RAuxAF 100 Anniversary Booklet | Page 26

ROYAL AUXILIARY AIR FORCE I 100 th ANNIVERSARY
605 ( County of Warwick ) Squadron RAuxAF
605 ( County of Warwick ) Sqn was formed as a day bomber Sqn on 5 October 1926 at RAF Castle Bromwich . Initially equipped with Westland Wapitis and Hawker Hinds , the Sqn re-rolled to a fighter Sqn when it relocated to RAF Tangmere at the start of WW2 and flew Hurricanes during the evacuation of Dunkirk and the Battle of Britain . In November 1941 , 605 Sqn was posted to the Far East , en-route the Sqn ’ s Hurricanes were re-tasked to support the defence of Malta , whilst the groundcrew arrived in Singapore as the Japanese were – the Sqn effectively fought in 2 theatres simultaneously . After sustaining heavy losses , the Sqn was reformed at RAF Ford in June 1942 , initially with Bostons and Havocs before receiving Mosquitoes in February 1943 .
Notable taskings were the destruction of searchlights and gun emplacements , around Pegasus Bridge on the night before D-Day , clearing the way for the 6th Airborne Division to attack . Near the end of the war the Sqn was tasked to attack V1 Flying Bombs , heading for London . Disbanding at Volkel Air Base in the Netherlands , on 31 August 1945 , the Sqn reformed at RAF Honiley in May 1946 as a day Fighter Sqn , flying De Havilland Vampires . The Sqn was disbanded along with the other flying units of the Auxiliary Air Force on 10 March 1957 , with its standard being laid up at St Cuthbert of Lindisfarne Parish Church , which was built on the site of RAF Castle Vale .
605 Sqn was reformed as a Logistics Support Sqn on 1 November 2014 , at RAF Cosford and remains the only RAF Reserve Sqn in the West Midlands . Tasked with providing a cadre of Logisticians ( Chefs , Drivers , and Suppliers ) and a cadre of RAF Police , Sqn personnel have supported Exercises and Operations , at home and abroad . 605 Sqn has provided trained personnel most notably to the Red Arrows , the BBMF , the RAF Falcons Parachute Display Team , MPC ( Falkland Islands ), RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus ( OP SHADER ), OP AZOTIZE in Estonia ( NATO Air Policing ) and OP RESCRIPT ( supporting COVID mass testing ). Moreover , 605 Sqn has recently mobilised personnel in support of multinational Exercises in the USA , Oman , and Sweden , in addition to supporting several UK based Exercises .
Sqn personnel deployed on ceremonial and liaison duties in support of the funeral of HM Queen Elizabeth II and also provided personnel for OP GOLDEN ORB
- the Coronation of HM King Charles III and Queen Camilla . As of June 2023 , 605 Sqn sits as one of the 3 Logistics Support Sqns of the Reserve Logistics Support Wing and continues to provide suitably qualified and experienced personnel , for Defence Logistics and Policing asks , worldwide .
On 20 Jul 23 the Sqn was presented with its new Standard by the Chief of the Air Staff at RAF Cosford .
504 ( County of Nottingham ) Squadron RAuxAF
504 ( County of Nottingham ) Sqn formed at RAF Hucknall on 26 March 1928 . Equipped with Hawker Horsley ’ s in the daybomber role , the Sqn transitioned to the legendary Hawker Hurricane in May 1939 . Mobilised for active service on 26 August 1939 , 504 moved to RAF Digby before deploying to Northern France in early 1940 .
During the Battle of Britain , Sergeant Ray Holmes famously rammed a German Dornier on its mission to bomb Battersea ’ s railway viaducts .
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