No. 611 Squadron RAF
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| No. 611 (West Lancashire) Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
| Active | February 10, 1936 - August 15, 1945 May 10, 1946 - March 10, 1957 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Auxiliary Air Force |
| Motto | Beware Beware |
No. 611 (West Lancashire) Squadron was an British Auxiliary Air Force later Royal Auxiliary Air Force squadron formed in 1936 and finally disbanded in 1957.
Contents |
[edit] History and Operations
The squadron was formed at RAF Hendon on the 10 February 1936 as a day bomber unit. The squadron set up its permanent base at Liverpool Airport at Speke on 6 May and began recruiting personnel from Liverpool and the surrounding area. Its first Hawker Hart light bombers arrived in June, being replaced by Hawker Hinds from April 1938.
On 1 January 1939, the unit became a fighter squadron, receiving its first Supermarine Spitfire I's in May. The squadron left for RAF Duxford on 13 August. After a period of defensive duties on the east coast, 611 became fully operational from its RAF Digby base in Lincolnshire in May 1940, firstly over Dunkirk and then taking part in the Battle of Britain campaign.
The squadron commenced offensive sweeps over occupied northern France in January 1941, based at RAF Hornchurch, moving to RAF Drem in Scotland for recuperation in November 1941. The unit moved south again in June 1942 to RAF Kenley for deployment on shipping reconnaissance, escort and defensive missions. No. 611 provided covering patrols for the invasion of Normandy in June 1944 from its RAF Deanland (Sussex) base. The squadron then moved to south-west England for a short period.
Long-range escort missions began to be flown from RAF Bradwell Bay, Essex, from late August 1944, until No. 611 moved to RAF Skeabrae in the Orkneys on 3 October. After converting to Merlin powered Mustang IV's, the squadron again moved south, this time to RAF Hawkinge in Kent and resumed escort duties for the rest of the war. No. 611 disbanded as an RAF squadron on 15 August 1945.
The squadron reformed at Speke on 10 May 1946 as a unit within the Royal Auxiliary Air Force and moved to RAF Woodvale near Southport on 22 July equipped with Spitfire F.14's and from June 1948 with the higher performance Spitfire F.22. Gloster Meteor F.4 jet fighters were received in May 1951, these requiring a move to the longer runways at RAF Hooton Park on the Wirral on 9 July. Re-equipment with updated Meteor F.8's came in December 1951 and these were flown until the squadron disbanded on 10 March 1957, together with all other R.Aux.A.F. flying units.
[edit] Aircraft operated
| Dates | Aircraft | Variant | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1937-1938 | Hawker Hart | ||
| 1938-1939 | Hawker Hind | ||
| 1939-1941 | Supermarine Spitfire | I | |
| 1940 1941 |
Supermarine Spitfire | IIA | |
| 1941 | Supermarine Spitfire | VA and VB | |
| 1941-1942 | Supermarine Spitfire | IIA and IIB | |
| 1942 | Supermarine Spitfire | VB | |
| 1942-1943 | Supermarine Spitfire | IX | |
| 1943-1944 | Supermarine Spitfire | LF.VB | |
| 1944-1945 | Supermarine Spitfire | IX | |
| 1944 | Supermarine Spitfire | VII | |
| 1945 | North American Mustang | IV | |
| 1946-1949 | Supermarine Spitfire | FR.14 | |
| 1949-1951 | Supermarine Spitfire | F22 | |
| 1951-1952 | Gloster Meteor | F4 | |
| 1952-1957 | Gloster Meteor | F8 |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force 1918-1988, J.J.Halley, Air-Britain, Tonbridge, 1988, ISBN 0-85130-164-9
- G G Jefford, RAF Squadrons, second edition 2001, Airlife Publishing, UK, ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft, (Part Work 1982-1985), Orbis Publishing, pp 4238/9
