ROYAL AUXILIARY AIR FORCE I 100 th ANNIVERSARY
602 ( City of Glasgow ) Squadron RAuxAF
602 Sqn was formed at RAF Renfrew on 15 September 1925 as a light bomber sqn in the Auxiliary Air Force , and initially equipped with Airco DH . 9As . These were replaced by Fairey Fawns in 1927 , Westland Wapitis in 1929 , Hawker Harts in 1934 and finally Hawker Hinds in 1936 .
The sqn continued in the light bomber role until 1 November 1938 when it was redesignated as an Army Co-operation unit . This did not last long , and on 14 January 1939 the squadron became a fighter sqn .
It received Hawker Hectors and later Gloster Gauntlets on conversion to a fighter role . These were short-lived , as Spitfires arrived in May 1939 .
602 Sqn spent the early part of the war and Battle of Britain on defensive duties in Scotland . In August 1940 , it moved south to join the battle , returning to Scotland in December . The Sqn moved south again in July 1941 , remaining for a year before returning north . Another move came in January 1943 , this time to the southwest , where in April 602 joined the newly forming 2 nd Tactical Air Force . The squadron briefly returned to Scotland from January to March 1944 , when it returned south prior to taking part in the invasion of Europe .
From the end of June 1944 , 602 Sqn operated from advance airfields in Normandy and into Belgium until September , when it returned from Antwerp to the UK . From RAF Coltishall flying Spitfire XVIs the squadron carried out operations against V2 sites in the Netherlands over an area ranging from The Hook to Den Helder , until disbanding on 15 May 1945 at Coltishall .
602 reformed on 10 May 1946 at RAF Abbotsinch as a day fighter sqn . Upon reactivation the Squadron operated Spitfire F . 14s , F . 21s and F . 22s , until 1951 when Vampires were operated followed by Meteors up until 1957 when , along with all the flying units of the RAuxAF , it was disbanded on 10 March 1957 .
With the disbandment of the RAuxAF flying Sqns , in 1957 , the baton of the RAuxAF in Scotland passed to No 2 Maritime Headquarters Unit in Edinburgh , formed on 1 November 1959 , which supported maritime operations throughout the Cold War . On 1 October 1999 , 2 Maritime Headquarters Unit reformed as 603 ( City of Edinburgh ) Sqn RAuxAF , whose Mission Support Element subsequently reformed into 602 ( City of Glasgow ) Sqn RAuxAF on 1 July 2006 and returned to Glasgow in 2007 .
Back home in Glasgow the Squadron initially collocated with the Lowland Reserve Forces and Cadets Association at their HQ in the north of the city . Latterly , in November 2014 , the Sqn moved to the King ’ s Park area on the southside of the city , operating from its own HQ site ( a previous Army Reserve Centre ). As a General Service Support Squadron of No 2 Group employing a range of officers and aviators across many specialties , 602 Sqn ’ s current mission is ;
To provide task owners and RAF Capability Sponsors ( Air & Space Operations , Intelligence , Cyberspace with Individual Augmentees to support routine RAF and Defence Tasks on RSDs as directed / endorsed by capability owners . To be prepared to provide Task Owners and RAF Capability Sponsors ( Air & Space Ops , Sy & Resilience , Intelligence , Cyberspace , Legal and Logistics ) with Individual Volunteer Augmentees to support mobilisations .
RAF and Defence Tasks on RSDs or as directed / endorsed by capability owners .
Contingent Support out of profession on RSDs or Mobilisation .
To be prepared to provide non-specialist volunteer support for UK Resilience tasking on RSDs or mobilisation as appropriate as directed .
On 19 Aug 2022 , the Sqn had the honour of receiving its new Squadron Standard .
As we move forward into the second century of the Royal Air Force , 602 ( City of Glasgow ) Sqn RAuxAF continues to serve with pride and distinction .
602 ( City of Glasgow ) Sqn RAuxAF – Standard Consecration Parade 19 Aug 2022
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