No. 504 Squadron RAF
Encyclopedia
No. 504 Squadron was one of the Special Reserve Squadrons of the Auxiliary Air Force. It was integrated into the AAF proper in 1936. Based at RAF Cottesmore
, Rutland
, 504 Squadron used a variety of light bomber
s 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 an Operational Support Squadron (OSS), the first role of 504 Squadron today is Force Protection. In December 2009, the MOD announced the closure of parent station RAF Cottesmore, 504's new location is to be announced.
, Nottinghamshire
as a Special Reserve Squadron in the day bomber role. As such it flew first with Hawker Horsley
s, later with Westland Wallace
s and Hawker Hind
s. In the meantime, on 18 May 1936, the squadron had gone over to the Auxiliary Air Force and the next change for the squadron came on 31 October 1938, when it was transferred from RAF Bomber Command
to RAF Fighter Command
. After a short spell with Gloster Gauntlet
biplane fighters the squadron received its first really modern aircraft as their next aircraft were to be Hawker Hurricane
fighters.
and the Squadron was transferred to RAF Digby
. In 1940 Squadron Leader ”Johnnie” Hill
took command whilst the squadron was at Lille
, France. When the airfield was overrun Hill had taken 12 Hurricanes into the air. Hill was shot down and shot at first by French peasants, and later by a British Army major who believed him to be a fifth columnist. On recovering from his injuries Hill was given command of 222 Squadron
.
Throughout the Second World War, 504 Sqn operated from over some 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
. In March 1945 the Squadron was re-equipped with Gloster Meteor
jets, but the armistice was declared before they saw any action.
as a light bomber squadron. It was initially equipped with Mosquito T.3
training aircraft but in April 1947 it was re-designated a night fighter unit, receiving Mosquito NF.30
s. Its role was changed once more again in May 1948, now to that of a day fighter unit. For this it received Spitfire F.22
s, flying these until October 1949, when Meteor F.4
s began to arrive to replace them. These were in their turn replaced by Meteor F.8s in March 1952. The squadron standard was presented on 3 March 1957 by Air Chief Marshal
Sir Francis Fogarty
, GBE, KCB, DFC
, AFC
and then laid up in St Mary's Church, Wymeswold
, RAF Wymeswold
having been the Squadron's last operational base. Seven days later the squadron, along with all other 19 flying units of the since 1947 Royal Auxiliary Air Force
, disbanded.
, 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
.
Although 504 Squadron no longer has a flying role, its importance as an asset to the RAF is no less than it was before.
As part of an Operational Support Squadron (OSS), the first role of 504 Squadron 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.
Elements of the squadron are currently operational in Afghanistan.
RAF Cottesmore
RAF Cottesmore was a Royal Air Force station in Rutland, England, situated between Cottesmore and Market Overton. The station housed all the operational Harrier GR9 squadrons in the Royal Air Force, and No 122 Expeditionary Air Wing...
, Rutland
Rutland
Rutland is a landlocked county in central England, bounded on the west and north by Leicestershire, northeast by Lincolnshire and southeast by Peterborough and Northamptonshire....
, 504 Squadron used a variety of light bomber
Bomber
A bomber is a military aircraft designed to attack ground and sea targets, by dropping bombs on them, or – in recent years – by launching cruise missiles at them.-Classifications of bombers:...
s before being re-tasked to fighters
Fighter aircraft
A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...
with the Hawker Hurricane
Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
in 1939. It subsequently became a Fighter Squadron. Currently no. 504 squadron no longer has a flying role, but as part of an Operational Support Squadron (OSS), the first role of 504 Squadron today is Force Protection. In December 2009, the MOD announced the closure of parent station RAF Cottesmore, 504's new location is to be announced.
Formation and early years
No. 504 squadron was formed on 26 March 1928 at RAF HucknallHucknall Airfield
Formerly RAF Hucknall, Hucknall Airfield is located north northwest of Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England.Hucknall has been in continuous use as an airfield since 1916. Formerly RAF Hucknall, it featured in the film The One That Got Away...
, Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
as a Special Reserve Squadron in the day bomber role. As such it flew first with Hawker Horsley
Hawker Horsley
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Jarrett, Philip. "By Day and By Night: Hawker Horsley part 1". Aeroplane Monthly, Volume 21 No 10, Issue 246, October 1993. pp. 32–40....
s, later with Westland Wallace
Westland Wallace
The Westland Wallace was a British two-seat, general-purpose biplane of the Royal Air Force, developed by Westland as a follow-on to their successful Wapiti. As the last of the inter-war general purpose biplanes, it was used by a number of frontline and Auxiliary Air Force Squadrons...
s and Hawker Hind
Hawker Hind
-See also:-Bibliography:* Crawford, Alex. Hawker Hart Family. Redbourn, Hertfordshire, UK: Mushroom Model Publications Ltd., 2008. ISBN 83-89450-62-3....
s. In the meantime, on 18 May 1936, the squadron had gone over to the Auxiliary Air Force and the next change for the squadron came on 31 October 1938, when it was transferred from RAF Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command controlled the RAF's bomber forces from 1936 to 1968. During World War II the command destroyed a significant proportion of Nazi Germany's industries and many German cities, and in the 1960s stood at the peak of its postwar military power with the V bombers and a supplemental...
to RAF Fighter Command
RAF Fighter Command
RAF Fighter Command was one of three functional commands of the Royal Air Force. It was formed in 1936 to allow more specialised control of fighter aircraft. It served throughout the Second World War, gaining recognition in the Battle of Britain. The Command continued until 17 November 1943, when...
. After a short spell with Gloster Gauntlet
Gloster Gauntlet
-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Crawford, Alex. Bristol Bulldog, Gloster Gauntlet. Redbourn, UK: Mushroom Model Publications, 2005. ISBN 83-89450-04-6....
biplane fighters the squadron received its first really modern aircraft as their next aircraft were to be Hawker Hurricane
Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
fighters.
In World War II
On 26 August 1939 the squadron was mobilised for active service as part of RAF Fighter CommandRAF Fighter Command
RAF Fighter Command was one of three functional commands of the Royal Air Force. It was formed in 1936 to allow more specialised control of fighter aircraft. It served throughout the Second World War, gaining recognition in the Battle of Britain. The Command continued until 17 November 1943, when...
and the Squadron was transferred to RAF Digby
RAF Digby
RAF Digby is a Royal Air Force station which, since March 2005, has been operated by the Ministry of Defence's Joint Service Signals Organisation, part of the Intelligence Collection Group. Formerly a training and fighter airfield, it is currently a tri-service military signals installation located...
. In 1940 Squadron Leader ”Johnnie” Hill
John Hamar Hill
Group Captain John Hamar “Johnnie” Hill CBE, was born on December 28 1912 and educated at Dover College where he had been a College Prefect and a good games player....
took command whilst the squadron was at Lille
Lille
Lille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium...
, France. When the airfield was overrun Hill had taken 12 Hurricanes into the air. Hill was shot down and shot at first by French peasants, and later by a British Army major who believed him to be a fifth columnist. On recovering from his injuries Hill was given command of 222 Squadron
No. 222 Squadron RAF
-In World War I:The Squadron was formally formed at Thasos on 1 April 1918 from A squadron of the former No. 2 Wing, RNAS when the Royal Air Force was formed. Later, 6 April 1918 former Z Squadron of No. 2 Wing, RNAS was added to the strength. Renumbered No. 62 Wing and consisting of Nos...
.
Throughout the Second World War, 504 Sqn operated from over some 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
Operation Market Garden
Operation Market Garden was an unsuccessful Allied military operation, fought in the Netherlands and Germany in the Second World War. It was the largest airborne operation up to that time....
and major involvement in the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
. In March 1945 the Squadron was re-equipped with Gloster Meteor
Gloster Meteor
The Gloster Meteor was the first British jet fighter and the Allies' first operational jet. It first flew in 1943 and commenced operations on 27 July 1944 with 616 Squadron of the Royal Air Force...
jets, but the armistice was declared before they saw any action.
Into the jet age
After standing down from active duty on the 10 August 1945, the Squadron was reformed at RAF SyerstonRAF Syerston
RAF Syerston is a Royal Air Force station in the parish of Flintham, near Newark, Nottinghamshire. It was used as a bomber base during World War II.-Bomber Command:...
as a light bomber squadron. It was initially equipped with Mosquito T.3
De Havilland Mosquito
The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
training aircraft but in April 1947 it was re-designated a night fighter unit, receiving Mosquito NF.30
De Havilland Mosquito
The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
s. Its role was changed once more again in May 1948, now to that of a day fighter unit. For this it received Spitfire F.22
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
s, flying these until October 1949, when Meteor F.4
Gloster Meteor
The Gloster Meteor was the first British jet fighter and the Allies' first operational jet. It first flew in 1943 and commenced operations on 27 July 1944 with 616 Squadron of the Royal Air Force...
s began to arrive to replace them. These were in their turn replaced by Meteor F.8s in March 1952. The squadron standard was presented on 3 March 1957 by Air Chief Marshal
Air Chief Marshal
Air chief marshal is a senior 4-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
Sir Francis Fogarty
Francis Fogarty
Air Chief Marshal Sir Francis Joseph Fogarty GBE KCB DFC AFC was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force during World War II and also in the post-War years. During World War I he served as a pilot in the Royal Flying Corps...
