- No. 604 Squadron RAF
-
No. 604 Squadron RAF Active 17 March 1930 - 18 April 1945
10 May 1946 - 10 March 1957Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
Part of Royal Auxiliary Air Force Motto Latin: Si vis pacem para bellum
(Translation: "If you want peace, prepare for war")[1][2][3]post 1951 aircraft insignia Battle honours France & Low Countries, 1940*
Dunkirk*
Battle of Britain, 1940*
Home Defence, 1940-44*
Fortress Europe, 1943-45*
Normandy, 1944*
France & Germany, 1944-45*
Honours marked with an asterisk* are those emblazoned on the Squadron StandardCommanders Honorary Air Commodore Samuel Hoare, 1st Viscount Templewood (1932-1957) Notable
commandersJohn Cunningham, Michael Hugh Constable-Maxwell, Frederick Desmond Hughes Insignia Squadron Badge heraldry A seax
No. 604 Squadron, being the County of Middlesex squadron, took part of the armorial bearings of the county, a seax, to commemorate that association[1][2]Squadron Codes WQ (Jan 1939 - Sep 1939)[4]
NG Sep (1939 - Apr 1945,
1949 - Apr 1951)[5]
RAK (Jul 1946 - 1949)[6]No. 604 Squadron RAF was a squadron of the Royal Air Force notable for its pioneering role the development of radar-controlled night-fighter operations. The squadron was established in March 1930 at RAF Hendon as a day-bombing squadron of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. In July 1934, the squadron transitioned to two-seat fighters. Shortly after the commencement of hostilities in 1939, the squadron was reassigned to the night-fighter role.
No. 604 Squadron was initially disbanded in April 1945 as part of the near-end-of-war reduction of the British Armed Forces. It was reformed as an Auxiliary single-seat fighter squadron in May 1946, again at RAF Hendon. Final disbandment occurred in March 1957 with the dissolution of the Auxiliary Air Force.
Contents
History
Formation and early years
No. 604 Squadron was established on 17 March 1930 at RAF Hendon as a squadron of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force.[1][3] The squadron was initially assigned to the role of day-bombing and received its first aircraft (Airco DH.9As) in April 1930.[7] The DH.9A was shortly replaced by the Westland Wapiti in September 1930. Upon re-designation as a two-seat fighter squadron, No. 604 transitioned to the Hawker Hart on 23 July 1934. Hawker Demons replaced the Harts in June 1935.[8]
World War II
In early 1939, the squadron transitioned to the long-range fighter variant of the Bristol Blenheim. No. 604 Squadron was activated on 24 August 1939 to operate long-range fighters from RAF North Weald. The squadron spent the first several months of World War II flying defensive patrols in support of coastal convoys.
Beginning of night-fighter operations
The squadron was reassigned to the night-fighter role in late 1939 and was relocated to RAF Northolt in January 1940. By May 1940, the squadron had moved to RAF Manston. It was during the squadron's stay at RAF Manston that Flying Officer Alistair Hunter and Sergeant Gordon Thomas shot down a Luftwaffe Heinkel 115 floatplane shortly after midnight on 18 June 1940, the first major night raid over the UK. [9]
Following the Dunkirk evacuation, the squadron was based at RAF Middle Wallop at the end of July 1940.
Airborne Interception
In early summer 1940, squadron aircraft were fitted with both VHF radiotelephone equipment and Mark III AI radar. The former was part of RAF Fighter Command policy and greatly improved air-to-air and air-to ground communication. The AI equipment was fitted to assist the nght fighter crews in locating German bombers at night. As a new technological development, AI was not particularly reliable at this stage, and needed a third crew member to operate. The external antennas also slowed down aircraft that were already considered of low performance for their role. Most AI operators were inexperienced and wee forced to learn 'on the job', translating the information provided on the AI screens into instructions to enable their pilot to get close near enough to visually locate and then shoot down an enemy bomber.
