No. 611 Squadron RAF
| No. 611 (West Lancashire) Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
611 Squadron emblem
|
|
| Active | 10 February 1936 – 15 August 1945 10 May 1946 – 10 March 1957 2013 – current |
| Country |
 United Kingdom
|
| Branch |
 Royal Auxiliary Air Force
|
| Part of | Royal Auxiliary Air Force |
| Base | RAF Woodvale |
| Motto(s) | Beware Beware |
| Commanders | |
| Honorary Air Commodore | G.L. Pilkington |
| Notable commanders |
Roland "Bee" Beamont |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge | In front of a trident, a rose The rose points to the County of Lancaster and the trident to Liverpool |
| Squadron Codes |
GZ (May 1939 – Sep 1939) |
GZ (May 1939 – Sep 1939)
FY (Sep 1939 – Aug 1945
and 1949 – Apr 1951)
No. 611 (West Lancashire) Squadron is a British Royal Air Force squadron. It was first formed in 1936 and was disbanded in 1957 after seeing combat as a fighter unit during the Second World War. It was reformed as a reserve squadron in 2013.
The squadron was formed at RAF Hendon, Middlesex on 10 February 1936 as a day bomber unit. The squadron set up its permanent base at RAF Speke (now Liverpool John Lennon Airport) on 6 May and began recruiting personnel from Liverpool and the surrounding area. Its first Hawker Hart light bombers arrived in June, being replaced by Hawker Hinds from April 1938.
On 1 January 1939, the unit became a fighter squadron, receiving its first Supermarine Spitfire Mk.I's in May. The squadron left for RAF Duxford on 13 August, as part of the Fighter Command's No. 12 Group, After a period of defensive duties on the east coast, No. 611 became fully operational from its RAF Digby base in Lincolnshire in May 1940, firstly over Dunkirk and then taking part in the Battle of Britain campaign with the Duxford Wing, 12 Group's 'Big Wing' formation. The squadron commenced offensive sweeps over occupied northern France in January 1941, based at RAF Hornchurch, moving to RAF Drem in Scotland for recuperation in November 1941. The unit moved south again in June 1942 to RAF Kenley for deployment on shipping reconnaissance, escort and defensive missions. No. 611 provided covering patrols for the invasion of Normandy in June 1944 from its RAF Deanland, Sussex base. The squadron then moved to south-west England for a short period.
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