(Translation: "Whither the fates may call") , colors= , colors_label= , march= , mascot= , equipment= , equipment_label= , battles= , anniversaries= , decorations= , battle_honours= Channel and North Sea, 1939–41
Dunkirk
Biscay ports, 1941
Atlantic, 1941–42
North Africa, 1942–43
Mediterranean, 1942–44
Italy, 1944–45.
These honours are all emblazoned on the squadron standard , commander1= The Duke of Kent

Anthony Eden Robert Anthony Eden, 1st Earl of Avon, (12 June 1897 – 14 January 1977) was a British Conservative Party politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1955 until his resignation in 1957. Achieving rapid promo ...

, commander1_label= Honorary Air Commodores , commander2= , commander2_label= , commander3= , commander3_label= , notable_commanders=

Denis Spotswood Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Denis Frank Spotswood, (26 September 1916 – 11 November 2001) was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force. He fought in the Second World War as a flying boat pilot and then as a coastal reconnaissance squadr ...

, identification_symbol= A horse forcene
The white horse of Kent was adopted to commemorate the squadron's association with that country , identification_symbol_label= Squadron Badge heraldry , identification_symbol_2= SQ (Apr 1939 – Sep 1939)
MK (Sep 1939 – Apr 1944)
RAA (May 1946 – 1950)
S7 (1950–1951) , identification_symbol_2_label= Squadron Codes , identification_symbol_3= RAF 500 Sqn

, identification_symbol_3_label=Post-1950 squadron roundel No. 500 (County of Kent) Squadron AAF was a Royal Air Force flying squadron. It was initially formed in 1931 as a Special Reserve squadron and in 1936 became part of the Auxiliary Air Force, at this time based at Manston and Detling. During the Second World War, the squadron served in both Coastal Command and Bomber Command. In the coastal role, the squadron undertook operations over the English Channel in 1940–1941, before moving to North Africa in late 1942. It undertook anti-submarine operations in support of

Operation Torch Operation Torch (8 November 1942 – Run for Tunis, 16 November 1942) was an Allies of World War II, Allied invasion of French North Africa during the Second World War. Torch was a compromise operation that met the British objective of secu ...

and then continued operations in the Mediterranean, operating various aircraft types during this period. In July 1944, the squadron disbanded before being reformed as a bomber squadron in Algeria in August, later operating in Italy in the final years of the war. Following the war, the squadron was disbanded in October 1945. In May 1946, it was re-formed as an auxiliary squadron within Fighter Command. Initially it operated in the night fighter role and then later as a day fighter unit equipped with jet aircraft before being disbanded in 1957.

History

Formation and early years

The Squadron was formed at RAF Manston on 16 March 1931 as the first Special Reserve night-bomber squadron with

Vickers Virginia Mk.X The Vickers Virginia was a biplane heavy bomber of the British Royal Air Force, developed from the Vickers Vimy. Design and development Work on the Virginia was started in 1920, as a replacement for the Vimy. Two prototypes were ordered on 1 ...

aircraft. On 25 May 1936 the role changed to day-bombing and the squadron became part of the Auxiliary Air Force, flying Hawker Harts, later replaced with Hawker Hinds.

To Coastal Command

On 7 November 1938 the squadron saw another role change as it was transferred to RAF Coastal Command and became a general reconnaissance squadron as part of 16 Group. It re-equipped with Avro Anson Mk. I twin-engine monoplanes from March 1939. The outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939 saw the squadron deployed on patrols and convoy escort operations off the coast of Essex and

East Anglia East Anglia is an area in the East of England, often defined as including the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. The name derives from the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of the East Angles, a people whose name originated in Anglia, in ...

, transferring to operations over the English Channel in January 1940. The

Battle of France The Battle of France (french: bataille de France) (10 May – 25 June 1940), also known as the Western Campaign ('), the French Campaign (german: Frankreichfeldzug, ) and the Fall of France, was the Nazi Germany, German invasion of French Third Rep ...

saw 500's aircraft being involved in increasingly heavy action, covering the evacuation of British and French troops from

Dunkirk Dunkirk (french: Dunkerque ; vls, label=French Flemish, Duunkerke; nl, Duinkerke(n) ; , ;) is a commune in the department of Nord in northern France. In the night of 30/31 May a 500 Squadron Anson crash-landed at the squadron's base at RAF Detling on returning from a raid on the Channel ports. The aircraft caught fire, and Corporal

Daphne Pearson Joan Daphne Mary Pearson, (25 May 1911 – 25 July 2000) was a Women's Auxiliary Air Force officer during the Second World War and one of only thirteen women recipients of the George Cross, the highest decoration for gallantry not in the face ...

