No. 609 Squadron RAF
Encyclopedia
No. 609 Squadron of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force
, originally formed as a bomber
squadron and in World War II
active as fighter
squadron, nowadays provides personnel to augment and support the operations of the Royal Air Force
. The squadron is no longer a flying Squadron, but instead has the role of Force Protection. It is currently based at RAF Leeming
, North Yorkshire
.
, now Leeds Bradford International Airport
, as the ninth of the 21 flying squadrons of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. In June of that year it received Hawker Hart
light bomber aircraft, which gave way in December 1937 to Hawker Hind
s. The first Commanding Officer of 609 Squadron was Squadron Leader
H. Peake, who later rose to the rank of Air Commodore
. On the 8 December 1938, 609 Squadron was transferred to RAF Fighter Command
, but was not equipped with fighters until the introduction of the Supermarine Spitfire
Mk.I in August 1939. At this point the squadron was still manned by part-time civilians. Fairey Battle
light bombers were used as training aircraft to convert pilots from the fixed undercarriage biplane Hinds to much more modern monoplane Spitfire with its retractable undercarriage.
and flew over the Battle of 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. On 21 October 1940 the squadron became the first to achieve 100 confirmed enemy aircraft kills. Boasting 9 'aces', pilots F/L Frank Howell (8 confirmed kills), F/L John Dundas (9 confirmed kills), P/O David Moore Crook
(6 confirmed kills) and P/O John Curchin (7 confirmed kills) were among several awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
for their efforts during the battle. 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 RAF 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 and rested at RAF Digby
in Lincolnshire.
In spring 1942 the squadron moved to RAF 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 Luftwaffe
s FW-190 fighter. It became apparent that the Typhoon was better suited for low level attacks against ground targets, such as airfields and armoured vehicles. Before this change of focus, 609 Squadron had become the top scoring squadron in the RAF for the period of early 1943. The squadron also gained new pilots, including the first German
citizen to fly with the RAF, cinematographer Sir Ken Adam
. He and his brother Dennis were the first German-born pilots in the RAF, Dennis joining No. 183 Squadron in 1944, as part of the same Wing (No. 123) that his elder brother was flying in with No. 609 (West Riding) Squadron.
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. By the end of the war 603 pilots had claimed some 232 kills for 73 aircrew killed in action.
. In 1946, the squadron reformed at RAF 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 Mosquito NF.30
night-fighter and later, when the squadron changed role to that of a daylight fighter squadron, the Spitfire LF.16
. In 1951, 609 Squadron re-equipped with jet fighter 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.
From 1947 to March 1957 (when all flying squadrons of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force were disbanded), Air Vice-Marshal Geoffrey Ambler
, who commanded the squadron just before World War II, was the squadron's Honorary Air Commodore.
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 Iraq Medal
.
Since then, Several Squadron members have deployed with Regular RAF regiment Squadrons on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and this is on-going, with Squadron 'Gunners' deployed all the time.
These include:
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...
, originally formed as a 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:...
squadron and in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
active as fighter
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...
squadron, nowadays provides personnel to augment and support the operations of the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
. The squadron is no longer a flying Squadron, but instead has the role of Force Protection. It is currently based at RAF Leeming
RAF Leeming
RAF Leeming is a Royal Air Force station in North Yorkshire, UK.HRH The Duchess of Cornwall is the Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Leeming. The Station Commander is Group Captain Anthony Innes....
, North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
.
Formation and early history (1936–1939)
No. 609 Squadron was formed on 10 February 1936 at RAF YeadonYeadon, West Yorkshire
Yeadon is a town within the City of Leeds metropolitan borough, in West Yorkshire, England. It is home to Leeds Bradford International Airport.-History:...
, now Leeds Bradford International Airport
Leeds Bradford International Airport
Leeds Bradford International Airport is located at Yeadon, in the City of Leeds Metropolitan District in West Yorkshire, England, northwest of Leeds city centre itself...