, GBE, KCB, DFC
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
, AFC
Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)
The Air Force Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, and formerly also to officers of the other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy"...
and then laid up in St Mary's Church, Wymeswold
Wymeswold
Wymeswold is a village and civil parish in the Charnwood district of Leicestershire, England. It is in the north of Leicestershire, and north-east of Loughborough. It has a population of about 1,000...
, RAF Wymeswold
RAF Wymeswold
RAF Wymeswold is a former Royal Air Force military airfield in Leicestershire, England.-History:It was opened on 16 May 1942 during the Second World War and was home to Wellington bombers amongst others...
having been the Squadron's last operational base. Seven days later the squadron, along with all other 19 flying units of the since 1947 Royal Auxiliary Air Force
Royal Auxiliary Air Force
The Royal Auxiliary Air Force , originally the Auxiliary Air Force , is the voluntary active duty reserve element of the Royal Air Force, providing a primary reinforcement capability for the regular service...
, disbanded.
Notable squadron members
Flight Lieutenant W.B. Royce of 504 Squadron became the first AAF pilot to be awarded the DFCDistinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
, Sergeant Ray Holmes
Ray Holmes
Raymond Towers "Ray" Holmes was a British fighter pilot who was feted by the press as a war hero who saved Buckingham Palace from being severely damaged by German bombing during the Battle of Britain....
of 504 Squadron was forced to ram a Dornier
Dornier Flugzeugwerke
Dornier Flugzeugwerke was a German aircraft manufacturer founded in Friedrichshafen in 1914 by Claudius Dornier. Over the course of its long lifespan, the company produced many notable designs for both the civil and military markets.-History:...
bomber intent on attacking Buckingham Palace when his guns jammed during the attack. This event was immortalised in the film Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain (film)
Battle of Britain is a 1969 Technicolor film directed by Guy Hamilton, and produced by Harry Saltzman and S. Benjamin Fisz. The film broadly relates the events of the Battle of Britain...
.
Current role
On 1 January 1998, the Offensive Support Role Support Squadron (OSRSS) was formed at RAF Cottesmore. This was then renamed 504 Squadron on 1 October 1999. On 1 October 2000 the reformation was celebrated with a march past in Nottingham.Although 504 Squadron no longer has a flying role, its importance as an asset to the RAF is no less than it was before.
As part of an Operational Support Squadron (OSS), the first role of 504 Squadron 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.
Elements of the squadron are currently operational in Afghanistan.
Aircraft operated
| From | To | Aircraft | Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 1929 | March 1934 | Hawker Horsley Hawker Horsley |-See also:-Bibliography:* Jarrett, Philip. "By Day and By Night: Hawker Horsley part 1". Aeroplane Monthly, Volume 21 No 10, Issue 246, October 1993. pp. 32–40.... |
|
| January 1934 | June 1937 | Westland Wallace Westland Wallace The Westland Wallace was a British two-seat, general-purpose biplane of the Royal Air Force, developed by Westland as a follow-on to their successful Wapiti. As the last of the inter-war general purpose biplanes, it was used by a number of frontline and Auxiliary Air Force Squadrons... |
Mk.I |
| February 1935 | June 1937 | Westland Wallace | Mk.II |
| May 1937 | November 1938 | Hawker Hind Hawker Hind -See also:-Bibliography:* Crawford, Alex. Hawker Hart Family. Redbourn, Hertfordshire, UK: Mushroom Model Publications Ltd., 2008. ISBN 83-89450-62-3.... |
|
| November 1938 | August 1939 | Gloster Gauntlet Gloster Gauntlet -See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Crawford, Alex. Bristol Bulldog, Gloster Gauntlet. Redbourn, UK: Mushroom Model Publications, 2005. ISBN 83-89450-04-6.... |
