No. 601 Squadron RAF
Encyclopedia
No. 601 Squadron was a squadron
of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force
, based in London
. The squadron battle honours most notably include the Battle of Britain
and the first Americans to fly in World War II were members of this squadron.
on 14 October 1925 when a group of wealthy aristocratic young men, all of whom were amateur aviators, decided to form themselves into a Reserve Squadron of the RAF after a meeting in White's Club
, London. The original officers were picked by the first commanding officer, Lord Edward Grosvenor, youngest son of Hugh Grosvenor, 1st Duke of Westminster
. Grosvenor tested potential recruits by plying them with alcohol to see if they would behave inappropriately. Grosvenor wanted officers "of sufficient presence not to be overawed by him and of sufficient means not to be excluded from his favourite pastimes, eating, drinking and Whites". The Squadron was initially known as "the millionaires squadron", a nametag gained because of a reputation for filling their ranks with the very 'well heeled'. Most of these affluent young pilots had little regard for the rigid discipline of the regular service; they lined their uniform tunics with bright red silk and wore blue ties rather than the regulation black. They played polo on brand-new Brough Superior motor cycles, drove fast sports cars (the squadron car park was said to resemble a Concours d'Elegance
) and most of the pilots owned their own private aircraft. However, the war quickly took its toll on the pre-war personnel and as replacements were drafted in from all walks of life and all parts of the Commonwealth to cover casualties and promotions, the Squadron became as cosmopolitan as any other.
For more pilots who flew with the Sqn during the Battle of Britain, see List of RAF aircrew in the Battle of Britain.
Note: Sir Philip Sassoon was Member of Parliament during his Squadron Leadership of 601 Squadron.
Squadron (aviation)
A squadron in air force, army aviation or naval aviation is mainly a unit comprising a number of military aircraft, usually of the same type, typically with 12 to 24 aircraft, sometimes divided into three or four flights, depending on aircraft type and air force...
of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force
Royal Auxiliary Air Force
The Royal Auxiliary Air Force , originally the Auxiliary Air Force , is the voluntary active duty reserve element of the Royal Air Force, providing a primary reinforcement capability for the regular service...
, based in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. The squadron battle honours most notably include the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
and the first Americans to fly in World War II were members of this squadron.
History
601 Squadron was formed at RAF NortholtRAF Northolt
RAF Northolt is a Royal Air Force station situated in South Ruislip, east by northeast of Uxbridge in the London Borough of Hillingdon, West London. Approximately north of London Heathrow Airport, the station also handles a large number of private civil flights...
on 14 October 1925 when a group of wealthy aristocratic young men, all of whom were amateur aviators, decided to form themselves into a Reserve Squadron of the RAF after a meeting in White's Club
White's
White's is a London gentlemen's club, established at 4 Chesterfield Street in 1693 by Italian immigrant Francesco Bianco . Originally it was established to sell hot chocolate, a rare and expensive commodity at the time...
, London. The original officers were picked by the first commanding officer, Lord Edward Grosvenor, youngest son of Hugh Grosvenor, 1st Duke of Westminster
Hugh Grosvenor, 1st Duke of Westminster
Hugh Lupus Grosvenor, 1st Duke of Westminster KG, PC, JP , styled Viscount Belgrave between 1831 and 1845 and Earl Grosvenor between 1845 and 1869 and known as the 3rd Marquess of Westminster between 1869 and 1874, was an English landowner, politician and racehorse owner.He inherited the estate of...
. Grosvenor tested potential recruits by plying them with alcohol to see if they would behave inappropriately. Grosvenor wanted officers "of sufficient presence not to be overawed by him and of sufficient means not to be excluded from his favourite pastimes, eating, drinking and Whites". The Squadron was initially known as "the millionaires squadron", a nametag gained because of a reputation for filling their ranks with the very 'well heeled'. Most of these affluent young pilots had little regard for the rigid discipline of the regular service; they lined their uniform tunics with bright red silk and wore blue ties rather than the regulation black. They played polo on brand-new Brough Superior motor cycles, drove fast sports cars (the squadron car park was said to resemble a Concours d'Elegance
Concours d'Elegance
A Concours d'Elegance dates back to 17th Century French aristocracy, who paraded horse-drawn carriages in the parks of Paris during Summer weekends and holidays...
