No. 603 Squadron RAF
Encyclopedia
No. 603 Squadron is a squadron
of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force
, based in Edinburgh
, Scotland
. The primary role of 603 Squadron, since reforming on 1 October 1999, has been as a Survive to Operate squadron, as well as providing Force Protection
.
unit of the Auxiliary Air Force. Originally equipped with DH.9As
and using Avro 504Ks
for flying training, the squadron re-equipped with Wapitis
in March 1930, these being replaced by Harts
in February 1934. On 24 October 1938, No. 603 was redesignated a fighter
unit and flew Hinds
until the arrival of Gladiators
at the end of March 1939.
-born Fg Off Brian Carbury
was attached to No. 603 Squadron as training officer, to bring the squadron up to standard on Spitfires
. As war approached the squadron was put on a full time footing, and within two weeks of the outbreak of World War II
, Carbury was permanently attached and the squadron began to receive Spitfires, passing on its Gladiators to other squadrons during October.
's long range bombers and reconnaissance aircraft. The Luftwaffe
's main operations being mainly against the Royal Naval Home Fleet anchored in Scapa Flow
. The squadron was operational with Spitfires in time to intercept the first German air raid on the British Isles
on 16 October, when it shot down a Junkers Ju-88 bomber into the North Sea
east of Dalkeith
- the first enemy aircraft to be shot down over Great Britain since 1918, and the first RAF victory in the Second World War. It remained on defensive duties in Scotland until 27 August 1940, when it moved on rotation to Southern England
, based with No 11 Group at RAF Hornchurch
, where it was operational from 27 August 1940 for the remaining months of the Battle of Britain
. Two days after the squadron became operational in southern England, Carbury claimed the first of his 15½ victories, becoming the fifth highest scoring
fighter ace
of the Battle. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
and Bar with No. 603 during the battle. P/O R. 'Rasp' Berry claimed some 9 (of an eventual total of 17) victories during this time, while P/O 'Sheep' Gilroy claimed over 6 victories. Plt Off Richard Hillary
(5 victories) was shot down on 3 September in combat with Bf 109's of Jagdgeschwader 26
off Margate
at 10:04hrs - rescued by the Margate lifeboat, he was severely burned and spent the next three years in hospital, during which time he wrote his classic 'The Last Enemy'.
Returning to Scotland at the end of December, Carbury damaged a Ju 88 on Christmas Day over St Abb's Head
, before leaving squadron in January 1941 as an instructor at the Central Flying School
. In May 1941, the squadron moved south again to take part in sweeps over France
(termed "Rhubarb's"), until the end of the year. After a further spell in Scotland, No.603 left in April 1942 for the Middle East
where its ground echelon
arrived early in June. Concurrently, Flt Sgt Joe Dalley moved from the squadron to PRU duties and flew a Spitfire PR direct from RAF Benson to Malta, joining 69 Sqn to become one of four pilots known as the "Eyes and Ears" on the Island. The squadron's aircraft were embarked on the US carrier USS Wasp
and flown off to Malta
on 20 April to reinforce the fighter defences of the beleaguered island. After nearly four months defending Malta, the remaining pilots and aircraft were absorbed by 229 Squadron
on 3 August 1942.
, where it spent six months as a servicing unit before returning to Egypt
. In February 1943, Bristol Beaufighter
s and crews arrived to begin convoy
patrols and escort missions along the North African coast
and in August sweeps over German held islands in the Aegean
and off Greece
began. Attacks on enemy shipping
continued until the lack of targets enabled the squadron to be returned to the UK in December 1944.
and by curious coincidence, took over the Spitfires of No. 229 Squadron RAF
and some of its personnel, the same squadron which had absorbed No. 603 at Ta' Qali in 1942. Fighter-bomber
sweeps began in February over the Netherlands
and continued until April, when the squadron returned to its home base at Turnhouse for the last days of the war. On 15 August 1945, the squadron was disbanded.
in May 1951. By July it was completely equipped and the type was flown until disbandment on 10 March 1957.
in 2006. To commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the formation of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
in 2007, for the next 2 seasons the Flight's Supermarine Spitfire IIa, P7350, which fought in 603 Sqn during the Battle of Britain will carry the 603 Squadron letters XT-L, those of Gerald 'Stapme' Stapleton
's personal aircraft.
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 Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. The primary role of 603 Squadron, since reforming on 1 October 1999, has been as a Survive to Operate squadron, as well as providing Force Protection
Force protection
Force protection or FP is a term used by the US military to describe preventive measures taken to mitigate hostile actions in specific areas or against a specific populous, usually Department of Defense personnel , resources, facilities, and critical information.-See also:*Pentagon Force Protection...
