No. 501 (County of Gloucester) Squadron RAuxAF
Active14 June 1929 – 20 April 1945
10 May 1946 – 10 March 1957
June 2001 – present
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Auxiliary Air Force
RoleLogistics
Part ofNo 85 Expeditionary Logistics Wing, RAF A4 Force
Motto(s)Latin: Nil Time
("Fear nothing")[1][2][3]
Colors
Battle honoursFrance & Low Countries, 1940
Battle of Britain, 1940
Home Defence, 1940–45
Fortress Europe, 1940–44
Channel & North Sea, 1940–44
France & Germany, 1944
Normandy, 1944
All these honours are emblazoned on the squadron standard[4]
Commanders
Honorary Air CommodorePrince Henry, Duke of Gloucester[5]
Notable
commanders		Christopher Frederick "Bunny" Currant
Joseph Berry
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldryA boar's head couped[3]
The boar's head is taken from the arms of Gloucester; the animal is also noted for its courage[1][2]
Squadron CodesZH (Apr 1939 – Sep 1939)[6][7]
SD (Sep 1939 – Apr 1945
and 1949 – 1951)[8][9]
RAB (May 1946 – 1949)[10][11]

No. 501 Squadron was the 14th of the 21 flying units in the Royal Auxiliary Air Force,[12] the volunteer reserve part of the British Royal Air Force. The squadron won seven battle honours,[4] flying Hurricane, Spitfire and Tempest fighter aircraft during World War II, and was one of the most heavily engaged units in RAF Fighter Command. In particular, the Squadron saw extensive action during the Battle of France and Battle of Britain. At present the unit is not flying any more and has a logistics role as part of No 85 Expeditionary Logistics Wing.

History

Formation and early years

The squadron was originally formed as a day-bomber unit named No 501 (City of Bristol) Squadron[1] as part of the Special Reserve squadrons on 14 June 1929, made up of volunteers and regulars, flying D.H.9As, which were later replaced with Westland Wapitis and later still with Westland Wallaces. In 1936 it became "No 501 (County of Gloucester) Squadron", changing the name to embrace a larger area of recruitment.[3] On 1 May 1936 it was transferred to the Auxiliary Air Force and in July of that year the squadron converted to Hawker Harts. In March 1938 these were exchanged for Hawker Hinds, but at the end of 1938 No. 501 squadron was transferred from RAF Bomber Command to RAF Fighter Command,[1] and Hawker Hurricanes began to arrive in March 1939.

Second World War

When war was declared in September 1939, 501 Squadron was based at RAF Filton, near Bristol.

On 10 May 1940, with the attack on France, the Squadron became part of the Advanced Air Striking Force[13] and moved to France where it saw extensive action, stationed at airfields as Bétheniville, Anglure, Le Mans and Dinard. Sgt J.H. "Ginger" Lacey of 501 Squadron shot down three enemy aircraft in a single day to win the Croix de Guerre. (He later returned to England with five victories.) After the retreat from France through Saint Helier, Jersey, its battle-hardened pilots were reorganised at RAF Croydon and then moved on to RAF Middle Wallop and later RAF Gravesend (now Gravesend Airport). It subsequently served at RAF Kenley, south London, commanded by S/L Harry Hogan, until 17 December 1940 by which time the squadron had claimed 149 enemy aircraft destroyed. Success came at a high cost; in addition to the heavy losses suffered in France, the squadron lost 19 pilots killed during the Battle of Britain, more than any other squadron.

The squadron re-equipped with the Supermarine Spitfire in April 1941 and the squadron moved to Northern Ireland in October 1942. In April 1943 the squadron returned to Tangmere for bomber escort work – some pilots being issued with the Spitfire Mk IXc. Between November 1943 and October 1944 the squadron formed part of Air Defence of Great Britain (ADGB). For Operation Overlord (the Allied invasion of Normandy) it flew the Spitfire V LF operating from RAF Friston in ADGB, though under the operational control of RAF Second Tactical Air Force.[14]

During August 1944, the squadron began converting to the Tempest Mk.V at RAF Manston, for the purposes of Operation Diver – the interception of V-1 missiles. On 23 August, a Tempest flight from the elite Fighter Interception Unit (FIU) was merged into 501 Squadron and S/L Joe Berry of FIU was appointed commanding officer of the combined unit.[15]

The squadron was disbanded at RAF Hunsdon at the end of the war on 20 April 1945. During World War II the pilots of No. 501 Squadron had flown 11,140 operational sorties,[16] in which they shot down 201 enemy aircraft and at least 84 V-1s.[17]