) and most of the pilots owned their own private aircraft. However, the war quickly took its toll on the pre-war personnel and as replacements were drafted in from all walks of life and all parts of the Commonwealth to cover casualties and promotions, the Squadron became as cosmopolitan as any other.
Aircraft operated
| From | To | Aircraft | Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 1926 | June 1926 | Avro 504 Avro 504 The Avro 504 was a World War I biplane aircraft made by the Avro aircraft company and under licence by others. Production during the War totalled 8,970 and continued for almost 20 years, making it the most-produced aircraft of any kind that served in World War I, in any military capacity, during... |
K, N |
| June 1926 | October 1930 | Airco DH.9 Airco DH.9 The Airco DH.9 - also known after 1920 as the de Havilland DH.9 - was a British bomber used in the First World War... |
A |
| November 1929 | June 1933 | Westland Wapiti Westland Wapiti The Westland Wapiti was a British two-seat general purpose military single-engined biplane of the 1920s. It was designed and built by Westland Aircraft Works to replace the Airco DH.9A in Royal Air Force service.... |
Mks.IIa, VI |
| February 1933 | August 1937 | Hawker Hart Hawker Hart The Hawker Hart was a British two-seater biplane light bomber of the Royal Air Force , which had a prominent role during the RAF's inter-war period. The Hart was designed during the 1920s by Sydney Camm and built by Hawker Aircraft... |
|
| August 1937 | November 1938 | Hawker Demon | |
| November 1938 | March 1939 | Gloster Gauntlet Gloster Gauntlet -See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Crawford, Alex. Bristol Bulldog, Gloster Gauntlet. Redbourn, UK: Mushroom Model Publications, 2005. ISBN 83-89450-04-6.... |
Mk.II |
| January 1939 | March 1940 | Bristol Blenheim Bristol Blenheim The Bristol Blenheim was a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company that was used extensively in the early days of the Second World War. It was adapted as an interim long-range and night fighter, pending the availability of the Beaufighter... |
Mk.If |
| March 1940 | March 1941 | Hawker Hurricane Hawker Hurricane The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force... |
Mk.I |
| March 1941 | January 1942 | Hawker Hurricane | Mk.IIb |
| August 1941 | March 1942 | Bell Airacobra | Mk.I |
| March 1942 | April 1942 | Supermarine Spitfire Supermarine Spitfire The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s... |
Mk.Vb |
| May 1942 | January 1944 | Supermarine Spitfire | Mk.Vc |
| June 1943 | August 1943 | Supermarine Spitfire | Mk.IX |
| July 1943 | June 1944 | Supermarine Spitfire | Mk.VIII |
| June 1944 | May 1945 | Supermarine Spitfire | Mk.IXb |
| December 1946 | December 1949 | Supermarine Spitfire | LF.16e |
| November 1949 | September 1952 | de Havilland Vampire De Havilland Vampire The de Havilland DH.100 Vampire was a British jet-engine fighter commissioned by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Following the Gloster Meteor, it was the second jet fighter to enter service with the RAF. Although it arrived too late to see combat during the war, the Vampire served... |
F.3 |
| August 1952 | March 1957 | Gloster Meteor Gloster Meteor The Gloster Meteor was the first British jet fighter and the Allies' first operational jet. It first flew in 1943 and commenced operations on 27 July 1944 with 616 Squadron of the Royal Air Force... |
F.8 |
Squadron bases
| From | To | Base |
|---|---|---|
| 14 October 1925 | 18 January 1927 | RAF Northolt RAF Northolt RAF Northolt is a Royal Air Force station situated in South Ruislip, east by northeast of Uxbridge in the London Borough of Hillingdon, West London. Approximately north of London Heathrow Airport, the station also handles a large number of private civil flights... , Middlesex Middlesex Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time... |
| 18 January 1927 | 2 September 1939 | RAF Hendon, Middlesex |
| 2 September 1939 | 30 December 1939 | RAF Biggin Hill, Kent Kent Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of... |