.
Formation and early years
No. 603 Squadron was formed on 14 October 1925 at RAF Turnhouse as a day bomberBomber
A bomber is a military aircraft designed to attack ground and sea targets, by dropping bombs on them, or – in recent years – by launching cruise missiles at them.-Classifications of bombers:...
unit of the Auxiliary Air Force. Originally equipped with DH.9As
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...
and using Avro 504Ks
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...
for flying training, the squadron re-equipped with Wapitis
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 March 1930, these being replaced by Harts
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...
in February 1934. On 24 October 1938, No. 603 was redesignated a fighter
Fighter aircraft
A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...
unit and flew Hinds
Hawker Hind
-See also:-Bibliography:* Crawford, Alex. Hawker Hart Family. Redbourn, Hertfordshire, UK: Mushroom Model Publications Ltd., 2008. ISBN 83-89450-62-3....
until the arrival of Gladiators
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...
at the end of March 1939.
In World War II
In August 1939, New ZealandNew Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
-born Fg Off Brian Carbury
Brian Carbury
Flight Lieutenant Brian John George Carbury DFC & Bar was a New Zealand fighter ace of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. He was credited with being one of two aces in a day in the Battle of Britain as he shot down five aircraft on 31 August 1940...
was attached to No. 603 Squadron as training officer, to bring the squadron up to standard on Spitfires
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...
. As war approached the squadron was put on a full time footing, and within two weeks of the outbreak of World War II
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...
, Carbury was permanently attached and the squadron began to receive Spitfires, passing on its Gladiators to other squadrons during October.
On Spitfires
Scotland was in range of Nazi GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
's long range bombers and reconnaissance aircraft. The 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....
's main operations being mainly against the Royal Naval Home Fleet anchored in Scapa Flow
Scapa Flow
right|thumb|Scapa Flow viewed from its eastern endScapa Flow is a body of water in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, United Kingdom, sheltered by the islands of Mainland, Graemsay, Burray, South Ronaldsay and Hoy. It is about...
. The squadron was operational with Spitfires in time to intercept the first German air raid on the British Isles
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...
on 16 October, when it shot down a Junkers Ju-88 bomber into the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
east of Dalkeith
Dalkeith
Dalkeith is a town in Midlothian, Scotland, lying on the River North Esk. It was granted a burgh of barony in 1401 and a burgh of regality in 1540...
- the first enemy aircraft to be shot down over Great Britain since 1918, and the first RAF victory in the Second World War. It remained on defensive duties in Scotland until 27 August 1940, when it moved on rotation to Southern England
Southern England
Southern England, the South and the South of England are imprecise terms used to refer to the southern counties of England bordering the English Midlands. It has a number of different interpretations of its geographic extents. The South is considered by many to be a cultural region with a distinct...
, based with No 11 Group at RAF Hornchurch
RAF Hornchurch
RAF Hornchurch was an airfield in the south of Hornchurch in what is now the London Borough of Havering. Known as Sutton's Farm during the First World War, it occupied of the farm of the same name and was situated east north-east of Charing Cross...
, where it was operational from 27 August 1940 for the remaining months of 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...
. Two days after the squadron became operational in southern England, Carbury claimed the first of his 15½ victories, becoming the fifth highest scoring
The Few
The Few is a term used to describe the Allied airmen of the Royal Air Force who fought the Battle of Britain in the Second World War. It comes from Winston Churchill's phrase "Never, in the field of human conflict, was so much owed by so many to so few"....
fighter ace
Fighter Ace
Fighter Ace was a massively multiplayer online computer game in which one flies World War II fighter and bomber planes in combat against other players and virtual pilots...
of the Battle. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
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...
and Bar with No. 603 during the battle. P/O R. 'Rasp' Berry claimed some 9 (of an eventual total of 17) victories during this time, while P/O 'Sheep' Gilroy claimed over 6 victories. Plt Off Richard Hillary
Richard Hillary
Flight Lieutenant Richard Hope Hillary was a Battle of Britain pilot who died during World War II...
(5 victories) was shot down on 3 September in combat with Bf 109's of Jagdgeschwader 26
Jagdgeschwader 26
Jagdgeschwader 26 Schlageter was a Luftwaffe fighter-wing of World War II. It operated mainly in Western Europe against Great Britain, France the United States but also saw service against Russia. It was named after Albert Leo Schlageter, a World War I veteran and Freikorps member arrested and...
off Margate
Margate
-Demography:As of the 2001 UK census, Margate had a population of 40,386.The ethnicity of the town was 97.1% white, 1.0% mixed race, 0.5% black, 0.8% Asian, 0.6% Chinese or other ethnicity....
at 10:04hrs - rescued by the Margate lifeboat, he was severely burned and spent the next three years in hospital, during which time he wrote his classic 'The Last Enemy'.