, a member of the WAAF was awarded the

George Cross The George Cross (GC) is the highest award bestowed by the British government for non-operational gallantry or gallantry not in the presence of an enemy. In the British honours system, the George Cross, since its introduction in 1940, has been ...

for rescuing the pilot from the burning aircraft before it exploded. On 1 June, three of the squadron's Ansons were patrolling off Dunkirk when they came under attack by as many as nine German

Messerschmitt Bf 109 The Messerschmitt Bf 109 is a German World War II fighter aircraft that was, along with the Focke-Wulf Fw 190, the backbone of the Luftwaffe's fighter force. The Bf 109 first saw operational service in 1937 during the Spanish Civil War an ...

fighters. The Ansons had been modified to improve their armament by adding two beam machine guns, and one of the Ansons claimed two Bf 109s shot down. While the squadron further modified the armament of some of its Ansons in August for use against German E-boats by adding a 20 mm cannon firing through the floor, it was increasingly deployed on convoy escort duties. In April 1941 the Ansons were replaced with Bristol Blenheims which were deployed on anti-shipping and air-sea rescue duties, as well as night intruder operations over German-occupied Europe. The squadron moved from Detling to RAF Bircham Newton in May that year and converted to Lockheed Hudsons in November 1941. In March 1942, the squadron moved to RAF Stornoway in Scotland, with detachments at

Limavady Limavady (; ) is a market town in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, with Binevenagh as a backdrop. Lying east of Derry and southwest of Coleraine, Limavady had a population of 12,032 people at the United Kingdom census, 2011, 2011 Census ...

in Northern Ireland for anti-submarine patrols over the Western Approaches. It moved again in at the end of August to RAF St Eval in Cornwall, but this was only a brief stopover before moving to

Gibraltar ) , anthem = " God Save the King" , song = " Gibraltar Anthem" , image_map = Gibraltar location in Europe.svg , map_alt = Location of Gibraltar in Europe , map_caption = United Kingdom shown in pale green , mapsize = , image_map2 = Gib ...

on 5 November 1942 in preparation for the Allied invasion of French North-West Africa.

Mediterranean operations

The Allied landings saw 500 Squadron being very heavily deployed to protect the invasion shipping, making many attacks against German submarines attempting to interfere with the landings. On 8 November, half of the 500 Squadron ground crew landed along the beaches of Algeria, Oran and Arzeu, after having been dispatched to the Clyde River to board the SS ''Strathallan''. The ''Strathallan'' made a second trip, also carrying 500 Squadron members but was sunk by a U-boat off Oran. Meanwhile, also on the first day of the landings, the squadron flew patrols in their newly painted, desert colours, Hudsons. These were mainly over the invasion beaches at

Oran Oran ( ar, وَهران, Wahrān) is a major coastal city located in the north-west of Algeria. It is considered the second most important city of Algeria after the capital Algiers, due to its population and commercial, industrial, and cultural ...

, with one of its Hudsons slightly damaged by gunfire from a German

Heinkel He 111 The Heinkel He 111 is a German airliner and bomber designed by Siegfried and Walter Günter at Heinkel Flugzeugwerke in 1934. Through development, it was described as a "wolf in sheep's clothing". Due to restrictions placed on Germany after th ...

bomber. On 11 September the Squadron established an advanced base at

Tafraoui Tafraoui is a municipality in Oran Province, Algeria close to the city of Oran. There is an airport with the same name. Capturing Tafaraoui Airport was a part of Operation Torch Operation Torch (8 November 1942 – Run for Tunis, 16 Nov ...

near

, Algeria, and on the same day, one of the squadron's Hudsons claimed a

Junkers Ju 52 The Junkers Ju 52/3m (nicknamed ''Tante Ju'' ("Aunt Ju") and ''Iron Annie'') is a transport aircraft that was designed and manufactured by German aviation company Junkers. Development of the Ju 52 commenced during 1930, headed by German Aeros ...

transport shot down near Alboran Island. On 13 November, a 500 Squadron Hudson attacked the German submarine ''U-458'' with depth charges and machine gun fire, badly damaging it and forcing it to return to base. The next day, six 500 Squadron Hudsons attacked the German submarine ''U-595'', which had been damaged earlier in the day by aircraft from 608 Squadron north of Oran and was unable to dive. ''U-595'' survived, and four of the Hudsons were hit by anti-aircraft fire from the submarine, but as a result of the damage, ''U-595''s commander deliberately ran the submarine aground. Also that day, was sunk by one of the squadron's Hudsons west of Gibraltar. On 15 November one of the squadron's aircraft bombed and sunk . The explosion badly damaged the Hudson, forcing it to ditch, with only two of the aircraft's crew being rescued. Two more U-boats were attacked that day, and another on 16 November. On 17 November, an attack by three 500 Squadron Hudsons badly damaged , which signalled surrender, but the submarine was sunk by a Fleet Air Arm Albacore torpedo bomber, which was unaware of ''U-331''s surrender. On 17 December, one of the squadron's Hudsons attacked an Italian submarine without result, while another shot down an Italian

