No. 604 Squadron RAF
Encyclopedia
No. 604 Squadron RAF was a squadron of the Royal Air Force
notable for its pioneering role the development of radar
-controlled night-fighter operations. The squadron was established in March 1930 at RAF Hendon as a day-bombing squadron of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force
. In July 1934, the squadron transitioned to two-seat fighters. Shortly after the commencement of hostilities
in 1939, the squadron was reassigned to the night-fighter role.
No. 604 Squadron was initially disbanded in April 1945 as part of the near-end-of-war reduction of the British Armed Forces
. It was reformed as an Auxiliary single-seat fighter squadron in May 1946, again at RAF Hendon. Final disbandment occurred in March 1957 with the dissolution of the Auxiliary Air Force.
s) in April 1930. The DH.9A was shortly replaced by the Westland Wapiti
in September 1930. Upon re-designation as a two-seat fighter squadron, No. 604 transitioned to the Hawker Hart
on 23 July 1934. Hawker Demons replaced the Harts in June 1935.
. No. 604 Squadron was activated on 24 August 1939 to operate long-range fighters from RAF North Weald
. The squadron spent the first several months of World War II flying defensive patrols in support of coastal convoys.
in January 1940. By May 1940, the squadron had moved to RAF Manston
. It was during the squadron's stay at RAF Manston that Flying Officer
Alistair Hunter and Sergeant
Gordon Thomas shot down a Luftwaffe
Heinkel 115 floatplane
shortly after midnight on 18 June 1940, the first major night raid over the UK.
Following the Dunkirk evacuation, the squadron was based at RAF Middle Wallop at the end of July 1940.
equipment and Mark III AI radar
. The former was part of RAF Fighter Command
policy and greatly improved air-to-air and air-to ground communication. The AI equipment was fitted to assist the nght fighter crews in locating German bombers at night. As a new technological development, AI was not particularly reliable at this stage, and needed a third crew member to operate. The external antennas also slowed down aircraft that were already considered of low performance for their role. Most AI operators were inexperienced and wee forced to learn 'on the job', translating the information provided on the AI screens into instructions to enable their pilot to get close near enough to visually locate and then shoot down an enemy bomber.
, equipped with four 20-mm cannon
under the nose and the improved Mark IV AI radio-location equipment. As one of the few Squadrons thus equipped, 604 squadron provided night defence over the UK during the Blitz from late 1940 until mid May 1941, when most Luftwaffe bomber units departed for involvement in the Invasion of Soviet Russia. By this time 50 air victories had been claimed by 604, 14 by F/L John Cunningham
.
. Operations from Normandy began in August but the following month it returned to the UK, returning to the continent once again in January 1945, remaining there until disbanding at B.51 at Vendeville, near Lille
, France on 18 April 1945. Some 127 air victories had been claimed by the Squadron during the war, 41 since May 1944.
, 604 was reformed on 10 May 1946 at RAF Hendon as a day fighter squadron. It was initially equipped with Spitfire LF.16
s but converted to jets in November 1949 when de Havilland Vampire
s arrived. These were replaced by Gloster Meteor
s in August 1952 but this was only for a few years as, along with all the flying units of the RAuxAF, the squadron was disbanded on 10 March 1957.
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
notable for its pioneering role the development of radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
-controlled night-fighter operations. The squadron was established in March 1930 at RAF Hendon as a day-bombing squadron 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...
. In July 1934, the squadron transitioned to two-seat fighters. Shortly after the commencement of hostilities
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in 1939, the squadron was reassigned to the night-fighter role.
No. 604 Squadron was initially disbanded in April 1945 as part of the near-end-of-war reduction of the British Armed Forces
British Armed Forces
The British Armed Forces are the armed forces of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.Also known as Her Majesty's Armed Forces and sometimes legally the Armed Forces of the Crown, the British Armed Forces encompasses three professional uniformed services, the Royal Navy, the...
. It was reformed as an Auxiliary single-seat fighter squadron in May 1946, again at RAF Hendon. Final disbandment occurred in March 1957 with the dissolution of the Auxiliary Air Force.
Formation and early years
No. 604 Squadron was established on 17 March 1930 at RAF Hendon as a squadron of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. The squadron was initially assigned to the role of day-bombing and received its first aircraft (Airco DH.9AAirco DH.9A
The Airco DH.9A was a British light bomber designed and first used shortly before the end of the First World War. Colloquially known as the "Ninak" , it served on in large numbers for the Royal Air Force following the end of the war, both at home and overseas, where it was used for colonial...
s) in April 1930. The DH.9A was shortly replaced by the 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....
in September 1930. Upon re-designation as a two-seat fighter squadron, No. 604 transitioned to the 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...
on 23 July 1934. Hawker Demons replaced the Harts in June 1935.