Returning to Scotland at the end of December, Carbury damaged a Ju 88 on Christmas Day over St Abb's Head
St Abb's Head
St. Abb's Head is a rocky promontory at the village of St. Abbs, Berwickshire, Scottish Borders, and a National Nature Reserve administered by the National Trust of Scotland...
, before leaving squadron in January 1941 as an instructor at the Central Flying School
Central Flying School
The Central Flying School is the Royal Air Force's primary institution for the training of military flying instructors. Established in 1912 it is the longest existing flying training school.-History:...
. In May 1941, the squadron moved south again to take part in sweeps over 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...
(termed "Rhubarb's"), until the end of the year. After a further spell in Scotland, No.603 left in April 1942 for the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
where its ground echelon
Echelon formation
An echelon formation is a military formation in which members are arranged diagonally. Each member is stationed behind and to the right , or behind and to the left , of the member ahead...
arrived early in June. Concurrently, Flt Sgt Joe Dalley moved from the squadron to PRU duties and flew a Spitfire PR direct from RAF Benson to Malta, joining 69 Sqn to become one of four pilots known as the "Eyes and Ears" on the Island. The squadron's aircraft were embarked on the US carrier USS Wasp
USS Wasp (CV-7)
USS Wasp was a United States Navy aircraft carrier. The eighth Navy ship of that name, she was the sole ship of her class. Built to use up the remaining tonnage allowed to the U.S. for aircraft carriers under the treaties of the time, she was built on a reduced-size version of the Yorktown-class...
and flown off to 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...
on 20 April to reinforce the fighter defences of the beleaguered island. After nearly four months defending Malta, the remaining pilots and aircraft were absorbed by 229 Squadron
No. 229 Squadron RAF
No. 229 Squadron RAF was a squadron of the Royal Air Force, and is an officially accredited Battle of Britain Squadron. It became No. 603 Squadron RAF in January 1945.-Formation & World War I:...
on 3 August 1942.
On Beaufighters
At the end of June 1942, No. 603's ground echelon had moved to CyprusCyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
, where it spent six months as a servicing unit before returning 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...
. In February 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...
s and crews arrived to begin convoy
Convoy
A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support, though it may also be used in a non-military sense, for example when driving through remote areas.-Age of Sail:Naval...
patrols and escort missions along the North African coast
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
and in August sweeps over German held islands in the Aegean
Aegean Islands
The Aegean Islands are the group of islands in the Aegean Sea, with mainland Greece to the west and north and Turkey to the east; the island of Crete delimits the sea to the south, those of Rhodes, Karpathos and Kasos to the southeast...
and off Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
began. Attacks on enemy shipping
Shipping
Shipping has multiple meanings. It can be a physical process of transporting commodities and merchandise goods and cargo, by land, air, and sea. It also can describe the movement of objects by ship.Land or "ground" shipping can be by train or by truck...
continued until the lack of targets enabled the squadron to be returned to the UK in December 1944.
Spitfires again
On 10 January 1945, No. 603 reassembled at RAF ColtishallRAF 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....
and by curious coincidence, took over the Spitfires of No. 229 Squadron RAF
No. 229 Squadron RAF
No. 229 Squadron RAF was a squadron of the Royal Air Force, and is an officially accredited Battle of Britain Squadron. It became No. 603 Squadron RAF in January 1945.-Formation & World War I:...
and some of its personnel, the same squadron which had absorbed No. 603 at Ta' Qali in 1942. Fighter-bomber
Ground attack aircraft
Ground-attack aircraft are military aircraft with primary role of attacking targets on the ground with greater precision than bombers and prepared to face stronger low-level air defense...
sweeps began in February over the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and continued until April, when the squadron returned to its home base at Turnhouse for the last days of the war. On 15 August 1945, the squadron was disbanded.
Post war
No. 603 reformed as a unit of the Auxiliary Air Force on 10 May 1946 and began recruiting personnel to man a Spitfire squadron during June at RAF Turnhouse. Receiving its first Spitfire in October, it flew this type until conversion to De Havilland Vampire FB.5sDe 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...
in May 1951. By July it was completely equipped and the type was flown until disbandment on 10 March 1957.
