No. 504 Squadron RAF

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No. 504 (County of Nottingham) Squadron

Active 1928-1945; 1946-1957; 1999-present
Role Formed at Hucknall 26th March 1928 as a Special Reserve Light Bomber Unit. Subsequently became a Fighter Squadron
Motto Vindicat in Vetis (It avenges in the wind)
Equipment Hawker Horsley, Westland Wallace, Hawker Hind, Gloster Gauntlet, Hawker Hurricane, Supermarine Spitfire, De Havilland Mosquito, Gloster Meteor
Battle honours France and Low Countries 1940; Battle of Britain 1940; Home Defence 1940-42; Atlantic 1941-42; Fortress Europe 1942-44; Normandy 1944; Arnhem 1944; France and Germany 1944-45
Insignia
Identification
symbol		 An oak tree fronted and eradicated

Contents

[edit] History

No 504 (County of Nottingham) Squadron was formed on 26 March 1928 as one of the Special Reserve Squadrons of the Auxiliary Air Force. It was integrated into the AAF proper in 1936.

Based at RAF Hucknall (Nottinghamshire), 504 Squadron used a variety of light bombers before being re-tasked to fighters with the Hawker Hurricane in 1939.

On 26 August 1939 it was mobilised for active service as part of Fighter Command and the Squadron was transferred to RAF Digby.

Throughout the Second World War, 504 Sqn operated from over thirty airfields in both the UK and abroad. Roles were as diverse as Heavy Bomber escort; interdiction raids across occupied France; escort duties over Arnhem during Operation Market Garden and major involvement in the Battle of Britain.

Flight Lieutenant W. B. Royce of 504 Squadron became the first AAF pilot to be awarded the DFC, Sergeant Ray Holmes of 504 Squadron was forced to ram a Dornier bomber intent on attacking Buckingham Palace when his guns jammed during the attack. This event was immortalised in the film Battle of Britain.

In March 1945 the Squadron was re-equipped with Gloster Meteor jets, but the armistice was declared before they saw any action. After standing down from active duty on the 10 August 1945, the Squadron was reformed at RAF Syerston as an AAF unit on 10 May 1946. Auxiliary service continued until the Squadron was disbanded on 9 March 1957, the Squadron Standard having been presented on 3 March 1957 and then laid up in St Mary's Church, Wymeswold, RAF Wymeswold having been the Squadron's last operational base.

[edit] Current role

On 1st January 1998, the Offensive Support Role Support Squadron (OSRSS) was formed at RAF Cottesmore. This was then renamed 504 Squadron on 1st October 1999. On 1st October 2000 the reformation was celebrated with a march past in Nottingham.

Although 504 Squadron no longer has a flying role, it's importance as an asset to the RAF is no less than it was before. As part of an Operational Support Squadron (OSS), 504 Squadron's personnel first role is Force Protection (FP). To this end, approximately 60% of the personnel are RAF Regiment gunners providing ground defence for all assets on deployed operations. The remaining personnel are responsible for the many other duties including; Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) warning and reporting, airbase shelter marshalling and general sentry duties.

[edit] Aircraft Operated

From To Aircraft
October 1929 February 1934 Hawker Horsley
February 1934 May 1937 Westland Wallace
May 1937 March 1939 Hawker Hind
March 1939 November 1941 Hawker Hurricane I, IIB
October 1941 April 1945 Supermarine Spitfire IIA, IIB, VB, VC, VI, IX
April 1945 August 1945 Gloster Meteor III
April 1947 August 1948 De Havilland Mosquito T.3, NF.30
May 1948 October 1949 Supermarine Spitfire F.22
October 1949 March 1957 Gloster Meteor F.4, F.8

[edit] References

[edit] Notes

[edit] Bibliography

  • Golley, John. Hurricanes over Murmansk. Patrick Stephens Ltd.,1987 (2nd edition Airlife Publishing, 2001). ISBN 0-85059-832-X (ISBN 1-84037-298-2 for the 2nd edition)
  • Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1980. ISBN 0-85130-083-9.
  • ____________. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force and Commonwealth, 1918-1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
  • Holmes, Ray. Sky Spy: From Six Miles High to Hitler's Bunker. Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1989. ISBN 1-85310-054-4. autobiography of one of 504 Squadron's most famous pilots.
  • Hunt, Leslie. Twenty-one squadrons: the history of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, 1925-1957. London, Garnstone Press, 1972. ISBN 0-947554-26-2.
  • Jefford, C.G. RAF Squadrons: A Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of All RAF Squadrons and Their Antecedents Since 1912, Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1988. ISBN 1-853100-536-1. (second revised edition 2001. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.)
  • Moyes, Philip. Bomber Squadrons of the RAF and Their Aircraft. London, Macdonald and Jane's, 1964 (Second revised edition 1976). ISBN 0-354-01027-1.
  • Rawlings, John D.R. Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and Their Aircraft. London, Macdonald and Jane's, 1969 (Second revised edition 1976). ISBN 0-354-01028-X.
  • Wakefield, Kenneth. Target Filton: Two Luftwaffe Attacks of September, 1940. Bristol, UK: Redcliffe Press, 1990. ISBN 1-87297-155-5.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links