, as the ninth of the 21 flying squadrons of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. In June of that year it received Hawker Hart
Hawker Hart
The Hawker Hart was a British two-seater biplane light bomber of the Royal Air Force , which had a prominent role during the RAF's inter-war period. The Hart was designed during the 1920s by Sydney Camm and built by Hawker Aircraft...
light bomber aircraft, which gave way in December 1937 to 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. The first Commanding Officer of 609 Squadron was Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
H. Peake, who later rose to the rank of Air Commodore
Air Commodore
Air commodore is an air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
. On the 8 December 1938, 609 Squadron was transferred 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...
, but was not equipped with fighters until the introduction of the 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.I in August 1939. At this point the squadron was still manned by part-time civilians. Fairey Battle
Fairey Battle
The Fairey Battle was a British single-engine light bomber built by the Fairey Aviation Company in the late 1930s for the Royal Air Force. The Battle was powered by the same Rolls-Royce Merlin piston engine that gave contemporary British fighters high performance; however, the Battle was weighed...
light bombers were used as training aircraft to convert pilots from the fixed undercarriage biplane Hinds to much more modern monoplane Spitfire with its retractable undercarriage.
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 NortholtRAF Northolt
RAF Northolt is a Royal Air Force station situated in South Ruislip, east by northeast of Uxbridge in the London Borough of Hillingdon, West London. Approximately north of London Heathrow Airport, the station also handles a large number of private civil flights...
and flew over the Battle of Dunkirk
Battle of Dunkirk
The Battle of Dunkirk was a battle in the Second World War between the Allies and Germany. A part of the Battle of France on the Western Front, the Battle of Dunkirk was the defence and evacuation of British and allied forces in Europe from 26 May–4 June 1940.After the Phoney War, the Battle of...
during Operation Dynamo
Operation Dynamo
The Dunkirk evacuation, commonly known as the Miracle of Dunkirk, code-named Operation Dynamo by the British, was the evacuation of Allied soldiers from the beaches and harbour of Dunkirk, France, between 26 May and the early hours of 3 June 1940, because the British, French and Belgian troops were...
. Around this period, one third of the squadron's pilots were lost over a period of three days.
During 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...
, 609 Squadron moved to RAF Middle Wallop as part of Fighter Command's efforts to defend the south coast of England, west of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. There was also an advanced flight based at RAF Warmwell
RAF Warmwell
RAF Warmwell was a Royal Air Force station near Warmwell in Dorset, England from 1937 to 1946, located about 5 miles east-southeast of Dorchester; 100 miles southwest of London....
. 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. On 21 October 1940 the squadron became the first to achieve 100 confirmed enemy aircraft kills. Boasting 9 'aces', pilots F/L Frank Howell (8 confirmed kills), F/L John Dundas (9 confirmed kills), P/O David Moore Crook
David Moore Crook
David Moore Crook DFC was a British fighter pilot born in Huddersfield, England.-RAF career:After attending Cambridge University, he was mobilised as part of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force on the outbreak of war. Flying the Spitfire Crook participated in the Battle of Britain, flying with No...
(6 confirmed kills) and P/O John Curchin (7 confirmed kills) were among several awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
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...
for their efforts during the battle. A Spitfire that flew with 609 Squadron during this period is now preserved at the RAF Museum
RAF Museum
The Royal Air Force Museum London, commonly known as the RAF Museum, is a museum located on the former Hendon Aerodrome, dedicated to the history of aviation and the British Royal Air Force. The museum is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Ministry of Defence and a registered charity...
, Hendon.
During February 1941 the squadron moved to RAF Biggin Hill. Almost all of the squadron's original pilots were now lost and replacements came from Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, USA, and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
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 and rested at 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 Lincolnshire.
In spring 1942 the squadron moved to RAF Duxford and re-equipped with the Spitfire Mk V. The squadron soon began to replace these with the Hawker Typhoon
Hawker Typhoon
The Hawker Typhoon was a British single-seat fighter-bomber, produced by Hawker Aircraft. While the Typhoon was designed to be a medium-high altitude interceptor, and a direct replacement for the Hawker Hurricane, several design problems were encountered, and the Typhoon never completely satisfied...