| 30 December 1939 | 1 June 1940 | RAF Tangmere RAF Tangmere RAF Tangmere was a Royal Air Force station famous for its role in the Battle of Britain, located at Tangmere village about 3 miles east of Chichester in West Sussex, England. American RAF pilot Billy Fiske died at Tangmere and was the first American aviator to die during World War II... , Sussex Sussex Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West... (Dets. at Merville Merville Merville is the name or part of the name of several communes in France:* Merville, in the Haute-Garonne département* Merville, in the Nord département* Merville-Franceville-Plage, in the Calvados département... and Saint-Valery-en-Caux Saint-Valery-en-Caux Saint-Valery-en-Caux is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Haute-Normandie region in northern France.-Geography:A small fishing port and light industrial town situated in the Pays de Caux, some west of Dieppe at the junction of the D53, D20, D79 and the D925 roads... , France France The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... ) |
| 1 June 1940 | 17 June 1940 | RAF Middle Wallop, Hampshire Hampshire Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force... |
| 17 June 1940 | 19 August 1940 | RAF Tangmere, Sussex |
| 19 August 1940 | 2 September 1940 | RAF Debden RAF Debden RAF Debden is a former RAF airfield in England. The field is located 3 miles SE of Saffron Walden and approximately 1 mile north of the village of Debden in North Essex.-RAF Fighter Command:... , Essex Essex Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west... |
| 2 September 1940 | 7 September 1940 | RAF Tangmere, Sussex |
| 7 September 1940 | 17 December 1940 | RAF Exeter, Devon Devon Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with... |
| 17 December 1940 | 1 May 1941 | RAF Northolt, Middlesex |
| 1 May 1941 | 30 June 1941 | RAF Manston RAF Manston RAF Manston was an RAF station in the north-east of Kent, at on the Isle of Thanet from 1916 until 1996. The site is now split between a commercial airport Kent International Airport and a continuing military use by the Defence Fire Training and Development Centre , following on from a long... , Kent |
| 30 June 1941 | 16 August 1941 | RAF Matlaske RAF Matlaske RAF Matlaske was a satellite air station to RAF Coltishall of the Royal Air Force, situated near Matlaske in Norfolk, England. RAF Matlaske opened in 1940 and closed in 1945.-History:... , Norfolk Norfolk Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county... |
| 16 August 1941 | 2 January 1942 | RAF Duxford, Cambridgeshire Cambridgeshire Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west... |
| 2 January 1942 | 25 March 1942 | RAF Acaster Malbis Acaster Malbis Acaster Malbis is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of the City of York, England. It is located on the River Ouse, almost 5 miles south of York... , York York York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence... |
| 25 March 1942 | 10 April 1942 | RAF Digby RAF Digby RAF Digby is a Royal Air Force station which, since March 2005, has been operated by the Ministry of Defence's Joint Service Signals Organisation, part of the Intelligence Collection Group. Formerly a training and fighter airfield, it is currently a tri-service military signals installation located... , Lincolnshire Lincolnshire Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders... |
| 10 April 1942 | 20 April 1942 | en route to Egypt Egypt Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world... |
| 20 April 1942 | 23 June 1942 | RAF Luqa RAF Luqa Royal Air Force Luqa was a flying station and location of RAF Mediterranean Command headquarters of the Royal Air Force on the island of Malta during World War II... , Malta Malta Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in... (aircrew) |
| 23 June 1942 | 25 June 1942 | Maryut Lake Mariout Lake Mariout Buhayrat Mariyyut is a brackish lake in northern Egypt. The lake area covered 200 km² at the beginning of the 20th century, but at the beginning of the 21th century it coveres only about 50 km². It is separated from the Mediterranean Sea by the narrow isthmus on which the... , Egypt (ground- and aircrew reunited) |
| 25 June 1942 | 29 June 1942 | LG.13/Sidi Haneish South, Egypt |
| 29 June 1942 | 24 July 1942 | LG.154, Egypt |
| 24 July 1942 | 29 July 1942 | LG.173, Egypt |
| 29 July 1942 | 5 August 1942 | LG.85, Egypt |
| 5 August 1942 | 11 August 1942 | LG.219 Kilo 8/Matariyah/Payne Field, Egypt |
| 11 August 1942 | 22 August 1942 | Helwan, Egypt |
| 22 August 1942 | 26 September 1942 | LG.154, Egypt |
| 26 September 1942 | 7 November 1942 | LG.92, Egypt |
| 7 November 1942 | 9 November 1942 | LG.21/Qotafiyah III, Egypt |
| 9 November 1942 | 12 November 1942 | LG.13/Sidi Haneish South, Egypt |
| 12 November 1942 | 14 November 1942 | LG.155, Egypt |
| 14 November 1942 | 25 November 1942 | LG.143/RAF Gambut West RAF Gambut RAF Gambut is an abandoned military airfield in Libya, located about 5 km north-northeast of Kambut and 50 km east-southeast of Tobruk.... , Libya Libya Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west.... |
