No. 601 Squadron
(County of London) Royal Air Force -
Radio Call Sign - 'WEAPON' - Squadron Code - 'UF'

601 Squadron Notable Dates:

7 September - Arrival RAF Exeter

21 September - First Polish pilot from Exeter killed

25 September - Combats Plymouth & Frome

27 September - Combat Whitchurch

7 October - Combat Portland

25 October - Two Hurricanes collided Exmouth

'The Millionaires Squadron'

Formed as the first auxiliary squadron, No.601 Squadron was a fighter squadron that took part in the fighting in France in 1939. Nicknamed 'The Millionaires Squadron' No. 601 then played its part during the Battle of Britain in 1940, during which the first Americans to fly in World War II were members of the squadron.

First operating out of RAF Tangmere before moving to RAF Exeter, Devon on the 7 September 1940. No. 601 Squadron remained at Exeter until the 17 December 1940, then moved to RAF Northolt. Later campaigns saw the Squadron go to the Mediterranean, where it fought in North Africa, Sicily and Italy.

The original officers were handpicked by the first commanding officer, Lord Edward Grosvenor, youngest son of Hugh Grosvenor, 1st Duke of Westminster. The nickname came about because of a reputation for the Squadron to fill their ranks with very 'well-heeled'men. Most of these affluent young pilots had little regard for the rigid discipline of the regular service; they lined their uniform tunics with bright red silk and wore blue ties rather than the regulation black. They played polo on brand-new Brough Superior motor cycles, drove fast sports cars (the squadron car park was said to resemble a Concours d'Elegance) and most of the pilots owned their own private aircraft.

The Squadron Commander during their time at RAF Exeter was Sqn Ldr Sir Archibald Hope, OBE, DFC. The Squadron badge featured a red flying sword in the centre. The Squadron code on the side of the aircraft was 'UF' from Sep 1939 to Apr 1942 and so the Hurricanes at RAF Exeter would have been coded so.

The Squadron is still active today after reforming on 20 April 2017 at RAF Northolt, 601 Squadron is now a Specialist Support Squadron of the RAuxAF. The three principal roles of the Squadron are to provide advice to the Chief of the Air Staff and the RAF to help address important issues; to provide access to new networks that the RAF has not traditionally been connected with; and to develop advocates for the RAF.