Notable squadron members

Supermarine Spitfire Vb number EP120 (2010). This aircraft was allocated to 501 Squadron in 1942 and flown by Squadron Leader Geoffrey Northcott, who used it to shoot down six Axis aircraft. It is currently painted in the markings it carried when subsequently serving with RCAF 402 Squadron[18]

The squadron included several notable pilots of World War II, including Sergeant Pilot Antoni (Toni) Głowacki VM, CV and 3 bars, DFC, DFM, who shot down five German aircraft on 24 August 1940 to become the first of only two pilots to achieve "Ace-in-a-day" status during the Battle of Britain.[19][20] Among others who achieved fighter ace status were Ken Mackenzie,[21] "Ginger" Lacey,[22] Stanisław Skalski,[23] Robert Dafforn,[24] Paul Farnes DFM, Kenneth Lee,[25] and Percy Morfill. Lacey was one of the highest scoring pilots in the Battle of Britain.[26] Squadron Leader Joseph Berry, DFC & 2 bars, was the top scoring V-1 (flying bomb) ace of the squadron, though he claimed only 10 of his 61 victories whilst flying with 501 Squadron.[27] In addition to these unmanned missiles he also shot down three enemy aircraft.[28]

Into the jet age

The squadron was reformed on 10 May 1946 as an Auxiliary Air Force fighter squadron at RAF Filton. In February 1957, Flt Lt John Crossley flew Vampire FB.9 jet WR260 beneath the Clifton Suspension Bridge, before a fatal crash into Leigh Woods.[29][30] This was the last recorded – and only jet aircraft – flight under that bridge. The Squadron was disbanded in March 1957, along with all the other Auxiliary units.

Present role

In June 2001 No. 501 squadron was reformed in the Force Protection role as 501 (Operational Support) Squadron in 2001 at RAF Brize Norton. 501 Squadrons Gunners provide a reserve of trained manpower for 1 Squadron RAF Regiment, No 4 Force Protection Wing. In 2003, its personnel deployed as part of Operation Telic, the liberation of Iraq. The squadron continues to deploy personnel on Force Protection duties in this region. In 2006 the first 501 Squadron Gunners deployed with 2 Squadron RAF Regiment to Afghanistan, carrying out force protection duties of Kandahar airfield and surrounding areas. This has been continued with members of both Regiment and FP roles mobilising with 1 Squadron RAF Regiment tour of the region (8 August to 9 March). Between November 2006 and April 2007 501 Squadron Gunners also deployed with the Queens Colour Squadron, 63 Squadron RAF Regiment to Basra Iraq. Based at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, 501 (County of Gloucester) Squadron has been newly re-formed to expand the RAF Reserves Logistics capability, recruiting Logistics Officers, Drivers and Suppliers as part of No 85 Expeditionary Logistics Wing of the RAF A4 Force.

Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated by no. 501 Squadron RAF, data from[31][32][33][34][35]
FromToAircraftVersionRemark
August 1929March 1930*Avro 504NUsed for training[36]
March 1930November 1930Airco DH.9A
September 1930March 1933*Westland WapitiMk.IIa
January 1933July 1936Westland WallaceMk.I
March 1936July 1936Westland WallaceMk.II
June 1935March 1937De Havilland Tiger MothMk.IUsed for training[36]
January 1936October 1939Avro TutorMk.IUsed for training[36]
July 1936March 1938*Hawker HartMk.IOne example used for training till May 1939[37]
March 1938March 1939*Hawker HindMk.IOne example used for training till February 1941[37]
March 1939December 1939Fairey BattleUsed for training[36]
March 1939May 1941Hawker HurricaneMks.I, II and X[38]
August 1940January 1943Miles MagisterUsed for training[36]
April 1941June 1941Supermarine SpitfireMk.I
May 1941September 1941Supermarine SpitfireMk.IIaOne example (P8799) soldiered on till July 1943[39]
September 1941January 1942Supermarine SpitfireMk.VaR7334, nicknamed "Perfect"[39]
September 1941July 1944Supermarine SpitfireMk.Vb
1942November 1942Miles MasterUsed for training[36]
May 1942October 1942Supermarine SpitfireMk.Vc
November 1943July 1944Supermarine SpitfireMk.IX
July 1944April 1945Hawker TempestMk.V
August 1946November 1953HarvardT.2bUsed for training[40]
October 1946May 1949Supermarine SpitfireLF.16e
November 1948June 1951de Havilland VampireF.1
September 1949February 1957Gloster MeteorT.7Used for training[40]
March 1951March 1957de Havilland VampireFB.5
February 1955February 1957de Havilland VampireFB.9
September 1955February 1957Gloster MeteorF.8Used for training[40]