, which was introduced in an attempt to counter the Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
s FW-190 fighter. It became apparent that the Typhoon was better suited for low level attacks against ground targets, such as airfields and armoured vehicles. Before this change of focus, 609 Squadron had become the top scoring squadron in the RAF for the period of early 1943. The squadron also gained new pilots, including the first German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
citizen to fly with the RAF, cinematographer Sir Ken Adam
Ken Adam
Sir Kenneth Adam, OBE, born Klaus Hugo Adam , is a motion picture production designer most famous for his set designs for the James Bond films of the 1960s and 1970s.-Childhood in Germany:...
. He and his brother Dennis were the first German-born pilots in the RAF, Dennis joining No. 183 Squadron in 1944, as part of the same Wing (No. 123) that his elder brother was flying in with No. 609 (West Riding) Squadron.
Prior to the allied invasion of Europe in 1944, 609 Squadron was involved with destroying German radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
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
RP-3
The RP-3 , was a British rocket used in the Second World War. Though primarily an air-to-ground weapon, it saw limited use in other roles. Its 60 lb warhead gave rise to the alternative name of the "60 lb rocket"; the 25 lb solid-shot armour piercing variant was referred to as the "25 lb rocket"...
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. By the end of the war 603 pilots had claimed some 232 kills for 73 aircrew killed in action.
After World War II (1945–1957)
After the war, 609 Squadron was stood down, and the name transferred back to the Royal Auxiliary Air ForceRoyal 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...
. In 1946, the squadron reformed at RAF Church Fenton
RAF Church Fenton
RAF Church Fenton is a Royal Air Force airfield at Church Fenton in North Yorkshire, England.- History :Plans for a new airfield adjacent to the village of Church Fenton were announced in June 1935, it was subject to protest from the local population particularly concerning the waste of valuable...
, then moved back to Yeadon. 609 was once again a squadron manned by part-time civilians using front line fighters, this time the 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"...
night-fighter and later, when the squadron changed role to that of a daylight fighter squadron, the Spitfire LF.16
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...
. In 1951, 609 Squadron re-equipped with jet fighter aircraft, the 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...
, 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
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, 609 and other auxiliary squadrons were called up to full-time service for 3 months.
From 1947 to March 1957 (when all flying squadrons of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force were disbanded), Air Vice-Marshal Geoffrey Ambler
Geoffrey Ambler
Air Vice Marshal Geoffrey Hill Ambler CB, CBE, AFC was a senior officer in the Royal Air Force during World War II...
, who commanded the squadron just before World War II, was the squadron's Honorary Air Commodore.
The modern era (2000-present day)
The latest incarnation of the squadron was formed at RAF LeemingRAF Leeming
RAF Leeming is a Royal Air Force station in North Yorkshire, UK.HRH The Duchess of Cornwall is the Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Leeming. The Station Commander is Group Captain Anthony Innes....
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
Operation Telic
Operation TELIC was the codename under which all British military operations in Iraq were conducted between the start of the Invasion of Iraq on 19 March 2003 and the withdrawal of the last remaining British forces on 22 May 2011...
from February to August 2003. Furthermore, 15 of the Squadrons reservists were deployed to Al Uedid, Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
. Over 50 of the Squadrons reservists were awarded the Iraq Medal
Iraq Medal (United Kingdom)
The Iraq Medal was a campaign medal for issue to Officers and Other Ranks of the British Armed Forces, and others, who served on, or in support of, Operation TELIC - the designation for British operations during the 2003 Invasion of Iraq and its aftermath....
.
Since then, Several Squadron members have deployed with Regular RAF regiment Squadrons on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and this is on-going, with Squadron 'Gunners' deployed all the time.
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 NutkinsGeoff NutkinsGeoff Nutkins is a British aviation artist, working in gouache and pencil. He has been painting for over 20 years.Geoff's works focus on World War II, and in particular the Battle of Britain period. A number of his works feature the Supermarine Spitfire, Hawker Hurricane and Me109, but they...