Present role
The new 603 Squadron was formed from No. 2 (City of Edinburgh) Maritime Headquarter Unit (MHU) in October 1999. It was used to provide the basis for the new No. 602 (City of Glasgow) Squadron RAuxAFNo. 602 Squadron RAF
No 602 Squadron is a Royal Auxiliary Air Force squadron. Originally formed in 1925 as a light bomber squadron, its role changed in 1938 to army co-operation and in 1939 to that of a fighter squadron....
in 2006. To commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the formation of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight is a Royal Air Force flight which provides an aerial display group comprising an Avro Lancaster, a Supermarine Spitfire and a Hawker Hurricane...
in 2007, for the next 2 seasons the Flight's Supermarine Spitfire IIa, P7350, which fought in 603 Sqn during the Battle of Britain will carry the 603 Squadron letters XT-L, those of Gerald 'Stapme' Stapleton
Gerald Stapleton
Squadron Leader Basil Gerald "Stapme" Stapleton DFC was a Royal Air Force officer and fighter ace who flew Spitfires and Typhoons during World War II. He preferred the name Gerald and was nicknamed 'Stapme' after a phrase used in his favourite cartoon strip Just Jake published in The Daily Mirror...
's personal aircraft.
Aircraft operated
| From | To | Aircraft | Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 1925 | March 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... |
DH.9A |
| October 1925 | March 1930 | 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... |
504.K (used for flying training) |
| March 1930 | March 1934 | 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.I |
| February 1934 | February 1938 | 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... |
|
| February 1938 | March 1939 | Hawker Hind Hawker Hind -See also:-Bibliography:* Crawford, Alex. Hawker Hart Family. Redbourn, Hertfordshire, UK: Mushroom Model Publications Ltd., 2008. ISBN 83-89450-62-3.... |
|
| October 1938 | August 1939 | 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.II |
| August 1939 | November 1940 | 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.I |
| October 1940 | May 1941 | Supermarine Spitfire | Mk.IIa |
| May 1941 | December 1941 | Supermarine Spitfire | Mk.Va |
| August 1941 | March 1942 | Supermarine Spitfire | Mk.Vb |
| April 1942 | August 1942 | Supermarine Spitfire | Mk.Vc |
| February 1943 | November 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... |
Mks.Ic and If |
| February 1943 | October 1943 | Bristol Beaufighter | Mk.VIc |
| August 1943 | October 1943 | Bristol Beaufighter | Mk.XI |
| October 1943 | December 1944 | Bristol Beaufighter | Mk.TFX |
| January 1945 | August 1945 | Supermarine Spitfire | LF.16e |
| 1945 | 1945 | Taylorcraft Auster Taylorcraft Auster The Taylorcraft Auster was a British military liaison and observation aircraft produced by the Taylorcraft Aeroplanes Limited company during the Second World War.-Design and development:... |
Mk.I (Communications flight) |
| June 1946 | 1953 | North American Harvard T-6 Texan The North American Aviation T-6 Texan was a single-engine advanced trainer aircraft used to train pilots of the United States Army Air Forces, United States Navy, Royal Air Force and other air forces of the British Commonwealth during World War II and into the 1950s... |
T.2B |
| October 1946 | June 1948 | Supermarine Spitfire | LF.16e |
| February 1948 | July 1951 | Supermarine Spitfire | F.22 |
| 1951 | November 1955 | 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... |
FB.3 |
| May 1951 | March 1957 | 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... |
FB.5 |
| May 1951 | 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... |
T.7 (used for flying training) |
| 1956 | March 1957 | De Havilland Vampire | T.11 (used for flying training) |
| June 1956 | January 1957 | De Havilland Vampire | FB.9 (2 aircraft, WL518 and WG841)} |
Commanding officers
| From | To | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 August 1925 | 14 April 1931 | 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... J.A. McKelvie, 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"... |
| 14 April 1931 | 1 April 1934 | Sqn Ldr H. Murray-Philipson Hylton Murray-Philipson Hylton Ralph Murray-Philipson was a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom who served as a Member of Parliament from 1932 to 1934.... , 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,... |