*=Remained in service after replacement as main equipment

Squadron Stations

Stations and airfields used by No 501 Squadron RAF, data from[32][35][41][42]
FromToBaseRemark
14 June 192928 November 1939RAF Filton, Gloucestershire
28 November 193910 May 1940RAF Tangmere, West Sussex
10 May 194016 May 1940Bétheniville, France
16 May 19402 June 1940Anglure, France
2 June 194011 June 1940Le Mans, France
11 June 194017 June 1940Dinard, France
17 June 194021 June 1940RAF Saint Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands
21 June 19404 July 1940RAF Croydon, Surrey
4 July 194025 July 1940RAF Middle Wallop, Hampshire
25 July 194010 September 1940RAF Gravesend, Kent
10 September 194017 December 1940RAF Kenley, Surrey
17 December 19409 April 1941RAF Filton, Gloucestershire
9 April 194125 June 1941RAF Colerne, Wiltshire
25 June 19415 August 1941RAF Chilbolton, Hampshire
5 August 19413 July 1942RAF Ibsley, Hampshire
3 July 194224 August 1942RAF Tangmere, West Sussex
24 August 19428 October 1942RAF Middle Wallop, Hampshire
8 October 194210 October 1942RAF Hawkinge, Kent
10 October 194219 October 1942RAF Middle Wallop, Hampshire
19 October 194230 April 1943RAF Ballyhalbert, County Down, Northern Irelanddet. at RAF Eglinton, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland
30 April 194317 May 1943RAF Westhampnett, West Sussex
17 May 19435 June 1943RAF Martlesham Heath, Suffolk
5 June 194312 June 1943RAF Woodvale, Merseyside
12 June 194321 June 1943RAF Westhampnett, West Sussex
21 June 194321 January 1944RAF Hawkinge, Kent
21 January 19444 February 1944RAF Southend, Essex
4 February 194430 April 1944RAF Hawkinge, Kent
30 April 19442 July 1944RAF Friston, East Sussex
2 July 19442 August 1944RAF Westhampnett, West Sussex
2 August 194422 September 1944RAF Manston, Kent
22 September 19443 March 1945RAF Bradwell Bay, Essex
3 March 194520 April 1945RAF Hunsdon, Essex
10 May 19465 September 1951RAF Filton, Gloucestershire
5 September 19518 October 1951RAF Tangmere, West Sussex
8 October 195110 March 1957RAF Filton, Gloucestershire

Commanding officers

Officers Commanding No 501 Squadron RAF, data from[43][44]
FromToName
July 1929August 1929Flt/Lt. L.P. Winters
August 1929January 1932S/Ldr. R.S. Sugden, AFC
January 1932January 1934S/Ldr. W. Eliot, DFC
January 1934June 1936S/Ldr. H.G. White
June 1936June 1936Flt/Lt. H.M. Pearson
June 1936December 1936Flt/Lt. E.S. Finch
December 1936March 1937Flt/Lt. H.R.L. Hood
March 1937July 1937Flt/Lt. F.W. Stannard
July 1937June 1940S/Ldr. M.V.M. Clube
June 1940November 1940S/Ldr. H.A.V. Hogan
November 1940June 1941S/Ldr. E. Holden, DFC
June 1941August 1941S/Ldr. A.H. Boyd, DFC
August 1941June 1942S/Ldr. C.F. Currant, DFC
June 1942September 1942S/Ldr. J.W. Villa, DFC & Bar
September 1942May 1943S/Ldr. A.I. Robinson
May 1943October 1943S/Ldr. E. Barthold
October 1943August 1944S/Ldr. M.G. Barnett, RNZAF
August 1944November 1944S/Ldr. Joseph Berry, DFC
November 1944April 1945S/Ldr. A. Parker-Rees, DFC
August 1946December 1946Flt/Lt. R.F.W. Cleaver, DSO, DFC (acting)
December 1946September 1949S/Ldr. T. James
September 1949September 1950S/Ldr. A.C. Henderson, DFC
September 1950October 1952S/Ldr. P.J. Simpson, DSO, DFC
October 1952May 1955S/Ldr. G.B. Mercer
May 1955March 1957S/Ldr. M.C. Collings