World War II
In early 1939, the squadron transitioned to the long-range fighter variant of the Bristol BlenheimBristol 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...
. No. 604 Squadron was activated on 24 August 1939 to operate long-range fighters from RAF North Weald
North Weald Airfield
North Weald Airfield is an operational airfield, near the village of North Weald Bassett in Epping Forest, Essex, England. It was an important fighter station during the Battle of Britain, when it was known as the RAF Station RAF North Weald. It is the home of North Weald Airfield Museum...
. The squadron spent the first several months of World War II flying defensive patrols in support of coastal convoys.
Beginning of night-fighter operations
The squadron was reassigned to the night-fighter role in late 1939 and was relocated to 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...
in January 1940. By May 1940, the squadron had moved to 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...
. It was during the squadron's stay at RAF Manston that Flying Officer
Flying Officer
Flying officer is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence...
Alistair Hunter and Sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
Gordon Thomas shot down a Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
Heinkel 115 floatplane
Floatplane
A floatplane is a type of seaplane, with slender pontoons mounted under the fuselage; only the floats of a floatplane normally come into contact with water, with the fuselage remaining above water...
shortly after midnight on 18 June 1940, the first major night raid over the UK.
Following the Dunkirk evacuation, the squadron was based at RAF Middle Wallop at the end of July 1940.
Airborne Interception
In early summer 1940, squadron aircraft were fitted with both VHF radiotelephoneRadiotelephone
A radiotelephone is a communications system for transmission of speech over radio. Radiotelephone systems are not necessarily interconnected with the public "land line" telephone network. "Radiotelephone" is often used to describe the usage of radio spectrum where it is important to distinguish the...
equipment and Mark III AI radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
. The former was part of RAF Fighter Command
RAF Fighter Command
RAF Fighter Command was one of three functional commands of the Royal Air Force. It was formed in 1936 to allow more specialised control of fighter aircraft. It served throughout the Second World War, gaining recognition in the Battle of Britain. The Command continued until 17 November 1943, when...
policy and greatly improved air-to-air and air-to ground communication. The AI equipment was fitted to assist the nght fighter crews in locating German bombers at night. As a new technological development, AI was not particularly reliable at this stage, and needed a third crew member to operate. The external antennas also slowed down aircraft that were already considered of low performance for their role. Most AI operators were inexperienced and wee forced to learn 'on the job', translating the information provided on the AI screens into instructions to enable their pilot to get close near enough to visually locate and then shoot down an enemy bomber.
The Beaufighter
Late in September 1940 the Squadron received its first Bristol BeaufighterBristol Beaufighter
The Bristol Type 156 Beaufighter, often referred to as simply the Beau, was a British long-range heavy fighter modification of the Bristol Aeroplane Company's earlier Beaufort torpedo bomber design...
, equipped with four 20-mm cannon
Hispano-Suiza HS.404
The Hispano-Suiza HS.404 was an autocannon widely used as both an aircraft and land weapon in the 20th century by British, American, French, and numerous other military services. The cannon is also referred to as Birkigt type 404, after its designer. Firing a 20 mm caliber projectile, it delivered...
under the nose and the improved Mark IV AI radio-location equipment. As one of the few Squadrons thus equipped, 604 squadron provided night defence over the UK during the Blitz from late 1940 until mid May 1941, when most Luftwaffe bomber units departed for involvement in the Invasion of Soviet Russia. By this time 50 air victories had been claimed by 604, 14 by F/L John Cunningham
John Cunningham (RAF officer)
Group Captain John "Cat's Eyes" Cunningham CBE, DSO & Two Bars, DFC & Bar, , was a British Royal Air Force night fighter ace during World War II and a test pilot, both before and after the war...
.
The Mosquito
In early 1943 the squadron began to move over to night intruder operations. In February 1944, the squadron was allocated to the 2nd Tactical Air Force and began conversion to the de Havilland MosquitoDe Havilland Mosquito
The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
. Operations from Normandy began in August but the following month it returned to the UK, returning to the continent once again in January 1945, remaining there until disbanding at B.51 at Vendeville, near Lille
Lille
Lille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium...
, France on 18 April 1945. Some 127 air victories had been claimed by the Squadron during the war, 41 since May 1944.
Post-war
With the reactivation of the Royal Auxiliary Air ForceRoyal 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...
, 604 was reformed on 10 May 1946 at RAF Hendon as a day fighter squadron. It was initially equipped with Spitfire LF.16
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...
s but converted to jets in November 1949 when 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...
s arrived. These were replaced by 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...
s in August 1952 but this was only for a few years as, along with all the flying units of the RAuxAF, the squadron was disbanded on 10 March 1957.
