No. 600 Squadron RAF

No. 600 (City of London) Squadron RAuxAF 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
Active14 October 1925 – 21 August 1945
10 May 1946 – 10 March 1957
1 October 1999 – present
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
Part ofRoyal Auxiliary Air Force
BaseRAF Northolt, London
Nickname(s)City of London
Motto(s)Latin: Praeter sescentos
(Translation: "More than six hundred")[1][2]
Post 1950 Squadron markings
Battle honoursFrance 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 CommodoreLord 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]

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

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

Reforming on 1 October 1999 at RAF Northolt from No. 1 and No. 3 Maritime Headquarters Units, 600 Squadron is now a Headquarters Support Squadron of the RAuxAF, tasked to provide manpower to RAF static and mobile HQ's at home and overseas. Currently five "Operational" Flights exist, these being Operations, Intelligence, Communications, Administration and Logistics. Squadron personnel have deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, the Gulf States and into positions within the UK.

In 2007 the Corporation of the City of London granted 600 Squadron "Privileged Regiment Status", an ancient honour granted to only eight military formations in the history of the City. 600 Squadron is regularly involved in ceremonial events in London and in November 2007 provided a Guard of Honour to the Lord Mayor on his return to the Mansion House after taking the oath of allegiance at the Royal Courts of Justice.

Aircraft operated
Aircraft operated by no. 600 Squadron RAF, data from[2][17][18][19]
FromToAircraftVersion
October 1925October 1929Avro 504K
October 1925October 1929De Havilland DH9A
August 1929January 1935Westland WapitiMk.IIa
August 1929January 1935Avro Tutor
January 1935May 1937Hawker Hart
February 1937April 1939Hawker Demon
January 1939October 1941Bristol BlenheimMk.If
November 1939June 1940Bristol BlenheimMk.IV
September 1940June 1941Bristol BeaufighterMk.If
April 1941April 1942Bristol BeaufighterMk.IIf
March 1942February 1945Bristol BeaufighterMk.VIf
December 1944August 1945de Havilland MosquitoMk.XIX
October 1946November 1947Supermarine SpitfireF.14e
April 1947November 1950Supermarine SpitfireF.21
September 1948March 1950Supermarine SpitfireF.22
March 1950April 1952Gloster MeteorF.4
November 1951March 1957Gloster MeteorF.8

Commanding officers
Officers commanding no. 600 Squadron RAF, data from[20][21]
FromToName
October 19251926W/Cdr. A.W.H. James, MC
19261931S/Ldr. the Hon. F.E. Guest
1931July 1934S/Ldr. S.B. Collett
July 1934June 1937S/Ldr. P.G. Stewart
June 1937[22]December 1939S/Ldr. G.L.S. Dawson – Damer, the Viscount Carlow
December 1939May 1940S/Ldr. J.M. Wells
May 1940September 1940F/Lt. de B. Clarke
September 1940November 1940S/Ldr. H.L. Maxwell, DSO
November 1940January 1941S/Ldr. C.A. Pritchard[23]
January 1941December 1941W/Cdr. G. 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. C.P. 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 F E Guest[24]
19371941Lord Lloyd
19421949Sir Archibald Sinclair
19491957HM The Queen (The Queen Mother from 1952)[25]
19992002HM The Queen Mother
2006presentLord Trenchard[26]

Squadron bases
Bases and airfields used by no. 600 Squadron RAF, data from[2][17][27][28]
FromToBaseRemark
14 October 192518 January 1927RAF Northolt, Middlesex
18 January 19271 October 1938RAF Hendon, Middlesex
1 October 19383 October 1938RAF Kenley, Surrey
3 October 193825 August 1939RAF Hendon, Middlesex
25 August 19392 October 1939RAF Northolt, Middlesex
2 October 193916 October 1939RAF Hornchurch, EssexDet. at RAF Manston, Kent
16 October 193920 October 1939RAF 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 1940RAF Redhill, Surrey
12 October 194014 March 1941RAF Catterick, North YorkshireDets. 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 1941RAF Colerne, Wiltshire
18 June 194127 June 1941RAF Fairwood Common, Gower, WalesDet. 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 1942RAF Church Fenton, North Yorkshire
14 November 194218 November 1942RAF Portreath, Cornwall
18 November 19427 December 1942RAF Blida, Algeria
7 December 19423 January 1943RAF 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 1943RAF Luqa, Malta
26 July 194330 September 1943Cassibile (Sicily), Italy
30 September 19432 February 1944Montecorvino Airfield, ItalyDets. at Brindisi, Tortorella, Gaudo and Lago, all Italy
2 February 194422 March 1944Marcianise, Italy
22 March 19441 April 1944Pomigliano, Italy
1 April 194413 June 1944Marcianise, Italy
13 June 194419 June 1944La Banca, Italy
19 June 19445 July 1944Voltone, Italy
5 July 194429 July 1944Follonica, Italy
29 July 194425 August 1944Rosignano, ItalyDet. at Falconara, Italy
25 August 194415 December 1944Falconara, ItalyDets. at Rosignano, Iesi and Bellaria, all in Italy
15 December 194424 May 1945Cesenatico, Italy
24 May 194526 July 1945Campoformido, Italy
26 July 194521 August 1945Aviano, Italy
10 May 194610 March 1957RAF Biggin Hill

See also

References

Notes
  1. Rawlings 1978, p. 468.
  2. 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. "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. Jefford 2001, p. 99.
  18. Onderwater 1997, p. 424.
  19. Rawlings 1978, pp. 470–472.
  20. Onderwater 1997, p. 423.
  21. Rawlings 1978, p. 472.
  22. Hunt 1972, p. 46.
  23. Hunt 1972, p. 52.
  24. Yoxall 1949, p. 586.
  25. "The Queen's Appointment". Flight. LVI (2120): 179. 11 August 1949. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  26. "Lord Trenchard Reappointed Honorary Air Commodore of 600 Squadron". Royal Air Force. 12 April 2011. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  27. Onderwater 1997, p. 425.
  28. 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. LVI (2132): 585–592. Retrieved 11 October 2015.

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