The Beaufighter
Late in September 1940 the Squadron received its first Bristol Beaufighter, equipped with four 20-mm cannon under the nose and the improved Mark IV AI radio-location equipment. As one of the few Squadrons thus equipped, 604 squadron provided night defence over the UK during the Blitz from late 1940 until mid May 1941, when most Luftwaffe bomber units departed for involvement in the Invasion of Soviet Russia. By this time 50 air victories had been claimed by 604, 14 by F/L John Cunningham.[10]
The Mosquito
In early 1943 the squadron began to move over to night intruder operations. In February 1944, the squadron was allocated to the 2nd Tactical Air Force and began conversion to the de Havilland Mosquito. Operations from Normandy began in August but the following month it returned to the UK, returning to the continent once again in January 1945, remaining there until disbanding at B.51 at Vendeville,[8][11] near Lille, France on 18 April 1945.[3][12] Some 127 air victories had been claimed by the Squadron during the war, 41 since May 1944.[13]
Post-war
With the reactivation of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, 604 was reformed on 10 May 1946 at RAF Hendon as a day fighter squadron. It was initially equipped with Spitfire LF.16s but converted to jets in November 1949 when de Havilland Vampires arrived. These were replaced by Gloster Meteors in August 1952 but this was only for a few years as, along with all the flying units of the RAuxAF, the squadron was disbanded on 10 March 1957.[3][12]
Aircraft operated
Aircraft operated by no. 604 squadron RAF, data from[7][8][11][12] From To Aircraft Version April 1930 September 1930 Airco DH.9A June 1930 June 1935 Westland Wapiti Mk.IIa September 1934 June 1935 Hawker Hart June 1935 January 1939 Hawker Demon January 1939 January 1941 Bristol Blenheim Mk.If May 1940 May 1940 Gloster Gladiator Mk.I September 1940 April 1943 Bristol Beaufighter Mk.I April 1943 April 1944 Bristol Beaufighter Mk.VIf February 1944 September 1944 de Havilland Mosquito Mk.XII April 1944 April 1945 de Havilland Mosquito Mk.XIII October 1946 May 1950 Supermarine Spitfire LF.16e November 1949 September 1952 de Havilland Vampire F.3 August 1952 March 1957 Gloster Meteor F.8 Squadron bases
bases and airfields used by no. 604 Squadron RAF, data from[7][8][11][12] From To Base 17 March 1930 29 September 1938 RAF Hendon, Middlesex 29 September 1938 3 October 1938 RAF North Weald, Essex 3 October 1938 2 September 1939 RAF Hendon, Middlesex 2 September 1939 16 January 1940 RAF North Weald, Essex (det. at RAF Martlesham Heath, Suffolk) 16 January 1940 15 May 1940 RAF Northolt, Middlesex 15 May 1940 20 June 1940 RAF Manston, Kent 20 June 1940 3 July 1940 RAF Northolt, Middlesex 3 July 1940 27 July 1940 RAF Gravesend, Kent 27 July 1940 12 August 1942 RAF Middle Wallop, Hampshire (Det. at RAF Coltishall, Norfolk) 12 August 1942 23 August 1942 RAF Warmwell, Dorset 23 August 1942 7 December 1942 RAF Middle Wallop, Hampshire 7 December 1942 18 February 1943 RAF Predannack, Cornwall 18 February 1943 24 April 1943 RAF Ford, West Sussex 24 April 1943 25 April 1944 RAF Scorton, North Yorkshire 25 April 1944 3 May 1944 RAF Church Fenton, North Yorkshire 3 May 1944 13 July 1944 RAF Hurn, Dorset 13 July 1944 25 July 1944 RAF Colerne, Wiltshire 25 July 1944 28 July 1944 RAF Zeals, Wiltshire 28 July 1944 6 August 1944 RAF Colerne, Wiltshire (Det. at A.15/Maupertus, France) 6 August 1944 9 September 1944 A.8/Picauville, France 9 September 1944 24 September 1944 B.17/Carpiquet, France 24 September 1944 5 December 1944 RAF Predannack, Cornwal 5 December 1944 31 December 1944 RAF Odiham, Hampshire 31 December 1944 18 April 1945 B.51/Lille-Vendeville, France 10 May 1946 28 March 1949 RAF Hendon, Middlesex 28 March 1949 10 March 1957 RAF North Weald, Essex Commanding officers
Officers commanding no. 604 Squadron RAF, data from[14][15][16] From To Name March 1930 March 1935 W/Cdr. A.S.W. Dore, DSO, TD March 1935 January 1939 S/Ldr. C.P. Gabriel January 1939 March 1940 S/Ldr. R.A. Budd March 1940 August 1941 S/Ldr. M.F. Anderson August 1941 August 1941 W/Cdr. Appleton August 1941 July 1942 W/Cdr. J. Cunningham, DSO & Bar, DFC July 1942 April 1943 W/Cdr. Wood, AFC April 1943 July 1944 W/Cdr. M.H. Constable-Maxwell, DFC July 1944 18 April 1945 W/Cdr. F.D. Hughes, DFC & 2 Bars June 1946 January 1948 W/Cdr. J. Cunningham, DSO & 2 Bars, DFC & Bar January 1948 May 1951 S/Ldr. K.T. Lofts, DFC & Bar May 1951 September 1953 S/Ldr. A. Deytrikh September 1953 March 1957 S/Ldr. T.P. Turnbull, DFC References
Notes
- ^ a b c Moyes 1976, p. 275.
