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No. 609 (West Riding) Squadron of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, originally formed as a bomber squadron and in the Second World War active as fighter squadron, nowadays provides personnel to augment and support the operations of the Royal Air Force. The squadron is no longer a flying squadron, but instead has the role of Force Protection.
Royal Air Force, 609 Squadron, Royal Air Force, 2nd Tactical Air Force; Associated places Gilze-Rijen, North Brabant, Netherlands; Associated events Allied Advance into Germany 1944-1945, North West Europe, Second World War, Liberation of the Netherlands 1944-1945, North West Europe, Second World War; Associated themes
During August 1940, the squadron destroyed 46 enemy aircraft but nearly all the pre-war auxiliary pilots were lost, either killed or missing. In October 1940, 609 became the first squadron to achieve 100 confirmed aerial victories. Geoffrey Gaunt had rejoined 609 Squadron on 16 August and got into many combats through the month.
In June, the detachment from 137 Squadron ended. [33] On 18 August, 609 Squadron move in, equipped with Typhoons, staying until 14 December. [4] 609 squadron operated missions in preparation for D-Day, participating in attacks against "Doodlebug" launch sites in the Pas de Calais. [34] The squadron included the only German to fly for the RAF ...
In November, No. 609 Squadron relocated to Digby in the Midlands and commenced an intensive period of training. [7] On 22 January 1942, Offenberg, now with the rank of flight lieutenant , was conducting a flying training session at about 1,000 feet (300 m) with a pilot who had only recently joined the squadron.
Flying the Spitfire Crook participated in the Battle of Britain, flying with No. 609 Squadron RAF (at the time this was a squadron of the Auxiliary Air Force). He initially joined the squadron on 22 September 1938 as an acting pilot officer, [1] this rank was confirmed on 4 May 1940, [2] and later further back-dated to 9 December 1939. [3]
On 4 June, No. 609 Squadron was carrying out a search and rescue mission, looking for Flight Lieutenant George Gribble, of No. 54 Squadron, who had come down in the English Channel. The searching Spitfires were attacked by Bf 109s from Jagdgeschwader 53 (fighter wing 53) and Curchin failed to return to Biggin Hill after the resulting engagement.
Beamont was keen to resume operational flying in one of the two Typhoon squadrons. He was initially posted to No. 56 Squadron, as a supernumerary flight commander in July 1942, [29] followed by a permanent posting to No. 609 Squadron RAF in October. [29] When its commanding officer Paul Richey left in January 1943, Beamont was promoted to ...