No. 602 Squadron — City of Glasgow

An Auxiliary Air Force unit formed in Glasgow in 1925, No. 602 (City of Glasgow) Squadron converted to Spitfires in May 1939 and entered the war defending the Rosyth naval base. On 16 October 1939 its pilots destroyed two Heinkel He 111s over the Firth of Forth — the first German aircraft shot down over Britain in the Second World War. Deploying south to RAF Westhampnett in August 1940, the squadron flew under 11 Group throughout the Battle of Britain, remaining longer in the front line than any other unit that summer and claiming the second-highest enemy aircraft tally. Later roles included offensive sweeps over France, support at Dieppe, and fighter-bomber operations in Normandy from June 1944 under 2nd Tactical Air Force. Notable pilots included Brendan “Paddy” Finucane, who commanded the squadron in early 1942, and French ace Pierre Clostermann. The squadron’s final campaign targeted V-2 launch sites in the Netherlands from RAF Coltishall, disbanding in May 1945.