Aircraft operated
| From | To | Aircraft | Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 1930 | September 1930 | Airco DH.9A Airco DH.9A The Airco DH.9A was a British light bomber designed and first used shortly before the end of the First World War. Colloquially known as the "Ninak" , it served on in large numbers for the Royal Air Force following the end of the war, both at home and overseas, where it was used for colonial... |
|
| June 1930 | June 1935 | 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.... |
Mk.IIa |
| September 1934 | June 1935 | 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... |
|
| June 1935 | January 1939 | Hawker Demon | |
| January 1939 | January 1941 | 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 |
| May 1940 | May 1940 | Gloster Gladiator Gloster Gladiator The Gloster Gladiator was a British-built biplane fighter. It was used by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy and was exported to a number of other air forces during the late 1930s. It was the RAF's last biplane fighter aircraft and was rendered obsolete by newer monoplane designs even as it... |
Mk.I |
| September 1940 | April 1943 | Bristol Beaufighter Bristol Beaufighter The Bristol Type 156 Beaufighter, often referred to as simply the Beau, was a British long-range heavy fighter modification of the Bristol Aeroplane Company's earlier Beaufort torpedo bomber design... |
Mk.I |
| April 1943 | April 1944 | Bristol Beaufighter | Mk.VIf |
| February 1944 | September 1944 | de Havilland Mosquito De Havilland Mosquito The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"... |
Mk.XII |
| April 1944 | April 1945 | de Havilland Mosquito | Mk.XIII |
| October 1946 | May 1950 | 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... |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 17 March 1930 | 29 September 1938 | RAF Hendon, 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... |
| 29 September 1938 | 3 October 1938 | RAF North Weald North Weald Airfield North Weald Airfield is an operational airfield, near the village of North Weald Bassett in Epping Forest, Essex, England. It was an important fighter station during the Battle of Britain, when it was known as the RAF Station RAF North Weald. It is the home of North Weald Airfield Museum... , 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... |
| 3 October 1938 | 2 September 1939 | RAF Hendon, Middlesex |
| 2 September 1939 | 16 January 1940 | RAF North Weald, Essex (det. at RAF Martlesham Heath RAF Martlesham Heath RAF Martlesham Heath is a former Royal Air Force airfield in England. The field is located 1½ miles SW of Woodbridge, Suffolk.- RFC/RAF prewar use:Martlesham Heath was first used as a Royal Flying Corps airfield during World War I... , Suffolk Suffolk Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east... ) |
| 16 January 1940 | 15 May 1940 | 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 |
| 15 May 1940 | 20 June 1940 | 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 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... |
| 20 June 1940 | 3 July 1940 | RAF Northolt, Middlesex |
| 3 July 1940 | 27 July 1940 | RAF Gravesend RAF Gravesend RAF Gravesend was a Fighter Airfield during the Battle of Britain, and was home to the following Squadrons during the Battle:*No. 610 Squadron RAF from 26 May 1940*No. 604 Squadron RAF from 3 July 1940*No. 501 Squadron RAF from 25 July 1940... , Kent |
| 27 July 1940 | 12 August 1942 | RAF Middle Wallop Army Air Corps Middle Wallop Army Air Corps Middle Wallop is a British Army base near the Hampshire village of Middle Wallop. The base hosts 2 Regiment Army Air Corps and the School of Army Aviation. The role of 2 Regiment is training and so AAC Middle Wallop is the base where most Army Air Corps pilots begin their careers... , 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... (Det. at RAF Coltishall RAF Coltishall The former Royal Air Force Station Coltishall, more commonly known as RAF Coltishall , was a Royal Air Force station, a military airbase, North-North-East of Norwich, in the English county of Norfolk, East Anglia, from 1938 to 2006.... , 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... ) |
| 12 August 1942 | 23 August 1942 | RAF Warmwell RAF Warmwell RAF Warmwell was a Royal Air Force station near Warmwell in Dorset, England from 1937 to 1946, located about 5 miles east-southeast of Dorchester; 100 miles southwest of London.... , Dorset Dorset Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974... |
| 23 August 1942 | 7 December 1942 | RAF Middle Wallop, Hampshire |
| 7 December 1942 | 18 February 1943 | RAF Predannack Predannack Airfield Predannack Airfield is situated near Mullion on Cornwall's Lizard Peninsula in the United Kingdom. The runways are operated by the Royal Navy and today it is used as a satellite airfield and relief landing ground for nearby RNAS Culdrose.-World War II:... , Cornwall Cornwall Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of... |
