601 Squadron (County of London, Auxiliary Air Force)
(Re-created)
From The OC
From the OC
Greetings and welcome to our website.
We hope this site will help educate people and be a good reference tool for those interested in the Second World War. Although not intended to be an "end all and be all" site it is intended to spotlight a microcosm of WW11. The RAF Squadrons in WWII were mostly formed in the malevolent conflict of the Great War of 1914-1918. Observation, bombing and fighter tactics were still in their infancy although many of the tactics pioneered then are still in use today.
601 Squadron was formed in 1922 as a bomber squadron, although before the outbreak of WWII was converted to a fighter squadron equipped with the inimitable Hawker Hurricane. 601 Squadron is just one of the many squadrons formed that had a long and distinguished history with many brave and interesting characters filling its ranks. Men like Willie Rhodes-Moorehouse - the son of the very first Victoria Cross winner of the RFC in WWI who would sadly perish in the Battle of Britain. Max Aitken , the son of Lord Beaverbrook and Squadron leader of 601 in the early months of the Battle of Britain. He was later to resign his Baronetcy. William Fiske, the first American killed in WWII. “Jumbo” Gracie who led 601 at Malta; Skalski, the Pole with a distinguished career who led 601 later in the war. I could go on and on. . . .
Although based around WWII some information also goes back to the squadron's “salad days “ in the 20’s and 30’s as well. The major campaigns that 601 fought in the Battle of Britain, Malta, the Western Desert, Sicily and Italy are the ones that are primarily highlighted. 601 flew everything from DH9's , Blenheims, Hurricanes, the under-achieving Airacobras to the famous Spitfire. Our living history unit is comitted to portraying 601 Squadron as it was in WWII . Although not perfect and always learning, we strive to pay respect to the men that have passed through its hallowed ranks. Our focus is primarily on the Battle of Britain, the skies over Britain being contested by the Luftwaffe for overall domination of the skies over Europe, which they hoped would lead to the Third Reich's ultimate conquest. This was not to be, due to a small contigent of determined airmen. All of Great Britain and even the world owe these veterans the honor and glory that they alone achieved.
Please enjoy this site whilst keeping thoughtful of our veterans both past and present.
We hope this site will help educate people and be a good reference tool for those interested in the Second World War. Although not intended to be an "end all and be all" site it is intended to spotlight a microcosm of WW11. The RAF Squadrons in WWII were mostly formed in the malevolent conflict of the Great War of 1914-1918. Observation, bombing and fighter tactics were still in their infancy although many of the tactics pioneered then are still in use today.
601 Squadron was formed in 1922 as a bomber squadron, although before the outbreak of WWII was converted to a fighter squadron equipped with the inimitable Hawker Hurricane. 601 Squadron is just one of the many squadrons formed that had a long and distinguished history with many brave and interesting characters filling its ranks. Men like Willie Rhodes-Moorehouse - the son of the very first Victoria Cross winner of the RFC in WWI who would sadly perish in the Battle of Britain. Max Aitken , the son of Lord Beaverbrook and Squadron leader of 601 in the early months of the Battle of Britain. He was later to resign his Baronetcy. William Fiske, the first American killed in WWII. “Jumbo” Gracie who led 601 at Malta; Skalski, the Pole with a distinguished career who led 601 later in the war. I could go on and on. . . .
Although based around WWII some information also goes back to the squadron's “salad days “ in the 20’s and 30’s as well. The major campaigns that 601 fought in the Battle of Britain, Malta, the Western Desert, Sicily and Italy are the ones that are primarily highlighted. 601 flew everything from DH9's , Blenheims, Hurricanes, the under-achieving Airacobras to the famous Spitfire. Our living history unit is comitted to portraying 601 Squadron as it was in WWII . Although not perfect and always learning, we strive to pay respect to the men that have passed through its hallowed ranks. Our focus is primarily on the Battle of Britain, the skies over Britain being contested by the Luftwaffe for overall domination of the skies over Europe, which they hoped would lead to the Third Reich's ultimate conquest. This was not to be, due to a small contigent of determined airmen. All of Great Britain and even the world owe these veterans the honor and glory that they alone achieved.
Please enjoy this site whilst keeping thoughtful of our veterans both past and present.
