No. 605 Squadron RAF
| No. 605 (County of Warwick) Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
| Active | 5 October 1926 – March 1942 7 June 1942 – 31 August 1945 10 May 1946 – 10 March 1957 18 August 2014 – |
| Country |
 United Kingdom
|
| Branch |
 Royal Air Force
|
| Part of | Royal Auxiliary Air Force |
| Motto(s) |
Latin: Nunquam Dormio (Translation: "I Never Sleep") |
| Battle honours | Dunkirk* Battle of Britain, 1940* Malta, 1941* Eastern Waters, 1942* Fortress Europe, 1942–1943* Home Defence, 1944* France and Germany, 1944–1945* Honours marked with an asterisk* are those emblazoned on the Squadron Standard |
| Commanders | |
| Honorary Air Commodore |
Viscount Bearsted (1928–1937) William Lindsay Everard (1937–1947) J.A.C. Wright (1947–1957) |
| Notable commanders |
Archie McKellar, Eric William Wright, Peter Townsend, Bertie R. O'Bryen "Sammy" Hoare |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge heraldry | On a mount, a bear supporting a ragged staff |
| Squadron Codes |
HE (Apr 1939 – Sep 1939) UP (Jan 1942 – Aug 1945) RAL (May 1946 – 1949) NR (1949 – Apr 1951) |
No 605 Squadron was formed as an Auxiliary Air Force Squadron. Initially formed as a bomber unit, it was one of the most successful participants of the Battle of Britain. It also had the distinction of being active during the Second World War at two fronts at a time, when the squadron was split up between Malta and the Dutch East Indies. In its last incarnation as an active flying unit, the squadron served as the first jet fighter unit in the post-war Royal Auxiliary Air Force; 616 having already flown Gloster Meteors during the war. No. 605 Squadron was reformed as a RAuxAF Logistic Support Squadron on 1 Nov 2014. Reservist recruitment commenced on 30 May 2015.
No. 605 Squadron was formed on 5 October 1926 at RAF Castle Bromwich as a day bomber unit of the Auxiliary Air Force, recruiting in the Birmingham area. Initially equipped with DH.9As, it received Westland Wapitis in April 1930 and Hawker Harts in October 1934. The latter were replaced by Hawker Hinds in August 1936. On 1 January 1939 No. 605 squadron was redesignated as a fighter squadron and re-equipped with Gloster Gladiators.
Hawker Hurricanes began to arrive a few weeks before the outbreak of the Second World War, and the squadron took up its war station at RAF Tangmere with a mixture of six Hurricanes and ten Gladiators, completing re-equipment during October 1939. In February 1940 the squadron moved to Scotland, but returned south in May to fly patrols over northern France for a week before moving back to Scotland at RAF Drem. It again moved south again in September for the closing stages of the Battle of Britain. It then continued to operate from bases in the south, carrying out escort duties and fighter sweeps until posted overseas.
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