No. 609 Squadron RAF

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No. 609 (West Riding) Squadron of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force provide personnel to augment and support the operations of the Royal Air Force. The Squadron is currently based at RAF Leeming, North Yorkshire.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Formation and early history (1936–1939)

No. 609 Squadron was formed at RAF Yeadon, now Leeds Bradford International Airport, on 10 February 1936 as one of the 20 flying Squadrons of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. In June of that year it received Hawker Hart aircraft, followed by Hawker Hinds. The first Commanding Officer of 609 Squadron was Sqn Ldr H. Peake who later rose to the rank of Air Commodore. On the 8 December 1938, 609 Squadron was transferred to Fighter Command but was not equipped with fighters until the introduction of the Spitfire Mk I in August 1939, at this point the Squadron was still manned by part time civilians. Fairy Battles were used as training aircraft to convert pilots from bi-planes to Spitfires.

[edit] World War II

At the outbreak of war, the Squadron was called up to full-time service and initially served on defensive duties in the North of England. In May 1940, the Squadron moved to RAF Northolt and flew over Dunkirk during Operation Dynamo. Around this period, one third of the Squadron's pilots were lost over a period of three days.

During the Battle of Britain, 609 Squadron moved to RAF Middle Wallop as part of Fighter Command's efforts to defend the south coast of England, west of London. There was also an advanced flight based at RAF Warmwell. At this time, one third of the RAF's front-line Squadrons were from the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. During August 1940 609 Squadron destroyed 46 enemy aircraft, however, by now almost all of the pre war auxiliary pilots were dead or missing. In October 1940, the Squadron became the first to achieve 100 confirmed kills of enemy aircraft. Squadron pilots, David Moore Crook (6 confirmed kills) and John Curchin (7 confirmed kills) were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for their efforts during the battle.[1] A Spitfire that flew with 609 Squadron during this period is now preserved at the RAF Museum, Hendon.

During February 1941 the Squadron moved to Biggin Hill. Almost all of the Squadron's original pilots were now lost and replacements came from Belgium, Poland, Canada, Australia, France, USA, and New Zealand in addition to those from Britain. During the summer of 1941, 609 Squadron carried out fighter sweeps over France. In November 1941, the Squadron was withdrawn from the front line after 18 months continuous fighting.

In spring 1942 the Squadron moved to Duxford and re-equipped with the Spitfire Mk V. The Squadron soon began to replace these with the Hawker Typhoon, which was introduced in an attempt to counter the Luftwaffes FW-190 fighter. It became apparent that the Typhoon was better suited to low level attacks against ground targets, such as airfields and armour. Before this change of focus, 609 Squadron had become the top scoring Squadron in the RAF for the period of early 1943.

Prior to the allied invasion of Europe in 1944, 609 Squadron was involved with destroying German radar stations on the French coast. In support of the invasion, the Squadron's Typhoons were deployed against tanks and other targets using 60lb RP-3 rockets. The Typhoon proved itself adept at the role of 'tankbuster' and went on to attack the German armoured breakthrough at the Falaise Gap in August 1944. In November 1944 the Squadron moved to Holland, followed in April 1945 by a move over the enemy border to Plantlunne, Germany. On some days the Squadron flew up to 150 sorties.

[edit] After World War II (1945-1957)

After the war, 609 Squadron was stood down, and the name transferred back to the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. In 1946, the Squadron reformed at Church Fenton, then moved back to Yeadon. 609 was once again a Squadron manned by part time civilians using front line fighters, this time the de Havilland Mosquito and later the Spitfire XVI. In 1951, 609 Squadron re-equipped with jet aircraft, the Gloster Meteor, and moved back to Church Fenton in order to take advantage of the longer runway. At this time, 19 regular Squadrons and 10 reserve Squadrons of Meteors formed Britains main fighter defense. During the Korean War, 609 and other auxiliary Squadrons were called up to full time service for 3 months.

In March 1957 all flying Squadrons of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force were disbanded.

[edit] The modern era (2000-present day)

The latest incarnation of the Squadron was formed at RAF Leeming on 1 July 1998 and was originally named the Air Defence Support Squadron, the 609 number plate was granted on 1 October 1999. The squadron is no longer a flying Squadron, but instead has the role of Force Protection, it is employed to prevent or minimise the effects of enemy attack on RAF bases.

The Squadron was deployed to Ali Al Salem as part of Operation Telic from February to August 2003. Furthermore, 15 of the Squadrons reservists were deployed to Al Uedid, Qatar. Over 50 of the Squadrons reservists were awarded the Iraqi Medal.

[edit] Aircraft Operated

[edit] 609 Squadron in art

Due to the exploits of 609 Squadron during World War II, its aircraft have been depicted in a number of paintings. These include:

  • Southern Patrol, by Philip West, showing both 609 and 152 Squadron patrolling over the south coast of England.
  • Spitfire Tally-Ho, by Geoffrey Lea (note that Tally-Ho is the Squadron motto).
  • Supermarine Spitfire Mk I, by Philip West.
  • Into the blue, by Simon Atack.
  • Height of the Battle, by Geoff Nutkins. Showing John Dundas & Red Tobin in combat.
  • Lone Patrol, by John Young. Showing Spifire Mk I, X4590 the aircraft now preserved at the RAF Museum, Hendon.
  • 609 Squadron's 200th, by Geoff Nutkins.
  • Typhoon Scramble, by Richard Taylor.
  • Typhoon Attack, by Robert Taylor.
  • Double Trouble, by Geoff Nutkins.
  • Sorbo Leader Attacking, by Alex Hamilton. Showing Pilot Officer N.Le C.Agazarian in Spitfire PR-U R6915.
  • Battle above the Clouds, by Geoff Nutkins. Showing John Dundas shooting down German ace Helmut Wick.

[edit] Books by members of 609 Squadron

  • Bell, George Armour. To Live Among Heroes, Grub Street Publishing. ISBN 1-902304-80-2. George Bell served as a medical officer with 609 Squadron. This book details the experiences of the Squadron in 1944 and 1945.
  • Crook, David Moore, Spitfire Pilot, Faber and Faber, 1942. His autobiography
  • Crook, David Moore, Pursuit of Passy, Herbert Joseph, 1946. A novel
  • Demoulin, Charles, Mes Oiseaux De Feu (edited in French by Julliard / France Loisirs), Belgian pilot of the 609 Squadron (1941-1945), he became Squadron Leader in 1944.
  • Earnshaw, James Douglas. 609 at War, Vector Fine Art. ISBN 0-9545179-0-3.
  • Lallemant, Lt. Colonel R. (1962). Rendez-vous avec la chance, Robert Laffont, Paris. Raymond Lallemant was a pilot of the free Belgian forces who flew with the RAF's 609 squadron. The work is written in French.
  • Ziegler, Frank. The Story of 609 Squadron: Under the White Rose, Crecy Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0-947554-29-7. Also published by Macdonald, ISBN 0-356-03641-3. Ziegler was an intelligence officer with 609 Squadron.

[edit] References

  1. ^ London Gazette: no. 34984, pages 6348–6349, 1 November 1940.
  • Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918-1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
  • Jefford, C.G. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1988 (second edition 2001). ISBN 1-85310-053-6.

[edit] External links