. 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 NutkinsGeoff NutkinsGeoff Nutkins is a British aviation artist, working in gouache and pencil. He has been painting for over 20 years.Geoff's works focus on World War II, and in particular the Battle of Britain period. A number of his works feature the Supermarine Spitfire, Hawker Hurricane and Me109, but they...
. - Typhoon Scramble, by Richard Taylor.
- Typhoon Attack, by Robert Taylor.
- Double Trouble, by Geoff NutkinsGeoff NutkinsGeoff Nutkins is a British aviation artist, working in gouache and pencil. He has been painting for over 20 years.Geoff's works focus on World War II, and in particular the Battle of Britain period. A number of his works feature the Supermarine Spitfire, Hawker Hurricane and Me109, but they...
. - Sorbo Leader Attacking, by Alex Hamilton. Showing Pilot Officer N.Le C.Agazarian in Spitfire PR-U R6915.
- Battle above the Clouds, by Geoff NutkinsGeoff NutkinsGeoff Nutkins is a British aviation artist, working in gouache and pencil. He has been painting for over 20 years.Geoff's works focus on World War II, and in particular the Battle of Britain period. A number of his works feature the Supermarine Spitfire, Hawker Hurricane and Me109, but they...
. Showing John Dundas shooting down German ace Helmut Wick.
Aircraft operated
| From | To | Aircraft | Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 1936 | January 1938 | Hawker Hart Hawker Hart The Hawker Hart was a British two-seater biplane light bomber of the Royal Air Force , which had a prominent role during the RAF's inter-war period. The Hart was designed during the 1920s by Sydney Camm and built by Hawker Aircraft... |
|
| January 1938 | August 1939 | 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.... |
|
| August 1939 | May 1941 | 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.I |
| February 1941 | May 1941 | Supermarine Spitfire | Mk.IIa |
| May 1941 | May 1942 | Supermarine Spitfire | Mks.Vb, Vc |
| April 1942 | 1942 | Hawker Typhoon Hawker Typhoon The Hawker Typhoon was a British single-seat fighter-bomber, produced by Hawker Aircraft. While the Typhoon was designed to be a medium-high altitude interceptor, and a direct replacement for the Hawker Hurricane, several design problems were encountered, and the Typhoon never completely satisfied... |
Mk.Ia |
| May 1942 | September 1945 | Hawker Typhoon | Mk.Ib |
| July 1946 | April 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"... |
NF.30 |
| April 1948 | February 1951 | Supermarine Spitfire | LF.16e |
| November 1950 | January 1951 | de Havilland Vampire De Havilland Vampire The de Havilland DH.100 Vampire was a British jet-engine fighter commissioned by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Following the Gloster Meteor, it was the second jet fighter to enter service with the RAF. Although it arrived too late to see combat during the war, the Vampire served... |
FB.5 |
| January 1951 | July 1951 | 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... |
F.4 |
| June 1951 | February 1957 | Gloster Meteor | F.8 |
Commanding officers
| From | To | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 10 February 1936 | 8 December 1938 | S/Ldr. H. Peake |
| 8 December 1938 | 28 December 1939 | S/Ldr. G.H. Ambler Geoffrey Ambler Air Vice Marshal Geoffrey Hill Ambler CB, CBE, AFC was a senior officer in the Royal Air Force during World War II... , 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"... |
| 28 December 1939 | 28 June 1940 | S/Ldr. M.T. Avent |
| 28 June 1940 | 4 October 1940 | S/Ldr. H.S. Darley, DSO Distinguished Service Order The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September... |
| 4 October 1940 | 29 July 1941 | S/Ldr. M. Lister Robinson, DSO, 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... |
| 29 July 1941 | 1 June 1942 | S/Ldr. G.K. Gilroy, DFC & 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... |
| 1 June 1942 | 30 October 1942 | S/Ldr. P.H.M. Richey, DFC & Bar |