| 25 November 1942 | 4 December 1942 | Msus, Libya |
| 4 December 1942 | 8 December 1942 | El Hassiet, Libya |
| 8 December 1942 | 21 December 1942 | El Nogra, Libya |
| 21 December 1942 | 31 December 1942 | El Merduma, Libya |
| 31 December 1942 | 9 January 1943 | Alem El Chel, Libya |
| 9 January 1943 | 20 January 1943 | Hamraiet Airfield Ras Lanuf Airport Ras Lanuf Airport is an airport in the Sirte District of Libya, located approximately 227 km south-southwest of Benghazi. Its primary use is the transportation of oilfield workers from production facilities in the area.-World War II:... , Libya |
| 20 January 1943 | 17 February 1943 | Darragh North, Libya |
| 17 February 1943 | 26 February 1943 | RAF Castel Benito RAF Castel Benito RAF Castel Benito was a Royal Air Force station near Tripoli in Libya between 1943 and 1966.-History:Originally a Regia Aeronautica airfield where later the first units of Italian parachutists were trained and formed shortly before the Second World War. The first Italian Military Parachute... , Libya |
| 26 February 1943 | 1 March 1943 | Hazbub Main, Tunisia Tunisia Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area... |
| 1 March 1943 | 9 March 1943 | Ben Gardane South Ben Gardane Airfield Ben Gardane Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield in Tunisia, which was located near Bin Qirdan ; about 420 km south-southeast of Tunis.... , Tunisia |
| 9 March 1943 | 11 March 1943 | Hazbub North, Tunisia |
| 11 March 1943 | 4 April 1943 | Bu Grara, Tunisia (Det. at El Hamma, Tunisia) |
| 4 April 1943 | 12 April 1943 | Gabes Main, Tunisia |
| 12 April 1943 | 16 April 1943 | La Fauconnerie, Tunisia |
| 16 April 1943 | 7 May 1943 | Goubrine North, Tunisia |
| 7 May 1943 | 21 May 1943 | Hergla North, Tunisia |
| 21 May 1943 | 15 June 1943 | Ben Gardane North Ben Gardane Airfield Ben Gardane Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield in Tunisia, which was located near Bin Qirdan ; about 420 km south-southeast of Tunis.... , Tunisia |
| 15 June 1943 | 13 July 1943 | RAF Luqa, Malta |
| 13 July 1943 | 17 July 1943 | Pachino, Sicily Sicily Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,... , Italy Italy Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and... |
| 17 July 1943 | 25 July 1943 | Cassibile, Sicily, Italy |
| 25 July 1943 | 5 October 1943 | Lentini West |
| 5 October 1943 | 18 October 1943 | Tortorella |
| 18 October 1943 | 26 November 1943 | Triolo |
| 26 November 1943 | 18 January 1944 | Canne |
| 18 January 1944 | 23 April 1944 | Marcianise Marcianise Marcianise is a town and comune in the province of Caserta, Campania, Italy.-History:In the area of the commune of Marcianise numerous tombs of Etruscan and Roman age have been excavated, although Oscan elements should have pre-existed. The origin of the today's city are uncertain... , Italy (Det. at Madna) |
| 23 April 1944 | 12 June 1944 | Venafro Venafro Venafro is a comune in the province of Isernia, region of Molise, Italy. It has a population of around 12,000, having expanded quickly in the post-war period.-Geography:... , Italy |
| 12 June 1944 | 17 June 1944 | Littorio, Italy |
| 17 June 1944 | 3 July 1944 | Fabrica, Italy |
| 3 July 1944 | 24 August 1944 | Perugia Perugia Perugia is the capital city of the region of Umbria in central Italy, near the River Tiber, and the capital of the province of Perugia. The city is located about north of Rome. It covers a high hilltop and part of the valleys around the area.... , Italy |
| 24 August 1944 | 4 September 1944 | Loreto, Italy |
| 4 September 1944 | 4 December 1944 | Fano Fano Fano is a town and comune of the province of Pesaro and Urbino in the Marche region of Italy. It is a beach resort 12 km southeast of Pesaro, located where the Via Flaminia reaches the Adriatic Sea... , Italy |
| 4 December 1944 | 3 May 1945 | Bellaria, Italy |
| 3 May 1945 | 14 August 1945 | Treviso Treviso Treviso is a city and comune in Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Treviso and the municipality has 82,854 inhabitants : some 3,000 live within the Venetian walls or in the historical and monumental center, some 80,000 live in the urban center proper, while the city... , Italy |
| 10 May 1946 | 28 March 1949 | RAF Hendon, Middlesex |
| 28 March 1949 | 10 March 1957 | RAF North Weald, Essex |
Notable pilots
- Sqn Ldr Roger BushellRoger BushellSquadron Leader Roger Joyce Bushell RAF was a South African-born British Auxiliary Air Force pilot who organised and led the famous escape from the Nazi prisoner of war camp, Stalag Luft III. He was a victim of the Stalag Luft III murders. The escape was used as the basis for the film The Great...