Mk.II |
| May 1939 | July 1941 | Hawker Hurricane Hawker Hurricane The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force... |
Mk.I |
| July 1941 | November 1941 | Hawker Hurricane | Mk.IIb |
| October 1941 | February 1942 | Supermarine Spitfire Supermarine Spitfire The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s... |
Mk.IIa |
| December 1941 | February 1942 | Supermarine Spitfire | Mk.IIb |
| January 1942 | January 1944 | Supermarine Spitfire | Mk.Vb |
| October 1942 | September 1943 | Supermarine Spitfire | Mk.Vc |
| September 1943 | January 1944 | Supermarine Spitfire | Mk.VI |
| January 1944 | March 1944 | Supermarine Spitfire | Mk.IXb |
| March 1944 | July 1944 | Supermarine Spitfire | Mk.Vb |
| July 1944 | April 1945 | Supermarine Spitfire | Mk.IXe |
| April 1945 | August 1945 | Gloster Meteor Gloster Meteor The Gloster Meteor was the first British jet fighter and the Allies' first operational jet. It first flew in 1943 and commenced operations on 27 July 1944 with 616 Squadron of the Royal Air Force... |
Mk.III |
| October 1946 | July 1948 | de Havilland Mosquito De Havilland Mosquito The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"... |
T.3 |
| April 1947 | August 1948 | de Havilland Mosquito | NF.30 |
| May 1948 | March 1950 | Supermarine Spitfire | F.22 |
| October 1949 | March 1952 | Gloster Meteor | F.4 |
| February 1952 | March 1957 | Gloster Meteor | F.8 |
Commanding officers
| From | To | Name |
|---|---|---|
| October 1928 | S/Ldr. C.M. Elliot-Smith, AFC Air Force Cross (United Kingdom) The Air Force Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, and formerly also to officers of the other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy"... |
|
| May 1936 | September 1938 | S/Ldr. Sir H.M. Seely Hugh Seely, 1st Baron Sherwood Hugh Michael Seely, 1st Baron Sherwood was a British Liberal politician. He was the third baronet of the Seely family, of Sherwood Lodge, Nottinghamshire.... , MP Member of Parliament A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,... |
| September 1938 | January 1940 | S/Ldr. F.Y. Beamish |
| January 1940 | May 1940 | S/Ldr. H. Watson |
| May 1940 | May 1940 | S/Ldr. J. Parnall |
| May 1940 | May 1940 | S/Ldr. J.H. Hill John Hamar Hill Group Captain John Hamar “Johnnie” Hill CBE, was born on December 28 1912 and educated at Dover College where he had been a College Prefect and a good games player.... |
| May 1940 | May 1940 | F/Lt. W.B. Boyce, DFC Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom) The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against... |
| May 1940 | March 1941 | S/Ldr. J. Sample, DFC |
| March 1941 | July 1941 | S/Ldr. M. Rook |
| July 1941 | February 1942 | S/Ldr. P.T. Parsons |
| February 1942 | January 1943 | S/Ldr. R. Lewis |
| January 1943 | March 1943 | S/Ldr. J.I. Kilmartin, DFC |
| March 1943 | July 1943 | S/Ldr. R.C. Kilian |
| July 1943 | October 1943 | S/Ldr. P.J. Simpson, DFC |
| October 1943 | March 1944 | S/Ldr. H.J.L. Hallowes, DFC, DFM Distinguished Flying Medal The Distinguished Flying Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Royal Air Force and the other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active... & Bar Medal bar A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the... |
| March 1944 | October 1944 | S/Ldr. Banning-Lover |
| October 1944 | August 1945 | S/Ldr. M. Kellett |
| May 1946 | 1948 | S/Ldr. A.H. Hook, DFC, AFC |
| 1948 | March 1950 | S/Ldr. J.M. Birkin |
| March 1950 | 1954 | S/Ldr. G.J. Beardsall |
| 1954 | March 1957 | S/Ldr. P.I. Briggs, DFC |
External links
- Aviation art depicting Sgt.Ray HolmesRay HolmesRaymond Towers "Ray" Holmes was a British fighter pilot who was feted by the press as a war hero who saved Buckingham Palace from being severely damaged by German bombing during the Battle of Britain....
of No.504 Squadron in combat in 1940. - 504 Squadron RAuxAF website
- Webpage of present 504 Squadron at RAF website
- Squadron histories for nos. 500-520 sqn at rafweb
- Nos. 500-510 Squadron Aircraft & Markings
