No. 610 Squadron RAF
| No. 610 (County of Chester) Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
| Active | 10 February 1936 – 3 March 1945 10 May 1946 – 10 March 1957 |
| Country |
 United Kingdom
|
| Branch |
 Royal Air Force
|
| Part of | Royal Auxiliary Air Force |
| Motto(s) |
Latin: Alifero tollitur axe ceres (Translation: "Ceres rising in a winged chariot") |
| Engagements | Battle of Britain |
| Commanders | |
| Honorary Air Commodore |
Sir William Bromley-Davenport(1937–49) I.R. Parker (1953–57) |
| Notable commanders |
J.E. "Johnnie" Johnson, Cyril Stanley Bamberger |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge heraldry | A garb, divided into two parts and coloured red and blue A wheatsheaf was chosen as such charges appear in the armorial bearings of the city of Chester; No. 610 Squadron was the County of Chester Squadron |
| Squadron Codes |
JE (Apr 1939 – Sep 1939) DW (Sep 1939 – Mar 1945, 1949 – Apr 1951) RAQ (May 1946 – 1949) |
No. 610 (County of Chester) Squadron of the Royal Air Force was as a Squadron of the Auxiliary Air Force. Comprising very high quality pilots, often ex-RAF officers and occasionally locally based company Test pilots from companies such as Hawkers or Avro, its pilots were initially part timers who would spend their weekends and spare time flying and practicing combat manoeuvres. The squadron was named the "County of Chester" and adopted the motto "Alifero tollitur axe ceres"; which translates as "Ceres rising in a winged chariot". Ceres being the Roman Goddess of Wheat, a reference to Chester's Agricultural sector. Its badge contained the image of a garb (sheaf of wheat).
The squadron was formed on 10 February 1936 at Hooton Park, Wirral, Cheshire as one of the Auxiliary Air Force Squadrons, equipped with Hawker Hart light bombers. As war approached, it was upgraded to Hawker Hinds in May 1938. On 1 January 1939 the squadron role was changed into that of a fighter squadron, and on the outbreak of war in September 1939 it received its first Hawker Hurricane fighters. By the end of that same month it was flying the more advanced Supermarine Spitfire fighter though.
610 Squadron was attached to No. 13 Group RAF during the Battle of Britain. It had initially been based at RAF Gravesend, but moved to RAF Biggin Hill before the German offensive began and was one of the units bearing the brunt of German attacks. It moved to RAF Acklington for rest and recuperation at the end of August, having sustained severe casualties. During the Battle of Britain the squadron included Pilot Officer, later Squadron Leader, Constantine Pegge.
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