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A Short History Of 609 (West Riding) Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force
The original 609 (West Riding) Squadron existed for 21 years and one day, with a short break of seven months and 21 days.
Formed at Yeadon on the 10th February 1936 as a bomber squadron flying Hawker Harts and Hinds, 609 changed to a fighter role in December 1938, soon converting onto the Supermarine Spitfire MK1’s that were to see them score the first of many aerial combat victories with the shooting down by Flying Officers G.D. Ayre, D. Persse –Joynt and Pilot officer J.R. Buchanan of a Heinkel He111 in February 1940.
Having flown at Dunkirk and through the Battle of Britain, 609 became the first Spitfire squadron to reach 100 victories, with the shooting down by Flight-Lieutenant Frank Howell and Pilot-Officer Sydney Hill of a Junkers Ju88 that had been machine-gunning Old Sarum on 21st October 1940.
It was in April 1942 that 609 was to finally become acquainted with the Hawker Typhoon, which they first used operationally on 30th June. During the run up to D-Day and until the end of the war 609 became a part of 123 Wing, Second Tactical Air Force, and continually prowling the European mainland by day and night, attacked German Troops, armour, installations and locomotives with a mixture of 20mm cannon, 60lb rocket projectiles, and 500lb bombs. on the 20th September 1945, having lost 53 pilots killed, 20 missing, and a further 31 killed or missing who had transferred to other squadrons, 609 (West Riding) Squadron was disbanded.
But the story did not end there. 8 months later, on 10th May 1946, the squadron was reformed with De Havilland Mosquito XXXII’s, before moving onto the Spitfire LF XVI, and then into the jet age with first the De Havilland Vampire and subsequently Gloster Meteor V and VII’s, serving alongside regular RAF squadrons until the 11 February 1957 when the Royal Auxiliary Air Force was finally disbanded. 609 (West Riding) Squadron was not to be resurrected again until 1st July 1999.
This is their story - Tally Ho! |
Copyright © 2002 609 (West Riding)
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