| 30 October 1942 | 5 May 1943 | S/Ldr. R.P. Beamont Roland Beamont Wing Commander Roland Prosper "Bee" Beamont CBE, DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar was a British fighter pilot and test pilot for the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, and the years that followed... , DSO, DFC & Bar |
| 5 May 1943 | 18 August 1943 | S/Ldr. A. Ingle, DFC, AFC |
| 18 August 1943 | 29 December 1943 | S/Ldr. P.G. Thornton-Brown, DFC |
| 29 December 1943 | 30 June 1944 | S/Ldr. J.C. Wells, DFC |
| 30 June 1944 | 14 August 1944 | S/Ldr. L.E.J.M. Geerts, DFC |
| 14 August 1944 | 17 September 1944 | S/Ldr. R.A. Lallemant, DFC & Bar |
| 17 September 1944 | 14 November 1944 | S/Ldr. T.Y. Wallace, 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... |
| 14 November 1944 | 6 December 1944 | S/Ldr. C.J.G. de Moulin, DFC |
| 6 December 1944 | 16 March 1945 | S/Ldr. E.R.A. Roberts, DFC |
| 16 March 1945 | 15 September 1945 | S/Ldr. L.W.F. Stark Laurence Stark Squadron Leader Laurence Pinkie Stark, DFC* AFC was a Royal Air Force pilot and Second World War flying ace.-Royal Air Force:... , DFC & Bar, AFC |
| 10 May 1946 | January 1950 | S/Ldr. P.H. Womersley, DFC & Bar |
| January 1950 | December 1953 | S/Ldr. A. Hudson, DFC, AFC |
| December 1953 | January 1956 | S/Ldr. E.T. Evans |
| January 1956 | 10 March 1957 | S/Ldr. D. Shaw |
Books by members of 609 Squadron
- Bell, George Armour. To Live Among Heroes. London: 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 MooreDavid Moore CrookDavid Moore Crook DFC was a British fighter pilot born in Huddersfield, England.-RAF career:After attending Cambridge University, he was mobilised as part of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force on the outbreak of war. Flying the Spitfire Crook participated in the Battle of Britain, flying with No...
. Spitfire Pilot, Faber and FaberFaber and FaberFaber and Faber Limited, often abbreviated to Faber, is an independent publishing house in the UK, notable in particular for publishing a great deal of poetry and for its former editor T. S. Eliot. Faber has a rich tradition of publishing a wide range of fiction, non fiction, drama, film and music...
, 1942. His autobiography. - Crook, David MooreDavid Moore CrookDavid Moore Crook DFC was a British fighter pilot born in Huddersfield, England.-RAF career:After attending Cambridge University, he was mobilised as part of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force on the outbreak of war. Flying the Spitfire Crook participated in the Battle of Britain, flying with No...
. Pursuit of Passy, Herbert Joseph, 1946. A novel. - DeMoulin, Charles, Mes Oiseaux De Feu (in French). Julliard/France Loisirs, 1982. Belgian pilot of the 609 Squadron (1941–1945), he became Squadron Leader in 1944.
- Translated as Firebirds! Flying the Typhoon in Action. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd., 1987. ISBN 0-906393-48-5.
- Earnshaw, James Douglas. 609 at War. Vector Fine Art. ISBN 0-9545179-0-3.
- Lallemant, Lt. Colonel R. Rendez-vous avec la chance (in French). Paris: Robert Laffont, 1962. 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 H. The Story of 609 Squadron: Under the White Rose. London: Macdonald, 1971. ISBN 0356-03641-3.
- Second edition as The Story of 609 Squadron: Under the White Rose. London: Crécy Publishing Ltd., 1993. ISBN 0-947554-29-7. Ziegler was an intelligence officer with 609 Squadron.
- Waite, Brian. William De Goat. Athena Press, 2008. ISBN 978-1-84748-283-9. Squadron Leader Brian Waite was the O.C. of 609 Sqn. (2001–06) and this is his story of Air Commodore William De Goat, DSO, DFC, the extraordinary Mascot of 609 (West Riding) Squadron during the Second World War.
External links
- Battle of Britain history of No. 609 Squadron
- Battle of Britain pictures of No. 609 Squadron
- Official history No. 609 Squadron
- Current 609 Squadron Website
- No. 609 Squadron living history group
- 609 Squadron photos
- Aircraft and marking of no. 609 sqn
- Official Site of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force (RAF Reserves)