– took part in the Great Escape - Sqn Ldr Gordon "Mouse" Cleaver DFCGordon CleaverSquadron Leader Gordon Neil Spencer 'Mouse' Cleaver, DFC RAF was a World War II Royal Air Force fighter pilot during the Battle of Britain. Cleaver was scored a total of 7 kills during the Second World War, but is best remembered for the role he played in developing artificial lenses to restore...
– Battle of Britain pilot whose accident aided the development of artificial optical lenses. - Flt Lt Carl Davis DFCCarl Raymond DavisCarl Raymond Davis DFC was a flying ace of the Battle of Britain, having claimed nine enemy aircraft destroyed, four probably destroyed, and four damaged, before he was himself shot down and killed in action....
– American who flew with 601 Sqn during the Battle of Britain - Plt Off "Billy" FiskeBilly FiskeWilliam Meade Lindsley "Billy" Fiske III was the 1928 and 1932 Olympic champion bobsled driver and, following Jimmy Davies, was one of the first American pilots killed in action in World War II...
– American who flew with 601 Sqn during the Battle of Britain - Plt Off B P Legge DFC
- Plt Off H C Mayers DSO DFC – Australian who flew with 601 Sqn during the Battle of Britain
- Gp Cpt J A O'Neill
- Fg Off W H Rhodes-Moorhouse DFCWilliam Henry Rhodes-MoorhouseWilliam Henry "Willie" Rhodes-Moorhouse DFC, was an Royal Air Force pilot who flew and was killed in action during the Battle of Britain. He was one of The Few.-Early life:...
- Sqn Ldr "Jack" RiddleChristopher RiddleSquadron Leader Christopher John Henry "Jack" Riddle RAF was a World War II Royal Air Force fighter pilot during the Battle of Britain.- Early life :...
& Sqn Ldr Hugh RiddleHugh RiddleSquadron Leader Hugh Joseph "Huseph" Riddle RAF was a World War II Royal Air Force fighter pilot during the Battle of Britain.-Early life:Hugh Joseph Riddle, known as "Huseph", was born in London on 24 May 1912 and was educated at Harrow School....
– brothers and last surviving aircrew who flew with 601 Sqn during the Battle of Britain (both died 2009) - Sqn Ldr Stanislaw SkalskiStanislaw SkalskiStanisław Skalski DSO, DFC plus two bars, was a Polish fighter ace of the Polish Air Force in World War II, later rising to the rank of generał brygady. Stanisław Skalski was the top Polish fighter ace of WW II and the first Allied fighter ace of the war, credited, according to official list, with...
- Polish ace, the first Pole to command an RAF Squadron, and later Polish Air Force general - Air Cdre Whitney Straight CBE MC DFCWhitney StraightAir Commodore Whitney Willard Straight CBE, MC, DFC was a Grand Prix motor racing driver, aviator, businessman, and a member of the prominent Whitney family of the United States....
- Plt Off R J W Stubbs OBE DSO DFC
For more pilots who flew with the Sqn during the Battle of Britain, see List of RAF aircrew in the Battle of Britain.