Cant Z.1007 The CANT Z.1007 ''Alcione'' (''Kingfisher'') was an Italian three-engined medium bomber, with wooden structure. Designed by Filippo Zappata, who also designed the CANT Z.506De Marchi and Tonizzo 1994, p. 27. it had "excellent flying characteri ...

bomber. On 27 December, one of the squadron's Hudsons attacked the German submarine , but was badly damaged by anti-aircraft fire from the U-boat, and was forced to ditch. The squadron's aircraft continued to fly anti-submarine patrols over the Mediterranean, sinking on 4 March 1943. On the night of 23/24 April, a Hudson was badly damaged while attacking , the pilot being killed. The aircraft was flown back to base by its radio operator, where the surviving crew bailed out. In late September 1943, and working closely with the Special Operations Executive (SOE), who were also stationed at La Senia developing underwing rockets and radar for the Hudsons, a Hudson and crew from 500 Squadron was chosen to fly into occupied Corsica at Ghisonaccia Gare aerodrome, with the orders to "establish squatters' rights" under the command of Colonel McKenzie of 458 Squadron. Later, from December 1943, the squadron's Hudsons began to be replaced with

Lockheed Ventura The Lockheed Ventura is a twin-engine medium bomber and patrol bomber of World War II. The Ventura first entered combat in Europe as a bomber with the RAF in late 1942. Designated PV-1 by the United States Navy (US Navy), it entered combat in 1 ...

s. This process continued until the squadron was completely equipped with them in April 1944. The squadron operated from a range of bases over the Western Mediterranean, including bases on Sicily, mainland Italy and

Corsica Corsica ( , Upper , Southern ; it, Corsica; ; french: Corse ; lij, Còrsega; sc, Còssiga) is an island in the Mediterranean Sea and one of the 18 regions of France. It is the fourth-largest island in the Mediterranean and lies southeast of ...

. On 17 May 1944, the German submarine launched an unsuccessful torpedo attack against the American destroyer off Mers-el-Kébir, which resulted in a large-scale air and sea operation to hunt the submarine, involving five American destroyers and saturation air cover from the

Wellingtons The Wellington boot was originally a type of leather boot adapted from Hessian (boot), Hessian boots, a style of military riding boot. They were worn and popularised by Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington. The "Wellington" boot became ...

of 36 Squadron and the Venturas of 500 Squadron. Early on 19 May the submarine was spotted by a Wellington, which directed the destroyers and as they carried out a sustained series of depth charge attacks that drove the submarine to the surface. The submarine was then bombed by a Ventura of 500 Squadron and shelled by the two destroyers before being sunk by ''Niblack''. The squadron disbanded on 11 July 1944, handing over its Venturas to No. 27 Squadron SAAF.

Back in Bomber Command

The Squadron was reformed on 1 August 1944 at La Sénia as a bomber squadron, employing many of the personnel of the squadron's previous incarnation. It operated Martin Baltimore light bombers as part of the Desert Air Force, flying from bases in Italy by day and later by night for the remainder of the war in Europe. In September 1945, No. 500 Squadron left Italy and headed for Kenya, being renumbered on arrival 23 October 1945 at RAF Eastleigh to No. 249 Squadron RAF. During World War II the squadron members had been awarded with 1 GC, 2 DSOs, 21 DFCs, 1

bar Bar or BAR may refer to: Food and drink * Bar (establishment), selling alcoholic beverages * Candy bar * Chocolate bar Science and technology * Bar (river morphology), a deposit of sediment * Bar (tropical cyclone), a layer of cloud * Bar (u ...

the DFC, 9 DFMs and one CGM. Beside these, the squadron was mentioned in dispatches 25 times. Gloster Meteor F

To Fighter Command

The Squadron was reformed again on 10 May 1946 at RAF West Malling, equipped with Mosquito NF.19s and later NF.30s, as a night fighter squadron in the

Royal Auxiliary Air Force The Royal Auxiliary Air Force (RAuxAF), formerly the Auxiliary Air Force (AAF), together with the Air Force Reserve, is a component of His Majesty's Reserve Air Forces (Reserve Forces Act 1996, Part 1, Para 1,(2),(c)). It provides a primary rein ...

. Later, following an Air Ministry decision to convert all RAuxAF units to day fighter roles, the squadron became equipped with Meteor F.3s. The squadron disbanded finally on 10 March 1957, along with all other flying squadrons of the RAuxAF.

Notable squadron members

Aircraft operated

Squadron bases

Commanding officers

References

Notes

Bibliography

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

External links

Official squadron history

{{DEFAULTSORT:No. 500 Squadron Raf 500 Squadron Military units and formations established in 1931 Military units and formations disestablished in 1945 Military units and formations established in 1946 500 Squadron