Formation and early years The squadron was originally formed as a day-bomber unit named
No 501 (City of Bristol) Squadron and moved to France where it saw extensive action, stationed at airfields as
Bétheniville,
Anglure,
Le Mans and
Dinard. Sgt
J.H. "Ginger" Lacey of 501 Squadron shot down three enemy aircraft in a single day to win the Croix de Guerre. (He later returned to England with five victories.) After the retreat from France through
Saint Helier,
Jersey, its battle-hardened pilots were reorganised at
RAF Croydon and then moved on to
RAF Middle Wallop and later
RAF Gravesend (now
Gravesend Airport). It subsequently served at
RAF Kenley, south London, commanded by S/L Harry Hogan, until 17 December 1940 by which time the squadron had claimed 149 enemy aircraft destroyed. Success came at a high cost; in addition to the heavy losses suffered in France, the squadron lost 19 pilots killed during the Battle of Britain,
more than any other squadron. The squadron re-equipped with the
Supermarine Spitfire in April 1941 and the squadron moved to Northern Ireland in October 1942. In April 1943 the squadron returned to Tangmere for bomber escort work – some pilots being issued with the Spitfire Mk IXc. Between November 1943 and October 1944 the squadron formed part of
Air Defence of Great Britain (ADGB). For
Operation Overlord (the Allied invasion of Normandy) it flew the
Spitfire V LF operating from
RAF Friston in
ADGB, though under the operational control of
RAF Second Tactical Air Force. During August 1944, the squadron began converting to the
Tempest Mk.V at
RAF Manston, for the purposes of
Operation Diver – the interception of
V-1 missiles. On 23 August, a Tempest flight from the elite
Fighter Interception Unit (FIU) was merged into 501 Squadron and S/L
Joe Berry of FIU was appointed commanding officer of the combined unit. The squadron was disbanded at
RAF Hunsdon at the end of the war on 20 April 1945. During World War II the pilots of No. 501 Squadron had flown 11,140 operational sorties, in which they shot down 201 enemy aircraft and at least 84 V-1s.
Notable squadron members The squadron included several notable pilots of World War II, including Sergeant Pilot
Antoni (Toni) Głowacki VM,
CV and 3 bars,
DFC,
DFM, who shot down five German aircraft on 24 August 1940 to become the first of only two pilots to achieve
"Ace-in-a-day" status during the
Battle of Britain. Among others who achieved
fighter ace status were
Ken Mackenzie,
"Ginger" Lacey,
Stanisław Skalski,
Robert Dafforn,
Paul Farnes DFM,
Kenneth Lee,
Donald McKay, and
Percy Morfill. Lacey was one of the highest scoring pilots in the Battle of Britain. Squadron Leader
Joseph Berry, DFC & 2 bars, was the top scoring
V-1 (flying bomb) ace of the squadron, though he claimed only 10 of his 61 victories whilst flying with 501 Squadron. In addition to these unmanned missiles he also shot down three enemy aircraft.
Into the jet age The squadron was reformed on 10 May 1946 as an Auxiliary Air Force fighter squadron at
RAF Filton. In February 1957, Flt Lt John Crossley flew
Vampire FB.9 jet WR260 beneath the
Clifton Suspension Bridge, before a fatal crash into
Leigh Woods. This was the last recorded – and only jet aircraft – flight under that bridge. The Squadron was disbanded in March 1957, along with all the other Auxiliary units.
Present role In June 2001 No. 501 squadron was reformed in the Force Protection role as 501 (Operational Support) Squadron in 2001 at
RAF Brize Norton. 501 Squadrons Gunners provide a reserve of trained manpower for 1 Squadron RAF Regiment, No 4 Force Protection Wing. In 2003, its personnel deployed as part of
Operation Telic, the
liberation of Iraq. The squadron continues to deploy personnel on Force Protection duties in this region. In 2006 the first 501 Squadron Gunners deployed with 2 Squadron RAF Regiment to Afghanistan, carrying out force protection duties of Kandahar airfield and surrounding areas. This has been continued with members of both Regiment and FP roles mobilising with 1 Squadron RAF Regiment tour of the region (8 August to 9 March). Between November 2006 and April 2007 501 Squadron Gunners also deployed with the Queens Colour Squadron, 63 Squadron RAF Regiment to Basra Iraq. Based at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, 501 (County of Gloucester) Squadron has been newly re-formed to expand the RAF Reserves Logistics capability, recruiting Logistics Officers, Drivers and Suppliers as part of
No 85 Expeditionary Logistics Wing of the RAF A4 Force. ==Aircraft operated==