85 Expeditionary Logistics Wing of the RAF A4 Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 607 Squadron RAF</span> Military unit

No. 607 Squadron is an auxiliary squadron of the Royal Air Force. It was formed in 1930 as a bomber unit in the Auxiliary Air Force and changed in 1936 to the fighter role. It fought in that role during the Second World War in Europe and Asia. After the war, in 1946, the squadron reformed as a fighter unit. Awarded the title Royal Auxiliary Air Force by King George in 1947, 607 Sqn was disbanded with all the other flying units of the RAuxAF on 10 March 1957. It reformed on 5 January 2015, as a General Service Support Squadron (GSS).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 501 Squadron RAF</span> Military unit

No. 501 Squadron was the 14th of the 21 flying units in the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, the volunteer reserve part of the British Royal Air Force. The squadron won seven battle honours, flying Hurricane, Spitfire and Tempest fighter aircraft during World War II, and was one of the most heavily engaged units in RAF Fighter Command. In particular, the Squadron saw extensive action during the Battle of France and Battle of Britain. At present the unit is not flying any more and has a logistics role as part of No 85 Expeditionary Logistics Wing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 500 Squadron RAF</span> Royal Air Force flying squadron

No. 500 Squadron AAF was a Royal Air Force flying squadron. It was initially formed in 1931 as a Special Reserve squadron and in 1936 became part of the Auxiliary Air Force, at this time based at Manston and Detling.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 616 Squadron RAF</span> Military unit

No. 616 Squadron is an active Reserve unit of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force (RAuxAF) assigned to the RAF ISTAR Force at RAF Waddington. It was originally formed as a unit of the British Auxiliary Air Force in 1938, active throughout World War 2 as a fighter unit, becoming the 1st operational RAF unit to fly jets and disbanded in 1957. The unit reformed in its current guise in April 2019 as 616 Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force.

No. 663 Squadron was an Air Observation Post (AOP) unit, manned with Polish Army personnel, which was officially formed in Italy on 14 August 1944. Numbers 651 to 663 Squadrons were Air Observation Post units working closely with Army units in artillery spotting and liaison. A further three of these squadrons, 664–666, were manned with Canadian personnel. Their duties and squadron numbers were transferred to the Army with the formation of the Army Air Corps on 1 September 1957.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 605 Squadron RAF</span> Military unit

No. 605 Squadron was formed as an Auxiliary Air Force Squadron. Initially formed as a bomber unit, it was one of the most successful participants of the Battle of Britain. It also had the distinction of being active during the Second World War at two fronts at a time, when the squadron was split up between Malta and the Dutch East Indies. In its last incarnation as an active flying unit, the squadron served as the first jet fighter unit in the post-war Royal Auxiliary Air Force; 616 having already flown Gloster Meteors during the war. No. 605 Squadron was reformed as a RAuxAF Logistic Support Squadron (LSS) on 1 Nov 2014 within No. 85 Expeditionary Logistics Wing of the RAF A4 Force. On the 1 January 2019, the Reserve Logistic Support Wing (RLSW) was established with 501, 504 and 605 LSS Squadron's moving from No. 85 Wing RAF to form RLSW.

No. 502 (Ulster) Squadron was a Royal Auxiliary Air Force squadron that saw service in World War II. It was reformed in September 2013, and is the oldest of all the reserve squadrons, being formed in 1925.

Number 76 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It was formed during World War I as a home defence fighter squadron and in its second incarnation during World War II flew as a bomber squadron, first as an operational training unit and later as an active bomber squadron. With the end of the war the squadron converted to the role of transport squadron, to be reactivated shortly in the bomber role during the 1950s. From 2007 to 2011, it was a training unit, equipped with the Short Tucano at RAF Linton-on-Ouse.

No. 608 Squadron was an Auxiliary Air Force squadron of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. It flew during its existence as a bomber, fighter and reconnaissance unit and was the only RAF squadron to be equipped with the unsuccessful Blackburn Botha torpedo bomber.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 604 Squadron RAF</span> Military unit

No. 604 Squadron RAF was a squadron of the Royal Air Force noted for its pioneering role the development of radar-controlled night-fighter operations. The squadron was established in March 1930 at RAF Hendon as a day-bomber squadron of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. In July 1934, the squadron transitioned to two-seat fighters. Shortly after the commencement of World War II in 1939, the squadron was reassigned to a night-fighter role.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 600 Squadron RAF</span> Military unit

No. 600 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 602 Squadron RAF</span> Squadron of the Royal Air Force

602 Squadron is a Royal Auxiliary Air Force squadron. Originally formed in 1925 as a light bomber squadron, its role changed in 1938 to army co-operation and in 1939 to that of a fighter squadron.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 615 Squadron RAF</span> Military unit

No. 615 Squadron was a unit of the British Auxiliary Air Force and later the Royal Auxiliary Air Force between 1937 and 1957.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 614 Squadron RAF</span> Military unit

No. 614 Squadron was originally formed on 1 June 1937 as an army co-operation squadron unit of the Auxiliary Air Force. It served during the Second World War first in this role and later as a bomber squadron. Upon reformation it served as a fighter squadron until the disbandment of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force on 10 March 1957.

No. 612 Squadron RAF was originally formed in 1937 as an Army Co-operation unit, and flew during the Second World War in the General Reconnaissance role. After the war the squadron was reformed and flew in the Day Fighter role until disbanded in 1957. At present the squadron has a non-flying role as a RAF Medical Reserves unit.

No. 296 Squadron RAF was a transport squadron of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. With sister squadrons 295 and 297 it formed 38 Wing, which later expanded to create No. 38 Group RAF.

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Halley 1988, p. 430
  2. ↑ Rawlings 1982, p. 238
  3. ↑ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 14
  4. ↑ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 95
  5. ↑ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 138
  6. ↑ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 88
  7. ↑ Hunt 1972 , p. 415
  8. ↑ Scholefield 1998 , p. 49.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Rawlings 1982 , p. 239.
  10. 1 2 Scholefield 1998 , p. 50.
  11. ↑ Bowyer 1984 , p. 123.
  12. ↑ Moyes 1976 , p. 280.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Scholefield 1998 , p. 51.
  14. ↑ Rawlings 1978 , p. 501.
  15. ↑ Hunt 1972 , p. 425.
  16. ↑ Hunt 1972 , pp. 427–428.
  17. ↑ Jefford 2001 , p. 101.
  18. ↑ Bowyer 1984 , p. 124.
  19. ↑ Hunt 1972 , pp. 415–428.
  20. ↑ A.F.C. London Gazette 2 June 1943
  21. ↑ "Raf Fighter Command 1940".

Bibliography

  • Bowyer, Chaz (1984), Mosquito Squadrons of the Royal Air Force, Shepperton, Surrey, UK: Ian Allan Ltd., ISBN   0-7110-1425-6
  • Bowyer, Michael J.F.; Rawlings, John D.R. (1979), Squadron Codes, 1937–56, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd., ISBN   0-85059-364-6
  • 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 Ltd., 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, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd., ISBN   1-84037-141-2
  • Moyes, Philip J.R. (1976), Bomber Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft, Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers) Ltd., ISBN   0-354-01027-1
  • 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 D.R. (1978), Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft, London: Jane's Publishing Company Ltd., ISBN   0-354-01028-X
  • Scholefield, R.A. (1998), Manchester Airport, Stroud, Gloucestershire, UK: Sutton Publishing, ISBN   0-7509-1954-X
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.