- ^ a b Rawlings 1978, p. 483.
- ^ a b c d Halley 1988, p. 421.
- ^ Bowyer and Rawlings 1979, p. 14.
- ^ Bowyer and Rawlings 1979, p. 76.
- ^ Bowyer and Rawlings 1979, p. 138.
- ^ a b c Moyes 1976, p. 276.
- ^ a b c d Halley 1988, p. 422.
- ^ 'Aces High' Shores & Williams, page 74
- ^ 'Aces High' Shores & Williams, page 74
- ^ a b c Rawlings 1978, p. 485.
- ^ a b c d Jefford 2001, p. 100.
- ^ 'Aces High' Shores & Williams, page 74
- ^ Rawlings 1978, p. 486.
- ^ Bowyer 1984, p. 121.
- ^ Hunt 1972, pp. 137–163.
Bibliography
- Bishop, Chris.(ed.) The Encyclopedia of 20th Century Air Warfare. Amber Books Ltd., 2004. ISBN 1-904678-26-1.
- Bowyer, Chaz. Mosquito Squadrons of the Royal Air Force. Shepperton, Surrey, UK: Ian Allan Ltd., 1984. ISBN 0-7110-1425-6.
- Bowyer, Michael J.F. and John D.R. Rawlings. Squadron Codes, 1937-56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd., 1979. ISBN 0-85059-364-6.
- Bushby, John R. Gunner's moon. Shepperton, Surrey, UK: Ian Allan, 1972. ISBN 0-7110-0372-6. (Middle Wallop night fighter ops 1940)
- Chisholm, Roderick. Cover of Darkness. London: Chatto and Windus, 1953 (republished by Elmfield Press in 1976).
- Golley, John. John "Cat's-Eyes" Cunningham: The Aviation Legend. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd., 1999. ISBN 1-84037-059-9.
- Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918-1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
- Hunt, Leslie. Twenty-one Squadrons: History of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, 1925-57. London: Garnstone Press, 1972. ISBN 0-85511-110-0. (New edition in 1992 by Crécy Publishing, ISBN 0-94755-426-2.)
- Jefford, C.G., Wing Commander MBE, BA, RAF(Retd). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd., 1998 (second edition 2001). ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
- Moyes, Philip J.R. Bomber Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers) Ltd., 2nd edition 1976. ISBN 0-354-01027-1.
- Rawlings, John D.R. Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers) Ltd., 1969 (Second edition 1976, reprinted 1978). ISBN 0-354-01028-X.
- Rawnsley, Cecil Frederick and Robert Wright. Night Fighter. London: Collins, 1957 (Also published by Goodall Publications, 1998, ISBN 0-90757-967-1).
