No. 604 Squadron RAF
| No. 604 Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
| Active |
|
| Country |
 UK
|
| Branch |
 Royal Air Force
|
| Part of | Royal Auxiliary Air Force |
| Motto(s) |
Latin: Si vis pacem para bellum (Translation: "If you want peace, prepare for war") |
| Post-1951 aircraft insignia |  |
| Battle honours |
|
| Commanders | |
| Honorary Air Commodore | Samuel Hoare, 1st Viscount Templewood (1932–1957) |
| Notable commanders |
John 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 |
| Identification symbol |
|
No. 604 Squadron RAF was a squadron of the Royal Air Force noted 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-bomber squadron of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. In July 1934, the squadron transitioned to two-seat fighters. Shortly after the commencement of World War II in 1939, the squadron was reassigned to a night-fighter role.
No. 604 Squadron was initially disbanded in April 1945 as part of a reduction of the British Armed Forces near the end of the war. 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.
No. 604 Squadron was established on 17 March 1930 at RAF Hendon as a squadron of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. The squadron was initially assigned to the role of day-bombing and received its first aircraft (Airco DH.9As) in April 1930. The DH.9A was soon 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.
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.
The squadron was reassigned to a 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. 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, during the first major night raid over the United Kingdom. Following the Dunkirk evacuation, the squadron was based at RAF Middle Wallop at the end of July 1940.
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