| 18 February 1943 | 24 April 1943 | RAF Ford Ford (HM Prison) HM Prison Ford is a Category D men's prison, located at Ford, in West Sussex, England, near Arundel and Littlehampton. The prison is operated by Her Majesty's Prison Service.-History:... , West Sussex West Sussex West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming... |
| 24 April 1943 | 25 April 1944 | RAF Scorton RAF Scorton RAF Scorton was a satellite station of RAF Catterick during World War II. It was located near the village of Scorton in North Yorkshire, England... , North Yorkshire North Yorkshire North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest... |
| 25 April 1944 | 3 May 1944 | RAF Church Fenton RAF Church Fenton RAF Church Fenton is a Royal Air Force airfield at Church Fenton in North Yorkshire, England.- History :Plans for a new airfield adjacent to the village of Church Fenton were announced in June 1935, it was subject to protest from the local population particularly concerning the waste of valuable... , North Yorkshire |
| 3 May 1944 | 13 July 1944 | RAF Hurn RAF Hurn RAF Station Hurn is a former World War II airfield in Dorset, England. The airfield is located approximately north east of Christchurch; about southwest of LondonOpened in 1941, it was used by both the Royal Air Force and United States Army Air Force... , Dorset |
| 13 July 1944 | 25 July 1944 | RAF Colerne RAF Colerne RAF Colerne now known as Colerne Airfield or AEF Colerne is a former World War II RAF Fighter Command and Bomber Command airfield located on the outskirts of the village of Colerne, Wiltshire... , Wiltshire Wiltshire Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers... |
| 25 July 1944 | 28 July 1944 | RAF Zeals RAF Zeals RAF Zeals was a wartime Royal Air Force station in Wiltshire.The station was sited to the north of the village of Zeals, next to the village of Stourton and the Stourhead estate.The station was only in operation from 1942 to 1946... , Wiltshire |
| 28 July 1944 | 6 August 1944 | RAF Colerne, Wiltshire (Det. at A.15/Maupertus, 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... ) |
| 6 August 1944 | 9 September 1944 | A.8/Picauville Picauville Airfield Picauville Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield, which is located near the commune of Picauville in the Basse-Normandie region of northern France.... , France |
| 9 September 1944 | 24 September 1944 | B.17/Carpiquet, France |
| 24 September 1944 | 5 December 1944 | RAF Predannack, Cornwal |
| 5 December 1944 | 31 December 1944 | RAF Odiham RAF Odiham RAF Odiham is a Royal Air Force station situated a little to the south of the historic small village of Odiham in Hampshire, England. It is the home of the Royal Air Force's heavy lift helicopter, the Chinook HC2, HC2A and HC3... , Hampshire |
| 31 December 1944 | 18 April 1945 | B.51/Lille-Vendeville Vendeville -References:*... , France |
| 10 May 1946 | 28 March 1949 | RAF Hendon, Middlesex |
| 28 March 1949 | 10 March 1957 | RAF North Weald, Essex |
Commanding officers
| From | To | Name |
|---|---|---|
| March 1930 | March 1935 | W/Cdr. Wing Commander (rank) Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries... A.S.W. Dore, 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... , TD |
| March 1935 | January 1939 | S/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... C.P. Gabriel |
| January 1939 | March 1940 | S/Ldr. R.A. Budd |
| March 1940 | August 1941 | S/Ldr. M.F. Anderson |
| August 1941 | August 1941 | W/Cdr. Wing Commander (rank) Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries... Appleton |
| August 1941 | July 1942 | W/Cdr. J. Cunningham John Cunningham (RAF officer) Group Captain John "Cat's Eyes" Cunningham CBE, DSO & Two Bars, DFC & Bar, , was a British Royal Air Force night fighter ace during World War II and a test pilot, both before and after the war... , 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 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... |
| July 1942 | April 1943 | W/Cdr. Wood, 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"... |
| April 1943 | July 1944 | W/Cdr. M.H. Constable-Maxwell, DFC |
| July 1944 | 18 April 1945 | W/Cdr. F.D. Hughes, DFC & 2 Bars |
| June 1946 | January 1948 | W/Cdr. J. Cunningham, DSO & 2 Bars, DFC & Bar |
| January 1948 | May 1951 | S/Ldr. K.T. Lofts, DFC & Bar |
| May 1951 | September 1953 | S/Ldr. A. Deytrikh |
| September 1953 | March 1957 | S/Ldr. T.P. Turnbull, DFC |
External links
- 604 Squadron history on RAF website
- Squadron histories for nos. 600-604 sqn on RAFweb
- 604 in the Battle of Britain
- Traces of World War 2: RAF - No. 604 Squadron