| 1 April 1934 | 1 April 1938 | Sqn Ldr Lord G.N. Douglas-Hamilton George Douglas-Hamilton, 10th Earl of Selkirk Group Captain George "Geordie" Nigel Douglas-Hamilton, 10th Earl of Selkirk, KT, GCMG, GBE, AFC, AE, PC, QC , was a Scottish nobleman and Conservative politician.-Early life:... , AFC |
| 1 April 1938 | 4 June 1940 | Sqn Ldr E.H. Stevens |
| 4 June 1940 | 1 April 1941 | Sqn Ldr G.L. Denholm, 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... |
| 1 April 1941 | 25 July 1941 | Sqn Ldr F.M. Smith |
| 25 July 1941 | 17 October 1941 | Sqn Ldr M.J. Loudon |
| 17 October 1941 | 18 December 1941 | Sqn Ldr R.G. Forshaw |
| 18 December 1941 | 20 July 1942 | Sqn Ldr Lord D. Douglas-Hamilton Lord David Douglas-Hamilton Squadron Leader Lord David Douglas-Hamilton was a Scottish nobleman, pilot, and boxer.The youngest son of Lt... |
| 20 July 1942 | 3 August 1942 | Sqn Ldr W.A. Douglas |
| 10 April 1942 | 4 June 1942 | Sqn Ldr P. Illingworth (Officer commanding Ground Party) |
| 3 August 1942 | 28 January 1943 | Sqn Ldr F.W. Marshall |
| 28 January 1943 | 1 December 1943 | Wg Cdr Wing Commander (rank) Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries... H.A. Charter |
| 1 December 1943 | 15 June 1944 | Wg Cdr J.R.H. Lewis, DFC |
| 15 June 1944 | 2 August 1944 | Wg Cdr J.T.D. Revell |
| 2 August 1944 | 23 September 1944 | Sqn Ldr C.D. Paine (acting) |
| 23 September 1944 | 26 December 1944 | Wg Cdr C.N. Foxley-Norris Christopher Foxley-Norris Air Chief Marshal Sir Christopher Neil Foxley-Norris GCB, DSO, OBE, FRSA was a squadron commander during World War II and, later, the RAF's commander-in-chief in Germany.-Early life:... |
| 10 January 1945 | 26 January 1945 | Sqn Ldr E.H.M. Patterson, DFC |
| 26 January 1945 | 1 April 1945 | Sqn Ldr T.C. Rigler, 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... |
| 1 April 1945 | 15 August 1945 | Sqn Ldr H.R.P. Pertwee, DFC |
| 11 June 1946 | 23 September 1949 | Sqn Ldr G.K. Gilroy, 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 |
| 23 September 1949 | 1 December 1950 | Sqn Ldr J.W.E. Holmes, DFC, AFC |
| 1 December 1950 | 22 March 1953 | Sqn Ldr P.J. Anson, DFC |
| 23 March 1953 | 25 August 1953 | Sqn Ldr R.R.L.R. Davies, DFC |
| 25 August 1953 | 9 May 1956 | Sqn Ldr R. Schofield |
| 9 May 1956 | 10 March 1957 | Sqn Ldr M.E. Hobson, AFC |
| 1 October 1999 | 2006 | Wg Cdr A.J. Beaton |
| 2006 | 1 March 2010 | Sqn Ldr D Morrison |
| 1 March 2010 | Present | Sqn Ldr J Rodgers |
Notable personnel
- PO Flt Lt Brian Carbury DFC*Brian CarburyFlight Lieutenant Brian John George Carbury DFC & Bar was a New Zealand fighter ace of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. He was credited with being one of two aces in a day in the Battle of Britain as he shot down five aircraft on 31 August 1940...
, who claimed 15½ victories with No. 603, making him the fourth highest scoring ace of the Battle of Britain - Richard HillaryRichard HillaryFlight Lieutenant Richard Hope Hillary was a Battle of Britain pilot who died during World War II...
, Spitfire pilot who was shot down on 3 September 1940, was badly burned, and wrote a book The Last Enemy. - B. G. 'Stapme' StapletonGerald StapletonSquadron Leader Basil Gerald "Stapme" Stapleton DFC was a Royal Air Force officer and fighter ace who flew Spitfires and Typhoons during World War II. He preferred the name Gerald and was nicknamed 'Stapme' after a phrase used in his favourite cartoon strip Just Jake published in The Daily Mirror...
who shot down Franz von WerraFranz von WerraFranz Xaver Baron von Werra was a German World War II fighter pilot and flying ace who was shot down over England and captured...
, the only German PoWPrisoner of warA prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
to escape and return to the Third Reich.
External links
- Official RAuxAF 603 Sqdn website
- Official RAF historical 603 sqdn website
- RAF Reserves website
- World War 2 Ex-RAF website - Reuniting friends and lost pals
- Battle-of-Britain.co.uk 603 Sqdn website
- Photographs of 603 Sqdn during WW2
- Aces High II game website - 603 Sqdn
- Battle of Britain Memorial Flight website
- Details of Spitfire P7350