No. 501 Squadron RAF
| No 501 (County of Gloucester) Squadron, RAF Regiment | |
|---|---|
| Active | 14 June 1929 – 20 April 1945 10 May 1946 – 10 March 1957 June 2001 – present |
| Country |
 United Kingdom
|
| Branch |
 Royal Air Force
|
| Part of | Royal Auxiliary Air Force |
| Motto(s) |
Latin: Nil Time ("Fear nothing") |
| Colors |  |
| Battle honours | France & 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 |
| Commanders | |
| Honorary Air Commodore | Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester |
| Notable commanders |
Christopher Frederick "Bunny" Currant Joseph Berry |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge heraldry | A boar's head couped The boar's head is taken from the arms of Gloucester; the animal is also noted for its courage |
| Squadron Codes |
ZH (Apr 1939 – Sep 1939) SD (Sep 1939 – Apr 1945 and 1949 – 1951) RAB (May 1946 – 1949) |
No 501 Squadron was the fourteenth of the twenty-one flying units in the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, the volunteer reserve part of the British Royal Air Force. The squadron won seven battle honours, 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 Force Protection role.
The squadron was originally formed as a day-bomber unit named No 501 (City of Bristol) Squadron 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. 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, and Hawker Hurricanes began to arrive in March 1939.
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 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.
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