Commanding officers
| From | To | Name |
|---|---|---|
| October 1925 | Sqn Ldr Squadron Leader Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these... Lord E. Grosvenor |
|
| 1931 | Sqn Ldr Sir Philip Sassoon, MP Member of Parliament A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,... |
|
| 1931 | 1934 | Sqn Ldr Nigel Norman Nigel Norman Air Commodore Sir Henry Nigel St Valery Norman Bt, CBE, RAF was a consulting civil engineer and Royal Air Force officer during the first half of the 20th century.-Early years:... |
| July 1934 | March 1936 | Sqn Ldr R Shaw, DFC Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom) The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against... |
| March 1936 | December 1939 | Sqn Ldr B S Thynne |
| December 1939 | June 1940 | Sqn Ldr Loel Guinness |
| June 1940 | July 1940 | Sqn Ldr Sir Max Aitken Sir Max Aitken, 2nd Baronet Sir John William Maxwell "Max" Aitken, 2nd Baronet, DSO, DFC , formerly 2nd Baron Beaverbrook, was a British Conservative politician and press baron, the son of Max Aitken, 1st Baron Beaverbrook.... , DFC |
| July 1940 | August 1940 | Sqn Ldr W F C Hobson |
| August 1940 | August 1940 | Sqn Ldr E F Ward |
| August 1940 | December 1940 | Sqn Ldr Sir Archibald Hope |
| December 1940 | April 1941 | Sqn Ldr J A O'Neill, DFC |
| April 1941 | December 1941 | Sqn Ldr E J Gracie, DFC |
| December 1941 | March 1942 | Sqn Ldr E J Jones |
| March 1942 | April 1942 | Sqn Ldr J D Bisdee, DFC |
| April 1942 | July 1942 | Sqn Ldr R G A Barclay, DFC |
| July 1942 | August 1942 | Sqn Ldr J D Bisdee, DFC |
| August 1942 | March 1943 | Sqn Ldr A V Clowes, DFC, DFM Distinguished Flying Medal The Distinguished Flying Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Royal Air Force and the other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active... |
| March 1943 | March 1943 | Sqn Ldr G H F Plinston, DFC |
| March 1943 | June 1943 | Sqn Ldr J S Taylor, DFC |
| June 1943 | September 1943 | Sqn Ldr Stanisław Skalski, VM Virtuti Militari The Order Wojenny Virtuti Militari is Poland's highest military decoration for heroism and courage in the face of the enemy at war... , KW Krzyz Walecznych The Cross of Valor is a Polish military decoration. It was first introduced by the Council for Defense of the State on 11 August 1920. It is awarded to an individual who "has demonstrated deeds of valor and courage on the field of battle." It may be awarded to the same person up to four times... , DFC |
| September 1943 | March 1944 | Maj M S Osler, DFC |
| March 1944 | July 1944 | Sqn Ldr J H Nicholls, DFC |
| July 1944 | January 1945 | Sqn Ldr Robert Wilkinson Turkington, DFC |
| January 1945 | May 1945 | Sqn Ldr C T Stimpson |
| June 1946 | June 1948 | Sqn Ldr The Hon. Max Aitken Sir Max Aitken, 2nd Baronet Sir John William Maxwell "Max" Aitken, 2nd Baronet, DSO, DFC , formerly 2nd Baron Beaverbrook, was a British Conservative politician and press baron, the son of Max Aitken, 1st Baron Beaverbrook.... , DSO Distinguished Service Order The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September... , DFC |
| June 1948 | 1950 | Sqn Ldr Hugh Dundas Hugh Dundas Sir Hugh Spencer Lisle Dundas CBE DSO and Bar DFC, , nicknamed "Cocky", was a World War II fighter pilot in the Royal Air Force. He was Promoted to Squadron Leader at the age of 21, to Wing Commander at 22. In 1944, Dundas was awarded the DSO and at 24 became one of the youngest Group Captains in... , DSO & Bar Medal bar A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the... , DFC |
| 1950 | 1952 | Sqn Ldr P H M Richey, DFC |
| 1952 | January 1957 | Sqn Ldr C C MacCarthy-Jones |
| January 1957 | March 1957 | Sqn Ldr Peter Edelston, DFC, AFC Air Force Cross (United Kingdom) The Air Force Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, and formerly also to officers of the other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy"... |
Note: Sir Philip Sassoon was Member of Parliament during his Squadron Leadership of 601 Squadron.
External links
- Sqn history on Battle of Britain website
- Sqn history on RAF website
- Histories for nos. 600–604 sqn on Rafweb
- Sqn locations
- 601 Squadron (County of London) Recreated
- 601 Squadron: Millionaire flying aces of World War II, BBC News Magazine, 14 December, 2010