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 Moyes 1976, p. 263.
  2. 1 2 Rawlings 1978, p. 455.
  3. 1 2 3 Halley 1988, p. 389.
  4. 1 2 Barrass, M. B. (2016). "No. 500–520 Squadron Histories". Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  5. ↑ Hunt 1972, p. 296.
  6. ↑ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 14.
  7. ↑ Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 52.
  8. ↑ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, pp. 92–93.
  9. ↑ Flintham & Thomas 2003, pp. 105–106.
  10. ↑ Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 138.
  11. ↑ Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 184.
  12. ↑ Hunt 1972, p. 293.
  13. ↑ Watkins & Listemann 2007, p. 6.
  14. ↑ Delve, p. 137.
  15. ↑ The Hawker Tempest Page, 2014, Squadron Leader Joseph Berry (DFC**) (4 December 2014)
  16. ↑ Watkins & Listemann 2007, p. 62.
  17. ↑ Watkins & Listemann 2007, p. 69.
  18. ↑ "Supermarine LF Mk.Vb Spitfire EP120 (G-LFVB)". The Fighter Collection. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
  19. ↑ "Ace in a day". Archived from the original on 28 June 2010. Retrieved 25 April 2009.
  20. ↑ Watkins & Listemann 2007, p. 95.
  21. ↑ Watkins & Listemann 2007, p. 111.
  22. ↑ Watkins & Listemann 2007, p. 108.
  23. ↑ Watkins & Listemann 2007, pp. 124–125.
  24. ↑ Watkins & Listemann 2007, p. 87.
  25. ↑ Watkins & Listemann 2007, p. 107.
  26. ↑ Bickers 1990, p. 192.
  27. ↑ Watkins 1990, p. 81
  28. ↑ Thomas 1999, p. 85
  29. ↑ Whittel 2007, p. 151.
  30. ↑ Watkins 1990, p. 124.
  31. ↑ Hunt 1972, p. 311.
  32. 1 2 Halley 1988, p. 390.
  33. ↑ Moyes 1976, pp. 263–264.
  34. ↑ Watkins 1990, pp. 104–126.
  35. 1 2 Jefford 2001, p. 96.
  36. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Watkins 1990, p. 125.
  37. 1 2 Watkins 1990, p. 105.
  38. ↑ Watkins 1990, p. 112.
  39. 1 2 Watkins 1990, p. 114.
  40. 1 2 3 Watkins 1990, p. 126.
  41. ↑ Watkins 1990, pp. 99–100.
  42. ↑ Watkins & Listemann 2007, p. 55.
  43. ↑ Watkins 1990, p. 98.
  44. ↑ Watkins & Listemann 2007, p. 50.

Bibliography

  • Bickers, Richard Townshend (1990). The Battle of Britain: The Greatest Battle in the History of Air Warfare. London: Salamander Books Ltd. ISBN 0-86101-477-4.
  • Bowyer, Michael J.F.; Rawlings, John D.R. (1979). Squadron Codes, 1937–56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 0-85059-364-6.
  • Flintham, Vic; Thomas, Andrew (2003). Combat Codes: A Full Explanation and Listing of British, Commonwealth and Allied Air Force Unit Codes since 1938. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-84037-281-8.
  • Halley, James J. (1988). The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
  • Hunt, Leslie (1972). Twenty-One Squadrons: The History of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, 1925–1957. London: Garnstone Press. ISBN 0-85511-110-0.
  • Jefford, C.G. (2001). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912 (2nd ed.). Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
  • Moyes, Philip J.R. (1976). Bomber Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers) Ltd. ISBN 0-354-01027-1.
  • Rawlings, John (1978) [1969]. Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft (Revised ed.). London: Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd. ISBN 0-354-01028-X.
  • Thomas, Chris (1999). Typhoon and Tempest Aces of World War 2. Botley, Oxfordshire, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-85532-779-1.
  • Watkins, David (1990). Fear Nothing: The History of No.501 (County of Gloucester) Fighter Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force. Cowden, Kent, UK: Newton Publishers. ISBN 1-872308-07-4.
  • Watkins, David; Listemann, Phil (2007). No.501 (County of Gloucester) Squadron, 1939–1945: Hurricane, Spitfire, Tempest. France: Phil Listemann Publisher. ISBN 2-9526381-3-6.
  • Whittel, Giles (2007). Spitfire Women of World War II. Harper Perennial. ISBN 978-0-00-723535-3.

Further reading

  • Darlow, Steve. Five of the Few: survivors of the Battle of Britain & the Blitz tell their story. London; Grub Street, 2006. ISBN 1-904943-58-6.
  • Delve, Ken. D-Day: The Air Battle, London: Arms & Armour Press, 1994, ISBN 1-85409-227-8.
  • Mackenzie, Wing Commander Kenneth William., DFC, AFC, AE. Hurricane Combat. Grenville Publishing, 1990. ISBN 0-903243-08-3.
  • Ogley, Bob. Surrey at War. Froglets Publications Ltd., 1995. ISBN 1-872337-65-1.
  • Wilkinson, Bill. One Pilots War published by Windsor book limited, 2010. ISBN 978-1-874111-40-5
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