RAuxAF Squadrons of Today
ROYAL AUXILIARY AIR FORCE I 100 th ANNIVERSARY
RAuxAF Squadrons of Today
502 ( ULSTER ) Squadron RAuxAF
The Original RAF Reserve Squadron
502 Bombing Sqn was the first Auxiliary flying sqn to form , and it formed as a Special Reserve Sqn at RAF Aldergrove on 15 May 1925 .
Designated as a heavy night bombing unit and renamed 502 ( Ulster ) Sqn , from June 1925 operated the Vickers Vimy FB 27 : the first aircraft type to proudly fly the Sqn ’ s ‘ Red Hand ’ emblem . The Sqn converted to the Handley Page Hyderabad in July 1928 , replaced by the Vickers Virginia Mk X December 1931 . In 1935 , operating in a day bomber role , the unit Operated the Westland Wallace , replaced by the Hawker Hind during April 1937 .
On 1 July 1937 502 , Sqn transferred to the Auxiliary Air Force and moved to Coastal Command on 28 November 1938 , re-equipping with the Avro Anson Mk I . When war was declared , the Sqn flew convoy and anti-submarine patrols off the Irish coast and over the Atlantic from RAF Aldergrove and RAF Limavady . A small detachment also patrolled the Irish Sea and the approaches to Liverpool from RAF Hooton Park in Cheshire . By October 1940 , the Sqn had converted to the more capable Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Mk V which had a greater range than the Anson . Aside from countering the U-boat threat , Sqn aircraft also deterred German reconnaissance aircraft from tracking and attacking allied convoys . In one incident , on 17 July 1941 , a 502 Sqn Whitley intercepted and engaged a Focke-Wulf Condor off the west coast of Ireland . Fire was exchanged , causing severe damage to both aircraft , forcing the Condor to flee the area , resulting in the loss of the Whitley , although the crew were rescued .
502 Sqn Whitley Mk V engaging a FW Condor 1941
502 Sqn Vickers Vimy at RAF Aldergrove 1926
502 Sqn Hawker Hinds
The Sqn received the updated Whitley GR Mk VII in late 1941 and was re-deployed to hunt for
U-boats in the English Channel and the Bay of Biscay , operating from RAF Chivenor , RAF St Eval and RAF St David ’ s . On 30 November 1941 , a 502 Sqn Whitley made the first successful attack on a U-boat by a Coastal Command aircraft using ASV ; although it was later confirmed that the U-boat was severely damaged and not destroyed . The Sqn ’ s first confirmed sinking of a U-boat came on 17 July 1942 .
502 Sqn AW Whitley Mk VII ( YG-R ) with ASV radar 1942
Converting to the Handley Page Halifax GR Mk II ( 1A ) from January 1943 the Sqn continued to hunt U-boats and also supported the D-Day landings in early June 1944 , subsequently re-deploying and finishing the war at RAF Stornoway from where night-time interdiction sorties were flown against German shipping off the Norwegian coast . 502 Sqn was stood down on 25 May 1945 and was credited with destroying 5 German U-boats ( 3 shared with other sqns ) alongside a significant tonnage of enemy shipping . On 24 May 1954 502 Sqn ’ s first Standard was presented at RAF Aldergrove emblazoned with 5 Battle Honours : Atlantic 1939 - 44 ; Biscay 1941- 44 ; Channel & North Sea 1942 - 45 ; Dieppe and Baltic 1944 - 1945 .
On reactivation of the Auxiliary Air Force , on 10 May 1946 , 502 Sqn reformed at RAF Aldergrove operating Mosquitoes and Spitfires and Vampires before disbanding again on 10 March 1957 .
502 Sqn Vampire FB 5 at RAF Aldergrove in 1956
502 Sqn reformed at Aldergrove on 1 January 2013 as a General Service Support Sqn . Tasked to deliver trained RAuxAF personnel , all part-time volunteers , from across 8 professions employed in 19 specialist ground trade roles , the Sqn supports tasks in the United Kingdom and overseas . On 18 May 2019 , the Sqn had the honour of receiving its new Sqn Standard at RAF Aldergrove .
Providing personnel to support RAF stations , air exercises as well as Operations SHADER ( Syria ), NEWCOMBE ( Mali ), TORAL ( Afghanistan ) and RESCRIPT ( COVID -19 ), the 502 Sqn always operates in accord with its motto : Nihil Timeo – I Fear Nothing !
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