External links
- 604 Squadron history on RAF website
- Squadron histories for nos. 600-604 sqn on RAFweb
- 604 in the Battle of Britain
- Traces of World War 2: RAF - No. 604 Squadron
Related content
Currently active Inactive 1 · 4 · 10 · 13 · 20 · 21 · 23 · 25 · 26 · 34 · 35 · 36 · 37 · 38 · 40 · 42 · 43 · 44 · 46 · 48 · 49 · 50 · 52 · 53 · 55 · 58 · 59 · 61 · 62 · 63 · 64 · 65 · 66 · 67 · 68 · 69 · 70 · 71 · 73 · 74 · 75 · 76 · 77 · 79 · 80 · 81 · 82 · 83 · 85 · 86 · 87 · 88 · 89 · 90 · 91 · 92 · 93 · 94 · 95 · 96 · 97 · 98 · 102 · 103 · 104 · 105 · 106 · 107 · 108 · 109 · 110 · 111 · 112 · 113 · 114 · 115 · 116 · 117 · 118 · 119 · 120 · 121 · 122 · 123 · 124 · 125 · 126 · 127 · 128 · 129 · 130 · 131 · 132 · 133 · 134 · 135 · 136 · 137 · 138 · 139 · 140 · 141 · 142 · 143 · 144 · 145 · 146 · 147 · 148 · 149 · 150 · 151 · 152 · 153 · 154 · 155 · 156 · 157 · 158 · 159 · 160 · 161 · 162 · 163 · 164 · 165 · 166 · 167 · 168 · 169 · 170 · 171 · 172 · 173 · 174 · 175 · 176 · 177 · 178 · 179 · 180 · 181 · 182 · 183 · 184 · 185 · 186 · 187 · 188 · 189 · 190 · 191 · 192 · 193 · 194 · 195 · 196 · 197 · 198 · 199 · 200 · 201 · 204 · 205 · 209 · 210 · 211 · 212 · 213 · 214 · 215 · 217 · 218 · 219 · 220 · 221 · 222 · 223 · 224 · 225 · 226 · 227 · 228 · 229 · 231 · 232 · 233 · 234 · 235 · 236 · 237 · 238 · 239 · 240 · 241 · 242 · 243 · 244 · 245 · 246 · 247 · 248 · 249 · 250 · 251 · 252 · 253 · 254 · 255 · 256 · 257 · 258 · 259 · 260 · 261 · 262 · 263 · 264 · 265 · 266 · 267 · 268 · 269 · 270 · 271 · 272 · 273 · 274 · 275 · 276 · 277 · 278 · 279 · 280 · 281 · 282 · 283 · 284 · 285 · 286 · 287 · 288 · 289 · 290 · 291 · 292 · 293 · 294 · 295 · 296 · 297 · 298 · 299 · 353 · 354 · 355 · 356 · 357 · 358 · 360 · 361 · 510 · 511 · 512 · 513 · 514 · 515 · 516 · 517 · 518 · 519 · 520 · 521 · 524 · 525 · 526 · 527 · 528 · 529 · 530 · 531 · 532 · 533 · 534 · 535 · 536 · 537 · 538 · 539 · 540 · 541 · 542 · 543 · 544 · 547 · 548 · 549 · 550 · 567 · 569 · 570 · 571 · 575 · 576 · 577 · 578 · 582 · 586 · 587 · 595 · 597 · 598 · 618 · 619 · 620 · 621 · 622 · 623 · 624 · 625 · 626 · 627 · 628 · 629 · 630 · 631 · 635 · 639 · 640 · 644 · 650 · 651 · 652 · 653 · 654 · 655 · 656 · 657 · 658 · 659 · 660 · 661 · 662 · 663 · 664 · 665 · 666 · 667 · 668 · 669 · 670 · 671 · 672 · 673 · 679 · 680 · 681 · 682 · 683 · 684 · 691 · 692 · 695
Australian Flying Corps (AFC) units attached
to the RAF during the First World WarCommonwealth air force units attached to
the RAF during the Second World War.Squadrons formed from non-Commonwealth
personnel during the Second World WarArgentineBelgian349 · 350CzechoslovakDutchFrenchGreek335 · 336NorwegianYugoslavRoyal Auxiliary Air Force Special ReserveAuxiliary Air ForceFleet Air Arm of the RAF (1924–1939) Formations and units Commands · Groups · Stations · Wings · Aircraft squadrons · Aircraft flights · Conversion units · Regiment squadrons
Branches and components RAF Regiment · RAF Chaplains Branch · RAF Intelligence · RAF Legal Branch · Princess Mary's RAF Nursing Service · RAF Police · Search and Rescue Force · Mountain Rescue Service
Reserve forces Associated civil organizations Air Training Corps · RAF Association · RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine
Equipment List of RAF aircraft · List of RAF missiles
Personnel Symbols and uniform Categories:- Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons
- Military units and formations established in 1930
- Military units and formations of the Royal Air Force in World War II
- Battle of Britain
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.