Formation and early years No. 502 squadron was originally formed on 15 May 1925 as
No. 502 (Bomber) Squadron, a Special Reserve squadron at
RAF Aldergrove, and it was composed of a mixture of regular and reserve personnel. On 1 December 1925 the name
No. 502 (Ulster) Squadron was adopted. the Special Reserve being disbanded. and that the squadron's attack was actually on
U-71, which escaped without loss. In January 1942, the squadron officially moved to both
Norfolk (
RAF Docking) and
Cornwall, where a maintenance station was set up at
RAF St Eval. Until 1944 the squadron's main role was to carry out
anti-submarine patrols. In January 1943 conversion to
Handley Page Halifax GR.Mk.II, a British four-engined heavy bomber, began, with the first patrol by this type being flown on 12 March. In addition to anti-submarine patrols, now also
attacks on enemy shipping off the
occupied French coast were made. In September 1944, with the French coast back in
Allied hands, the squadron moved to
RAF Stornoway in Scotland, to carry out attacks on
German shipping off the
Norwegian coast, remaining there until the end of the war. It was disbanded on 25 May 1945.
Reformation at Aldergrove It was confirmed in September 2013 that No. 502 (Ulster) Squadron has reformed at Aldergrove Flying Station. As a general Squadron its mission is to provide fully trained Royal Auxiliary Air Force personnel, across a wide spectrum of roles, to support current and future worldwide commitments. No. 502 is the oldest of the reserve squadrons, having been formed in 1925, and in 2019, a new standard was awarded to the squadron as the old standard had been awarded in 1939 and was worn out. ==Aircraft operated==