No. 616 Squadron RAF
| No. 616 (South Yorkshire) Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1 November 1938 – 29 August 1945 10 May 1946 – 10 March 1957 |
| Country |
 United Kingdom |
| Branch |
 Royal Air Force
|
| Part of | Royal Auxiliary Air Force |
| Motto(s) |
Latin: Nulla Rosa Sine Spina (Translation: "No rose without a thorn") |
| post 1951 aircraft insignia |  |
| Commanders | |
| Honorary Air Commodore | The Duke of Portland |
| Notable commanders |
Colin Falkland Gray, Percy "Laddy" Lucas |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge heraldry | A white Yorkshire rose, superimposed on an arrow The badge commemorates the squadron's association with Yorkshire as the South Yorkshire Auxiliary Squadron |
| Squadron Codes |
QJ (Apr 1939 – Jul 1941) YQ (Jul 1941 – Aug 1945, 1949 – Apr 1951) RAW (Jul 1946 – 1949) |
No. 616 (South Yorkshire) Squadron was a unit of the British Auxiliary Air Force and later the Royal Auxiliary Air Force between 1938 and 1957.
No. 616 Squadron was formed on 1 November 1938 at RAF Doncaster and was at first allotted the bomber role, receiving Hawker Hinds for that role. The role soon changed however and the squadron's first operational fighter aircraft were Gloster Gauntlet biplane fighters received in January 1939. Fairey Battle monoplane light bombers were delivered in May 1939 for training duties to assist the squadron in preparing for re-equipment with Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Is in October 1939. During that month No. 616 moved to RAF Leconfield and by the end of November conversion to the modern fighter was complete.
The squadron's first operational sorties were over the Dunkirk withdrawal in late May 1940. During the first phase of the Battle of Britain No. 616 was based at Leconfield, moving south to RAF Kenley on 19 August to be nearer the front line. The improved Spitfire Mk.II was received in February 1941 and was used from April on sweeps over occupied France from RAF Tangmere, continuing until October. Further periodic updating with Spitfire Mks.V, VI and VII continued through the mid-war years. From March 1943 onwards, No. 616 was stationed in southwest England.
On 12 July 1944 the unit became the first RAF squadron to receive jet equipment in the form of Gloster Meteor Mk.I fighters, testing them at RAF Culmhead. The first Meteor operational sortie was on 27 July from RAF Manston when it intercepted V-1 flying bombs launched against southern England. The first victories came on 4 August when one V1 was tipped over after a pilot's cannon jammed and another was shot down. The loss rate of the still unproven Meteor Mk.I was high, with three being written off in non-combat incidents between 15 and 29 August. Re-equipment with improved Meteor Mk.IIIs began in January 1945 and in February a detachment was deployed to Melsbroek near Brussels in Belgium. It was intended as a defence against Me 262s but in the event they did not ever face them. In early April the complete squadron moved to Gilze-Rijen in the Netherlands, commencing ground attack sorties on 16 April. The squadron was disbanded at Lübeck, Germany on 29 August 1945 by being renumbered to No. 263 Squadron RAF.
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